Stress analysis and slope stability in strain-softening materials

Abstract

COMPUTER PROGRAMS WERE DEVELOPED USING THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD TO APPROXIMATE A SOLUTION FOR STRESSES AND DISPLACEMENTS IN SLOPES OF STRAIN-SOFTENING MATERIAL. THE TREATMENT OF THE POST-PEAK BEHAVIOR IN THE ANALYSIS IS DISCUSSED. THE RESULTS ACHIEVED APPEAR TO BE CONSISTENT WITH FIELD OBSERVATIONS. IT IS SHOWN THAT THE RESIDUAL FACTOR MAY BE COMPUTED USING THIS METHOD, AND THE RESULTS OF THE FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS MAY BE DIRECTLY APPLIED TO STABILITY ANALYSIS IN STRAIN-SOFTENING MATERIALS. /AUTHOR/