SAFETY ANALYSIS USING FINITE-ELEMENTS

A finite element based method for determining safety factors which has certain advantages over conventional limit equilibrium methods is des cribed. The stress field produced by a finite element analysis is used in conjunction with a conventional limit method to determine the safe ty,factor. It is shown how the stress values at the finite element int egrating points may, be interpolated to points on a potential slip sur face selected by trial as in the conventional method. This involves th ree basic problems: (a) identification of the element which contains a chosen point on the slip surface; (b) determination of the local co-o rdinates of this point, and (c) determination of the element nodal str ess values. Procedures to solve these problems are described. The prob lem of a vertical cut in clay is analysed and the results are compared with analytical solutions, (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.