Study of Stability of a Highway Fill Application of the Analytical and the Finite Elements Methods

摘要

The traditional tools used to treat the slopes stability problem are based on simple static approaches like calculation in limit equilibrium by the slices method. These approaches, though practicable, are not rigorous as they don’t take into account the seismic action on the structures. Recent progresses made in data computing and numerical calculation fields (finite differences method, finite elements method) lead to better analysis the problem of slopes stability under seismic excitations. Indeed, they take into account all the important parameters, usually neglected when using simplified approaches, as initial state of subsoil sedimentary formations, water presence, presence of bad quality soil on surface, nonlinear behavior of the ground, and influence of possible devices of reinforcements... The method of reduction of resistance properties known as “c-φ reduction”, more than allowing the calculation of the slopes safety factor by the Finite elements method (FEM), has several advantages, such as the ability to predict stresses and strains at failure of any reinforcement elements as piles, anchoring or geotextiles. The application of these various approaches on a highway fill located in a zone known with seismic risk allows to understand the real behavior of the slope formations and to optimize its reinforcement.