Analyzing the effectiveness of anti-slide piles for slope stabilization against seismic loading using discrete element method

Abstract

One of the widely known mitigation measures against slope failure and landslides is pile reinforcement. These vertical piles reduce the slope deformation by providing support for the unstable soil mass behind them and also through the arching effect. In this study, two slopes were created using discrete element method (DEM). The slopes had similar geometries and properties, except that a reinforcement pile was installed in one of them to investigate its effectiveness. The soil grains were modelled using spherical DEM particles and the pile was composed of particles connected to each other by parallel bonds with a proper stiffness to produce the desired macroscale properties. A seismic base excitation was applied to the base of the models and different quantities were recorded during shaking. According to the results, the lateral displacement and ground settlement significantly reduced after the installation of the reinforcement pile. It was also observed that the lateral earth pressure, shear force and bending moment over the pile length substantially increased by the end of the simulation. The observations presented in this paper are qualitatively consistent with the results of the previously published studies.

Keywords:

• Seismic loading
• discrete element method
• pile reinforcement
• slope stability
• arching effect

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.