Modelling Supports in Slide
Modelling of Support
Interaction with slip surface
Support must intersect slip surface to have effect on factor of safety
No effect on FS Support force will be applied
to factor of safety calculations
Modelling of Support
Orientation of applied force
End Anchored support, Grouted Tiebacks, or Soil Nails
Force applied parallel to direction of support
GeoTextiles or User Defined support
3 options for applied force
Tangent to slip surface,
Parallel to support,
Bisect tangent and parallel angles, or specify angle
Micro Piles
Tangent to the slip surface
Support Force
End Anchored or Pile support
Constant support force
GeoTextile, Grouted Tieback
or Soil Nail support
Tensile, pullout and stripping
Failure mode determines support force
User Defined Support
Force diagram directly entered by user
Support Systems in Slide
End anchored
End anchored force =
Anchor Capacity / Out of
Plane Spacing
Support Systems in Slide
GeoTextile
Strip coverage = (a / (a + b) ) x 100
Support Systems in Slide
GeoTextile
Support Systems in Slide
GeoTextile
Anchorage = None
Three failure mechanisms are possible
Anchorage = Slope Face
Only tensile failure and pullout is
possible
Anchorage = Embedded End
Only tensile failure and stripping is
possible
Anchorage = Both Ends
Only tensile failure is possible
Support Systems in Slide
GeoTextile
Linear a n tan
a n tan o
Hyperbolic
a n tan o
Support Systems in Slide
Grouted Tieback
Support Systems in Slide
Grouted Tieback
Pullout
F1 BLo / S
Tensile
F2 T / S
Stripping
F3 ( P BLi ) / S
Support Systems in Slide
Grouted with friction
Accounts for frictional strength of soil/grout interface
Support Systems in Slide
Micro Pile
Shear strength
Support Systems in Slide
Soil Nail
Bonded along entire length
Equivalent to Grouted Tieback support with Bond Length = 100%
Active/Passive Support Forces
Active (Method A, Duncan & Wright book)
resisting force TN tan
F TN , TS are normal and shear forces applied
driving force TS by bolt to slice base
Grouted Tiebacks, end-anchored bolts
Exert force on sliding mass before movement takes place
Uses allowable support capacity force
Passive (Method B , Duncan & Wright book)
resisting force TN tan TS
F
driving force
Soil nails or geo-textiles
Resisting force developed upon movement of sliding mass
Uses ultimate support capacity force
Failure surface
Safety Factor
50
0.000
0.500
1.000
45
1.500
1.687
2.000
2.500
40
3.000
3.500
4.000
4.500
35
5.000
5.500
6.000+
30
25
20
20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70
Slice results
Safety Factor
0.000
0.500
33
37.8697
1.000
1.500 47.3378
32
2.000
2.500
3.000
31
3.500
4.000 118.298
127.159
30
4.500
5.000
5.500
29
6.000+
50.8835
28
12.247 100
33.2646
20
27
39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51
Stress along failure surface
260
240
220
200
Shear Stress & Base Normal Stress kPa
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
-20
Distance m
spencer method
Radius (19.403) Center (34.000, 44.000) FS = 1.687 Base Normal Stress
Radius (19.403) Center (34.000, 44.000) FS = 1.687 Shear Stress
LEM Reinforcement Forces
LEM reinforcement forces
Load distribution along reinforcement is prescribed
Magnitude of force included in LE calculations depends on location of
support-slip surface intersection
T1
T2
T3
Slope stability results
1.484
250.00 lbs/ft2
250.00 lbs/ft2
1400.00 lbs/ft2
Piles for Slope Stabilization
Outline
Complex pile models imported from
RSPile
Axial and lateral pile resistance
functions
Multiple material slope with weak layer
Non-circular slip surface
Piles for Slope Stabilization
Reinforced Concrete Square Piles
Driven Pile Installation Drilled Pile Installation
Piles for Slope Stabilization
Installed Piles
Stable Soil
Piles for Slope Stabilization
Installed Piles
Failure Surface
Stable Soil
Concept
Applied soil displacement from ground to slip surface representing
the allowed soil displacement tolerance based on design criteria
Depth and angle of slip surface intersection will determine the
magnitude of axial and lateral displacement
Slip surface
Supports in slope stability analysis
Improves stability in two ways:
Direct resistance to sliding
Modifying normal stress on sliding surface
Relative contribution depends on:
Orientation
Type of reinforcement
Depth of sliding
Frictional resistance of soil
Challenges in selecting supports
Most support elements are passive elements
Stability for the slope must be within tolerable deformations
Load distribution between soil and support is complex
Both resistance (Axial and lateral) must be compatible
Predicting pile resistance
Estimate profile of soil movement
Resolve soil movement into axial and lateral components
Predict axial and lateral resistance
Use “p-y” analyses for lateral load transfer
Use “t-z” analyses for axial load transfer
Select appropriate axial and lateral resistance (consider
compatibility and serviceability)
p-y analyses for lateral resistance
Pile Model Input Profile of
Lateral Soil Movement
δ lat
Lateral Component
Soil Lateral
of moving soil
Resistance (p)
Pile Bending
Stiffness (EI)
Sliding Surface
Transition (Sliding) Zone
Stable Soil
(no soil movement)
z
Lateral resistance from p-y analyses
For an assumed depth of sliding:
1. Apply displacements above sliding surface for the soil
mass
2. Perform p-y analyses
3. Resistance response is shear force in pile at the sliding
depth
4. Re-run previous steps with increasing the displacement
until a limit state is reached
Lateral resistance
Pile Deformation (cm) Mobilized Bending Mom. (kN-cm) Mobilized Shear Force (kN)
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 -1500 -750 0 750 1500 -80 -40 0 40 80
0 0 0
10 10 10
clay
20 20 20
Depth (ft)
30 30 30
slide
40 40 40
rock
50 50 50
60 60 60
Mobilization of lateral resistance
50
45
40
Mobilized Shear Force (kN)
35
30
25
20
15
10
0
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0
Total Slope Movement (cm)
t-z analyses for axial resistance
Input Profile of
Axial Soil Movement
Cap Bearing δ axial
Soil Shear
Axial Component Resistance (t)
of moving soil
Pile Axial
Stiffness (EA)
Sliding Surface
Transition (Sliding) Zone
Stable Soil
(no soil movement) Soil End
Bearing (Q) z
Axial resistance from t-z analyses
For an assumed depth of sliding:
1. Apply displacements in soil above sliding surface
2. Determine response from t-z analyses
3. Resistance response is axial force in shaft at depth of sliding
4. Re-run steps 1-3, increasing displacement until a limit state is
reached
5. Axial force found at first limit state is available resistance for that
sliding depth
Mobilization of axial resistance
Mobilized Axial Load (kN)
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
0
10
clay
20
Depth (m)
30
Slide
40
rock
50
60
Mobilization of axial resistance
160
140
Mobilized Axial Force (kN)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25
Total Slope Movement (cm)
Piles for Slope Stabilization
RSPile is a stand alone
product for pile analysis
Special integration with
Slide for slope stability
analysis
Concept
Applied uniform soil displacement
Enter a Soil Displacement and a Sliding Depth
Can be used for RSPile and for Slide 7.0
Concept
User defined Soil Displacement Profile
Can only be used in RSPile
Axially Loaded Piles (Settlement, Axial Force)
Axially Loaded Piles (Settlement, Axial Force)
Axial Force (kN)
Sliding Depth
Depth (m)
Axial Force at the Sliding Depth is the Axial Resistance Against Sliding
Laterally Loaded Piles (Deflection, Moment and Shear)
Laterally Loaded Piles (Deflection, Moment and Shear)
Shear Force (kN)
Sliding Depth
Depth (m)
Shear Force at the Sliding Depth is the Lateral Resistance Against Sliding
Pile Resistance Against Sliding
Max Allowable
Displacement
Ultimate Displacement
Repeat process for a number of sliding depths to develop resistance
functions
Methods for analyzing Pile Resistance
For the axial and lateral directions independently:
Max Allowable Displacement: Compute the sliding
resistance based on user defined displacement. If
model at this displacement is unstable, decrease
applied displacement for that sliding depth until
the model converges.
Ultimate Displacement: Increase displacement
until the maximum axial and lateral resistance is
reached. User may define an Ultimate Soil Cutoff
to stop searches for infinite or near infinite
strength models
Model
Geometry
Predefined initial model Open Analyzing Pile Resistance using RSPile
(initial).slim
Material Properties
Pre-defined
Materials
Material Properties
Pre-defined
Materials
Material Properties
Pre-defined
Materials
Supports
Select: Support Add Support
Select OK.
Use the prompt line to enter the following exact points:
Enter vertex [t=table, esc=cancel]: 65 40
Enter vertex [t=table, esc=cancel]: 65 19
Add a second support.
Enter vertex [t=table, esc=cancel]: 71 44
Enter vertex [t=table, esc=cancel]: 71 19
Supports
The model should appear as follows:
Supports
Select: Properties Define Support
Change to RSPile Type
Run RSPile Utility
RSPile
Define pile model using RSPile
RSPile
Define pile properties using RSPile
Select: Run the RSPile Utility (from Define Support Properties dialog)
Or
from the Start menu, select Programs Rocscience RSPile 1.0
RSPile.
RSPile – Laterally Loaded Piles
Select: Laterally Loaded Piles
You should see the following default laterally loaded pile model.
Soil Properties for Laterally Loaded Piles
Define soil material properties on
the bottom left corner of the
table view
Layer thicknesses or pile length
depends on the location
provided by Slide
One RSPile model file to define
the soil and pile properties for
multiple piles of various
embedment lengths and soil
layer configurations.
Soil Properties for Laterally Loaded Piles
Soil Types:
Elastic
Soft Clay Soil
Submerged Stiff Clay
Dry Stiff Clay
Sand
Weak Rock
User Defined
Medium Sand for Laterally Loaded Piles
Notice that the effective unit
weight entered in RSPile is equal
to the total unit weight entered
in Slide since all the material is
assumed to be above the
groundwater table.
Dense Sand for Laterally Loaded Piles
Define Layer 2: User Defined Material Select: Enter p-y curve
Soft Clay for Laterally Loaded Piles
Define Layer 3: Soft Clay Soil
Select: Add Layer
RSPile – Laterally Loaded Piles
The model will look as follows
RSPile – Axially Loaded Piles
You can toggle between lateral and axial mode using toggle buttons
Select: Axial Mode
RSPile – Axially Loaded Piles
Alternatively,
Select: Project Settings
Analysis Type
Units
Pile Segments
Convergence Tolerance
Number of Iterations
RSPile – Axially Loaded Piles
Elastic
API Sand
API Clay
User Defined
RSPile – Axially Loaded Piles
Layer names, thickness and colours are the same in either mode
Closest available base soil model (sand, clay, rock or user defined) has
been selected for each layer
The user always has the option of re-assigning that soil layer type to a
different soil model as long as it has the same base type.
User may change the clay layer to Soft Clay Soil, Submerged Stiff Clay or Dry
Stiff Clay in lateral mode.
Medium Sand for Axially Loaded Piles
Define Layer 1: API Sand
Model developed by the American
Petroleum Institute for driven piles in
cohesionless soil
Dense Sand for Axially Loaded Piles
Define Layer 2: User Defined Material Select: Enter t-z curve
Assume no end
bearing
resistance:
no need to
define Q-z
curve
Medium Sand for Axially Loaded Piles
Define Layer 3: API Clay
Model developed by the American
Petroleum Institute for driven piles in
cohesive soil
Pile Properties
Select: Define Pile Properties
Pile Properties
You can easily switch between pile types using the Active Pile section
of the Pile Properties on the left table view
Save File
Select: File Save As
Name file as “PileModel1.rspile”
Import the RSPile file into Slide.
Remember that we can use the same RSPile file for multiple piles and
soil profiles.
Importing RSPile into Slide
Importing RSPile model into Slide
Navigate back to Slide
Select: Properties Define Support
Change Support Type to RSPile
Select: Choose file
Importing RSPile model into Slide
Find “PileModel1.rspile”, open and select Ok.
Match Slide materials with the corresponding RSPile material.
Importing RSPile model into Slide
You can always reassign the RSPile materials at any time using the
Match materials button
Resistance Type
In the Define Support Properties dialog, you can consider only axial
resistance, only lateral resistance or both in your analysis. Set it to
Axial and Lateral.
Controlling the Applied Soil Displacement
The user has the ability to define a max allowable displacement or
increase the applied soil displacement until an ultimate resistance is
reached.
Compute
Before you analyze your model, save it as a file called
Slide_Import_RSPileModel1.slim. (Slide model files have a .slim
filename extension).
Select: File Save As
Select: Analysis Compute
Interpret
Viewing Results
Interpret
Select Analysis Interpret
Pile Resistance
Select: Query Show Slices
Pile resistance is indicated by the blue
arrow with its origin located at the
intersection of the pile and slip
surface.
The direction of pile resistance is
always opposite to the direction of
sliding although it may not always be
tangent to the slip surface.
Each slip surface will have a different
pile resistance depending on the
depth and angle of intersection.
Back Analysis and Slope
Reinforcement
Example - Reinforced Slope
Given the following slope, a minimum factor of safety was found using
the Bishop Simplified method and a Grid Search
Bishop Simplified
Factor of Safety: 0.988
Objective
This is just at critical equilibrium, so we will use a support pattern to
increase the factor of safety of the slope to the required 1.5
To estimate the properties of the support pattern we will first use the
Back Analysis of Support option
Back Analysis of Support Force
Calculate support force required to achieve specified factor of safety
Algorithm determines slip surface and support force
Support force is calculated using assumption that force could be either
passive or active
Back Analysis of Support Force
Support design
Use force magnitude to determine spacing and capacity of support
Depending on support type, either active or passive force can be used
Use slip surface locations to estimate length of support
Back Analysis Example
Design of Grouted Tieback support
In back analysis dialog specify FS of 1.5
Find required support force
In interpreter, find locations of all slip surface with FS below 1.5 (to determine
support length)
Capacity force = Force * spacing / number of bolts
Re-run example with support and check your FS
Method
Next, a Grouted Tieback support pattern will be added to the slope,
making sure that it intersects the minimum slip surface. The Grouted
Tieback has the following properties:
Bonded Length = 50%
Bond Strength =15 kN/m
Method
The support pattern is added to the slope, making sure that it
intersects the minimum slip surface. It has the following
characteristics:
Orientation = Angle from Horizontal
Angle = –10°
Length = 15m
Spacing = 3m
Result
The result of this support is that the minimum slip surface’s factor of
safety increased to be above one, and the minimum slip surface
moved further back into the slope
Bishop Simplified (active support)
Factor of Safety: 1.46
End
