Utilization of Discrete Element Method in Multi-phase Soil Modeling for Soil Slope Stability Analysis

Abstract

Failure of slopes is often hydrodynamic in nature. Most of the failures are due to water infiltration and movement in the matrix of an otherwise dry soil mass. Consideration of multi-phase aspect of soil behavior is appropriate for logical judgments that culminate in appropriate solutions for slope stability problems. The mesh-free Discrete Element Method has been employed for understanding soil behavior. Different particle sizes and packing have been considered for analysis. Force networks, strain deviators, kinetic energy evolution have been extracted and interpreted and their utility in slope failure prediction has been highlighted. Results show that suction has considerable influence on the behavior of soil at the micro-scale. The soil suction manifests in the form of additional cohesion resulting in arresting the deformations due to applied load as evidenced by the obtained strain deviator plots, thereby aiding in the stability of the soil mass. The changes and fluctuations in kinetic energy can be an indicator of system instability. The research helps to adopt a particle-level approach toward real-time monitoring of stability of unsaturated slopes. © 2022, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals.