Slope Slip Plane Determination with Soft Interlayer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the slip plane in slopes with gently-inclined soft interlayers are inaccurate, particularly for non-circular shapes, due to unclear geological conditions and the influence of water and vibrations, leading to potential safety hazards in landslide treatment designs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the determination of slip arcs for trailing and leading edge tearing and shear openings, combined with a limit equilibrium method to calculate a stability coefficient, allowing for the precise positioning of the soft interlayer plane, using the Morgenstern-Price or imbalance thrust force method, and iterative adjustments to achieve a stability coefficient close to 1.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the limit equilibrium method or limit analysis method is used to determine the slip plane, then the method is simple and widely applicable, but it cannot accurately determine non-circular slip planes with gently-inclined soft interlayers
Solution Approach 1:
The slip plane is divided into three distinct segments: a circular arc portion and two linear portions. The circular arc corresponds to the rotational failure zone, while the linear portions represent the shear failure zones at the leading and trailing edges. This segmentation allows each portion to be treated with appropriate mathematical tools, achieving both simplicity and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The slip plane incorporates a circular arc element to represent the rotational failure mechanism in the middle portion. This curved geometry accurately models the rotational sliding that occurs in cohesive soils, improving the accuracy of slip plane determination while maintaining computational simplicity through standard circular arc equations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the strength reduction method is used to determine the slip plane based on plastic failure zone, then the method can handle complex geometries, but the plastic failure zone is large or cannot be connected
Solution Approach 1:
The slip plane is segmented into distinct functional zones: a central circular arc representing rotational failure, and linear segments representing shear failure at the edges. This segmentation creates a connected, precise geometric model that accurately represents the actual failure mechanism without the excessive plastic zones problematic in strength reduction methods.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the slip plane are assigned different geometric characteristics appropriate to their local failure mechanism. The circular arc portion models rotational failure with smooth curvature, while the linear portions model shear failure with defined orientations. This local differentiation improves both accuracy and adaptability.
3Measurement precision
If geological survey is conducted to determine the location of soft interlayer, then the slip plane can be identified, but unclear geological conditions and ambiguous stratum survey reduce the accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The method performs preliminary geometric construction by assuming a trial position for the soft interlayer and constructing the corresponding slip plane geometry before final analysis. This allows systematic evaluation of different interlayer positions and enables iterative refinement toward the accurate location, compensating for initial uncertainties in geological survey data.
Solution Approach 2:
The method employs iterative analysis where the slip plane geometry is analyzed for stability, and the soft interlayer position is adjusted based on the results. This feedback loop continues until convergence is achieved, allowing the method to resolve uncertainties in the original geological survey data through consistent geometric and mechanical analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a method for determining a slope slip plane with a gently-inclined soft interlayer, including: S1, determining a curve formed with a slip arc of a trailing edge tearing plane, a soft interlayer plane and a slip arc of a leading edge shear opening as a slope slip plane; S2, calculating a slip plane stability coefficient; S3, determination of a position of the gently-inclined soft interlayer plane: if the slip plane stability coefficient is less than 1 but close to 1, determining that the position of the slope slip plane is accurate; otherwise, moving the position of the soft interlayer plane and repeating steps S1 and S2, until the slip plane stability coefficient is less than 1 and close to 1. The method is simple, and has a high accuracy for determining a non-circular slip plane with a soft interlayer as a bottom slip plane.