Limit equilibrium slope stability analysis procedures have been successfully adapted and used for analyses of reinforced slopes. A potential source of inaccuracy in these analyses is the limit equilibrium procedure used, specifically the assumptions that are made to satisfy static equilibrium and the equilibrium conditions that are satisfied. A second possible source of inaccuracy is related to the manner in which the reinforcement forces are assumed to be distributedin the soil mass and the direction in which they are assumed to act. Stability computations have been performed using the logarithmic spiral, bishop simplified, spencer's, and force equilibrium procedures to evaluate the magnitudes of these inaccuracies. Methods that satisfy complete static equilibrium (logarithmic spiral and spencer's) were found to result in essentially the same values for the factor of safety. Bishop's simplified procedure also produces very nearly the same values for the factor of safety, although the procedure does not satisfy complete static equilibrium. Force equilibrium procedures produce factors of safety that are sensitive to assumptions made about the inclination of side forces between slices. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1330, Behavior of jointed rock masses and reinforced soil structures 1991
Abstract