A monte carlo approach to estimate the stability of soil-rock slopes considering the non-uniformity of materials

Abstract

A soil-rock slope is a heterogeneous slope composed of soil and rocks that is widely distributed throughout the world. In order to accurately analyze the slope stability of soil-rock mixture, based on a Monte Carlo algorithm (fuzzy-based method), a symmetrical stability analyzing method for soil-rock slopes is proposed, considering the dispersion of strength of soil-rock mixtures. In analyzing it, the numerical model is symmetrical to the real soil-rock slope in geometry and material properties. In addition, the effect of rock content to slope stability was studied by this symmetrical method. The specific work of this paper is as follows: (1) The acquisition method of random number series for the Monte Carlo algorithm and the method of slope stability analysis, using the Monte Carlo method, are introduced. (2) According to in situ samples and remade samples, the strength characteristics of soil-rock mixtures were measured with different rock contents, which proved the scatter of strength of soil-rock mixtures. (3) Based on the measured strength parameters of soil-rock mixtures and the slope landslide, the reliability in analyzing results and superiority in calculating time of using the Monte Carlo method to analyze stability of soil-rock slopes are detailed. (4) The stability of soil-rock slopes with different rock content is discussed with the Monte Carlo method, and it is concluded that with the increase of rock content, the stability of a soil-rock slope decreases first and then increases, and the minimum safety factor is acquired at 20% rock content. (5) Based on a large number of calculation examples, the applied situations of the Monte Carlo method to analyze stability of soil-rock slopes are detailed according to sampling results and rock size.