Bearing capacity analysis of a saturated non-uniform soil slope with discretization-based kinematic analysis

Abstract

In contrast to conventional kinematic analysis postulating a log-spiral failure mechanism, this study adopts a discretization technique to generate a kinematically admissible failure mechanism, using the forward difference method. A vertical infinitesimal trapezoidal element, similar to that in slices method of limit equilibrium, is chosen so as to consider pore water effect within slopes. The work rate-based balance equation yields the optimal kinematic solution of limiting surcharge near the crest of the slope. The bearing capacity of a saturated non-uniform slope is sought through optimization and verified with conventional kinematic analysis.