Analysis of a Nailed Soil Slope Using Limit Equilibrium and Finite Element Methods

• Published in: International journal of geosynthetics and ground engineering 2016-12, Vol.2 (4), p.1-23, Article 34
• Main Authors: Rawat, S., Gupta, A. K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Building Materials; Comparative studies; Engineering; Environmental Science and Engineering; Equilibrium; Failure surface; Finite element analysis; Finite element method; Foundations; Geoengineering; Hydraulics; Mathematical analysis; Methods; Nonlinear programming; Parameters; Safety; Slope stability; Soil nailing; Stability analysis; Stiffness; Two dimensional analysis
• ISSN: 2199-9260; 2199-9279
• DOI: 10.1007/s40891-016-0076-0

This paper aims at the two most common methods used for slope stability analysis. An attempt has been made to bring out the differences in results of reinforced slope stability analysis obtained from SLOPE/W (limit equilibrium based) and PLAXIS 2D (finite element based). The analysis is carried out on two slope angles of 45° and 60°, which are reinforced with nails at three different inclinations of 0°, 15° and 30° respectively. Both the slope angles and all nail inclinations are taken from the horizontal. A comparative study on stability parameters such as factor of safety, critical slip surfaces and nail forces has been carried out. The limit equilibrium method is found to yield higher values of factor of safety in comparison to finite element method. The failure surfaces from both methods are found to vary significantly. Large nail forces are observed by limit equilibrium method for 45° slope with all nail inclinations, whereas for 60° slope angle, finite element method shows an increase in the nail forces. The effect of other parameters like bond length in limit equilibrium, soil–nail interaction and bending stiffness in finite element are also studied.