Comparative analysis for rock slope stability with different constitutive models of rock materials

Abstract

Based on the principle of reducing shear strength of rock materials, a rock slope stability with different constitutive models of rock materials is performed by using finite element method. The safety factor of rock slope stability is computed based on convergence property of elastic-plastic numerical simulations by reducing shear strength of rock materials until the numerical computing is divergent or plastic zone is connected. Three kinds of Drucker-Prager yield criterions with different yield surfaces are utilized to investigate the influence of yield criterions with different yield surfaces to safety factor of rock slope stability. The investigation shows that the computed safety factors of rock slope stability by using Drucker-Prager yield criterions with different yield surfaces are approximately equal. The maximum relative error for safety factors is less 10% by using different Drucker-Prager yield criterions.