Stability charts and reinforcement with piles in 3D nonhomogeneous and anisotropic soil slope

Soils are mostly nonhomogeneous and anisotropic in nature. In this study, nonhomogeneity and anisotropy of soil are taken into consideration by assuming that the cohesion increases with depth linearly and also varies with respect to direction at a particular point. A three-dimensional rotational failure mechanism is adopted, and then a three-dimensional stability analysis of slope is carried out with the failure surface in the shape of a curvilinear cone in virtue of the limit analysis method. A quasi static approach is used to develop stability charts in nonhomogeneous and anisotropic soils. One can easily read the safety factors from the charts without the need for iterative procedures for safety factors calculation. The charts are of practical importance to prevent a plane failure in excavation slope whether it is physically constrained or not. Then the most suitable location of piles within the reinforced slope in nonhomogeneous and anisotropic soils is explored, as well as the interactions of nonhomogeneous and anisotropic coefficients on pile reinforcement effects. The results indicate that piles are more effective when they are located between the middle and the crest of the slope, and the nonhomogeneous coefficient as well as the anisotropic coefficient will not only influence the most suitable location for piles but also affect the calculated safety factor of existing reinforced slope. In addition, the two coefficients will interact with each other on the effect on slope reinforcement.