Numerical estimate of critical failure surface of slope by ordinary state-based peridynamic plastic model

In this paper, two-dimensional ordinary state-based peridynamic (OSB-PD) plastic model is coupled mechanically with the Drucker-Prager (D-P) criterion, aiming at numerically reproducing localized deformation and locating the critical failure surface of slopes. A non-physical (or negative) incremental plastic energy can be avoided under extreme non-uniform deformation in this model. The strength reduction method is adopted to estimate the critical failure surface and factor of safety. For PD strength reduction method, three evaluation criteria are introduced to estimate the critical damage state of slopes. Two numerical simulations including a classical slope model and centrifuge tests of sand slopes are performed by the proposed PD method. The critical failure surfaces of slopes are obtained by PD and compared with the results obtained by (i) the finite element method (FEM), (ii) the simplified Bishop method, and (iii) the centrifuge tests. The numerical, analytical and experimental results have collectively verified the proposed PD method.