Reliability Evaluation of Earth Slopes

• Published in: Journal of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering Vol. 134; no. 12; pp. 1700 - 1705
• Main Authors: Hong, H. P, Roh, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reston, VA American Society of Civil Engineers 01-12-2008
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Computation methods. Tables. Charts; Exact sciences and technology; Geotechnics; Indexing in process; Q1; Soil mechanics. Rocks mechanics; Structural analysis. Stresses; TECHNICAL PAPERS; Example; Probability; Slope stability; Safety; Reliability; Application; Soil mechanics; Computing method
• ISSN: 1090-0241; 1943-5606
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2008)134:12(1700)

The reliability analysis of earth slopes is considered. For slope safety assessment, the first-order reliability method is employed for estimating the probability of failure or reliability index. Since the failure of any slip surfaces implies failure of the slope, the slope is considered as a series system. The system aspect of the slope in the reliability analysis is dealt with by defining a limit state of the system as a function of the minimum of the ratio of the shear strength to the mobilized shear strength for each of all potential slip surfaces. Such a ratio for a given slip surface is evaluated using the extended generalized method of slices. The reliability analysis procedure described is applied to example slopes to illustrate the impact of the probability distribution type, and the spatial variability of the soil properties on the probability of failure of the slopes.