Reliability analysis of slope Stability using stochastic finite element method

This paper deals with the reliability analysis of slope stability with spatial variability of soil properties. Supposing an elastic soil behavior until yield criteria, a stresses mobilized along slip surface are evaluated to formulate the performance function. The results of SFEM (Stochastic Finite Element Method) and the limit equilibrium method, such as Bishops simplified method are analyzed to check their efficiencies and accuracies. To look for critical slip surface, an optimization strategy is performed, also a sensitivity studies are carried out in order to investigate the influence of random field parameters used to model the spatial variability of soil properties. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of ICM11