Limit Equilibrium and Continuum Mechanics-based Numerical Methods for Analyzing Stability of Mse Walls

Limit equilibrium (LE) methods have been commonly used to analyze stability of geosynthetic-reinforced slopes. LE methods assume a potential slip surface, the soils along this slip surface providing shear resistance, and geosynthetic reinforcement providing tensile forces and resisting moments. Continuum mechanics-based numerical method has become increasingly used in recent years for slope stability analysis. Continuum mechanics-based numerical method assumes a reduction of soil strength by a factor to reach a critical state prior to failure. Both methods yield factors of safety of the system. This paper presents a study to investigate the stability of MSE walls (vertical or 20 batter) using LE and numerical methods. The comparisons of the critical slip surface and the factor of safety are made when the predicted factor of safety using the LE approach is equal to 1.0. It is concluded that properly adopted LE approach can be used to analyze the stability of MSE walls.