Study of Slope Failure in Meshfree-based Modeling

Detecting the failure point is a crucial issue in meshfree-based modeling of soil problems, due to the absence of elements and allowing large deformations. In this study, a hypothetical soil slope is simulated based on RPIM meshfree method and the critical value of the shear strength reduction factor (i.e., safety factor) is assessed. It is illustrated that the unconverged meshfree solution in slope stability is obtained when the displacement–iteration relations become concave. For verification purposes, the results have been also compared with other numerical methods such as the finite element and limit equilibrium methods. In this example, it is demonstrated that meshfree and finite element methods are both lead to identical safety factors.

Keywords:

slope stability , failure criterion , Meshfree method , RPIM approach