Seismic Stability of a Fissured Slope Based on Nonlinear Failure Criterion

In this study, the kinematic approach of limit analysis is employed to investigate the seismic stability of slopes with cracks on the basis of a nonlinear failure criterion. Quasi-static representation is adopted to consider the seismic effect using a non-dimensional coefficient named as horizontal seismic coefficient. The maximum crack depth is determined by requiring that the crack profile can keep stable. Of many cracks present in the upper part of the slope, only one that has the most unfavorable influence on the slope stability is involved. The critical height of slopes is determined and expressed using a stability factor. The minimum stability factor is sought by optimization. Numerical results are obtained to analyze the parametric effects. The obtained results indicate that accounting for the presence of cracks and seismic effect results in a more conservative result so they cannot be overlooked in the design of slopes, and that soil strength nonlinearity has a great impact on the slope stability. This paper considers a more realistic service behavior of slopes where the effects of cracks, soil strength nonlinearity and seismic actions are taken into account, and presents an effective solution for estimating the stability of such slopes.