Probabilistic Strength-Reduction Stability Analysis of Slopes Accounting for 2-D Spatial Variation

Using the elasto-plastic constitutive model and strength reduction technique, the stability of slopes is analyzed by a finite difference numerical package FLAC version 7.0. Shear strain increment is used to identify the failure zone. Unlike the conventional investigation taking the soil strengths as constant parameters, this study deals with random variables of soil strengths by using first order reliability method (FORM). In particular, two-dimensional (2-D) spatial variation unique to soil strengths is investigated in the reliability analysis.