(COMSOL) Models - Geomech.slope - Stability PDF
(COMSOL) Models - Geomech.slope - Stability PDF
(COMSOL) Models - Geomech.slope - Stability PDF
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Introduction
Slope stability analysis is an essential technique for predicting the settlement, deformation,
and slippage of soil due to various loading and environmental conditions. In a dam
embankment, the slope stability analysis is important due to safety concerns.
The present model is inspired by an example included in Ref. 1. The pore pressure in the
soil is modeled by Darcy’s law, while the Mohr-Coulomb criterion is used for the
elastoplastic analysis.
The technique used for studying the slope stability is called the shear strength reduction
method, where the Mohr-Coulomb material parameters are functions of the factor of
safety, FOS. A reduction in the value of the material parameters proportional to FOS
reduces the shear strength of the soil, thus producing the collapse of the slope for a certain
combination of loads. More details of this technique are given in Ref. 1.
Model Definition
Figure 1 shows the cross section of the dam embankment. The lengths L1, L2, and L3 are
24 m, 5 m, and 24 m, respectively, and the height of the embankment L4 is 12 m. The
water level is 10 m and the possible seepage height is 4 m. The total width of the
embankment is L1 + L2 + L3.
L1 L2 L3
Water level
L4 Seepage height
Hw
Hs
In this example, a plane strain approximation is used to model the dam embankment in
2D. The effects of gravity and hydrostatic pressure are also included. The material
F = Q = m J 2 + αI 1 – k (1)
sin φ
α = ------------, k = c cos φ
3
tan φ u tan φ s
c = ------------, φ = atan ---------------- ( p < 0 ) + atan --------------- ( p ≥ 0 )
c
(2)
FOS FOS FOS
where φ u and φ s are angles of internal friction for unsaturated and saturated soils, and p
is the pore pressure given by Darcy’s law.
The elastoplastic analysis does not converge for FOS values greater than 1.915; hence the
simulation is performed until its value becomes 1.915, which is the value at which the
slope collapses due to increase in plastic strains and subsequent reduction of shear
strength.
Figure 2: Pressure head in the dam embankment. The zero pressure head line shows the location
of phreatic surface.
Although the stress distribution achieves its maximum at the bottom center-right of the
embankment; the effective plastic strain just before the collapse shows a different pattern,
which gives an indication of the failure mechanism (see Figure 3).
The slip surface is shown in Figure 4. The arrows show the direction of displacement for
the soil particles. This figure illustrates the phenomenon of soil slippage. The soil near the
bottom-right corner does not slip because of the fixed constraint on the lower boundary.
The slip surface figure matches qualitatively well with the results given in Ref. 1.
The plot of the maximum displacement versus FOS is shown in Figure 6. At FOS=1.854
the value of the maximum displacement is 1.953 mm, which jumps to 11.03 mm at
FOS = 1.915; this indicates the onset of slope collapse.
The angle of internal friction is different for saturated and unsaturated soils, hence a
combination based on the pore pressure is used. No external stresses are applied in regions
of unsaturated soil, since pores are considered interconnected and at constant atmospheric
pressure.
An additional extrusion data set is created to generate 3D plot from the 2D data set, and
the 3D view is adjusted in order to properly visualize it. As stated in Ref. 1, the non
convergence option is considered a an indicator of slope failure.
Reference
1. D.V.Griffiths and P.A.Lane, “Slope Stability Analysis by Finite Elements”,
Geotechnique, vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 387–403, 1999.
Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.
NEW
In the New window, click Model Wizard.
MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Wizard window, click 2D.
GEOMETRY 1
Import the parameters and interpolation function from file.
GLOBAL DEFINITIONS
1 In the Model Builder window, under Global Definitions click Parameters 1.
2 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.
3 Click Load from File.
4 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file
slope_stability_parameters.txt.
Interpolation 1 (int1)
1 In the Home toolbar, click Functions and choose Global>Interpolation.
2 In the Settings window for Interpolation, locate the Definition section.
3 Click Load from File.
4 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file
slope_stability_interpolation.txt.
GEOMETRY 1
Construct the 2D geometry using Bézier Polygon.
Point 1 (pt1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Primitives and choose Point.
2 In the Settings window for Point, locate the Point section.
3 In the x text field, type Hw*L1/L4.
4 In the y text field, type Hw.
Point 2 (pt2)
1 Right-click Point 1 (pt1) and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Point, locate the Point section.
3 In the x text field, type L1+L2+L3-Hs*L1/L4.
4 In the y text field, type Hs.
5 Click Build Selected.
DEFINITIONS
In the Model Builder window, expand the Component 1 (comp1)>Definitions node.
Variables 1
1 Right-click Definitions and choose Variables.
2 In the Settings window for Variables, locate the Variables section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Maximum 1 (maxop1)
1 In the Definitions toolbar, click Component Couplings and choose Maximum.
2 Select Domain 1 only.
Add two blank materials, one for soil and one for water, rename them accordingly. For
water keep the domain selection empty.
MATERIALS
Material 1 (mat1)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Materials and
choose Blank Material.
2 In the Settings window for Material, type Soil in the Label text field.
Material 2 (mat2)
1 Right-click Materials and choose Blank Material.
2 In the Settings window for Material, type Water in the Label text field.
In Fluid and Matrix Properties node, set Permeability model to Hydraulic conductivity. Set
fluid material as water and matrix material as soil.
Soil (mat1)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Materials click Soil (mat1).
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Water (mat2)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Materials click Water (mat2).
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Pressure Head 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Pressure Head.
2 Select Boundary 1 only.
3 In the Settings window for Pressure Head, locate the Pressure Head section.
4 In the Hp0 text field, type Hw-y.
Gravity 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Darcy’s Law (dl) click
Gravity 1.
2 In the Settings window for Gravity, locate the Gravity section.
3 From the Specify list, choose Elevation.
MESH 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Mesh 1.
2 In the Settings window for Mesh, locate the Physics-Controlled Mesh section.
3 From the Element size list, choose Extra fine.
4 Click Build All.
STUDY 1
Disable the default plots for this study.
Disable Solid Mechanics physics from the study, and solve only for pressure variable.
Step 1: Stationary
1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1-Darcy’s Law click Step 1: Stationary.
2 In the Settings window for Stationary, locate the Physics and Variables Selection section.
3 In the table, clear the Solve for check box for the Solid Mechanics (solid) interface.
4 In the Home toolbar, click Compute.
2D Plot Group 1
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 2D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, type Pressure Head in the Label text field.
Contour 1
1 Right-click Pressure Head and choose Contour.
2 In the Settings window for Contour, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of
the Expression section. From the menu, choose Component 1>Darcy’s Law>dl.Hp -
Pressure head - m.
3 Locate the Levels section. From the Entry method list, choose Levels.
4 In the Levels text field, type range(0,1,10).
5 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Contour type list, choose Tube.
6 Select the Radius scale factor check box.
7 In the associated text field, type 0.07.
8 In the Pressure Head toolbar, click Plot.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Solid Mechanics (solid).
Boundary Load 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Boundary Load.
2 Select Boundary 1 only.
3 In the Settings window for Boundary Load, locate the Force section.
4 From the Load type list, choose Pressure.
5 In the p text field, type p.
Fixed Constraint 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Fixed Constraint.
2 Select Boundary 2 only.
Gravity 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Domains and choose Gravity.
2 Select Domain 1 only.
ADD STUDY
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Study to open the Add Study window.
2 Go to the Add Study window.
3 Find the Studies subsection. In the Select Study tree, select General Studies>Stationary.
4 Click Add Study in the window toolbar.
5 In the Home toolbar, click Add Study to close the Add Study window.
STUDY 2
1 In the Settings window for Study, type Study 2 - Solid Mechanics (Gravity
Initialization) in the Label text field.
2 Locate the Study Settings section. Clear the Generate default plots check box.
3 In the Home toolbar, click Compute.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Solid Mechanics (solid) click
Linear Elastic Material 1.
Soil Plasticity 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Attributes and choose Soil Plasticity.
2 In the Settings window for Soil Plasticity, locate the Soil Plasticity section.
3 From the Yield criterion list, choose Mohr-Coulomb.
4 From the Plastic potential list, choose Associated.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Solid Mechanics (solid) click
Linear Elastic Material 1.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Solid Mechanics (solid) click
Linear Elastic Material 1.
MATERIALS
Soil (mat1)
Add material properties to Mohr-Coulomb model which are a function of the factor of safety
from the parameter list.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Materials click Soil (mat1).
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Material Contents section.
Disable the Soil Plasticity and the Initial Stress and Strain nodes from the second study step.
Add a third study to simulate the elastoplastic analysis.
Step 1: Stationary
1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 2 - Solid Mechanics (Gravity Initialization) click
Step 1: Stationary.
2 In the Settings window for Stationary, locate the Physics and Variables Selection section.
3 Select the Modify model configuration for study step check box.
4 In the Physics and variables selection tree, select Component 1 (comp1)>
Solid Mechanics (solid)>Linear Elastic Material 1>Soil Plasticity 1, Component 1 (comp1)>
Solid Mechanics (solid)>Linear Elastic Material 1>External Stress 1, and
Component 1 (comp1)>Solid Mechanics (solid)>Linear Elastic Material 1>
Initial Stress and Strain 1.
5 Click Disable.
ADD STUDY
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Study to open the Add Study window.
2 Go to the Add Study window.
3 Find the Studies subsection. In the Select Study tree, select General Studies>Stationary.
4 Click Add Study in the window toolbar.
STUDY 3
Disable the default plots for this study.
1 In the Settings window for Study, type Study 3 - Solid Mechanics (Factor of
Safety) in the Label text field.
2 Locate the Study Settings section. Clear the Generate default plots check box.
Step 1: Stationary
Disable the Darcy’s Law physics from the study.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 3 - Solid Mechanics (Factor of Safety) click
Step 1: Stationary.
2 In the Settings window for Stationary, locate the Physics and Variables Selection section.
3 In the table, clear the Solve for check box for the Darcy’s Law (dl) interface.
For the displacement field variables, use the solution from the second study as initial
values. The pressure variable is not solved for this study step, hence take its value from
the first solution. Create an auxiliary sweep over the parameter FOS.
4 Click to expand the Values of Dependent Variables section. Find the
Initial values of variables solved for subsection. From the Settings list, choose
User controlled.
5 From the Method list, choose Solution.
6 From the Study list, choose Study 2 - Solid Mechanics (Gravity Initialization), Stationary.
7 Find the Values of variables not solved for subsection. From the Settings list, choose
User controlled.
8 From the Method list, choose Solution.
9 From the Study list, choose Study 1-Darcy’s Law, Stationary.
10 Click to expand the Study Extensions section. Select the Auxiliary sweep check box.
11 Click Add.
12 In the table, enter the following settings:
2D Plot Group 2
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 2D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, type von Mises Stress in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, choose Study 3 -
Solid Mechanics (Factor of Safety)/Solution 3 (sol3).
Surface 1
1 Right-click von Mises Stress and choose Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of
the Expression section. From the menu, choose Component 1>Solid Mechanics>Stress>
solid.mises - von Mises stress - N/m².
3 In the von Mises Stress toolbar, click Plot.
2D Plot Group 3
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 2D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, type Slip Surface in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, choose Study 3 -
Solid Mechanics (Factor of Safety)/Solution 3 (sol3).
To show the slip surface, customize the settings in Contour node.
Contour 1
1 Right-click Slip Surface and choose Contour.
2 In the Settings window for Contour, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of
the Expression section. From the menu, choose Component 1>Solid Mechanics>
Displacement>solid.disp - Total displacement - m.
3 Locate the Levels section. In the Total levels text field, type 1.
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Contour type list, choose Filled.
5 Clear the Color legend check box.
6 From the Color table list, choose Wave.
Arrow Surface 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Slip Surface and choose
Arrow Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Arrow Surface, click Replace Expression in the upper-right
corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Component 1>Solid Mechanics>
Displacement>u,v - Displacement field.
2D Plot Group 4
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 2D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, type Effective Plastic Strain in the
Label text field.
3 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, choose Study 3 -
Solid Mechanics (Factor of Safety)/Solution 3 (sol3).
Surface 1
1 Right-click Effective Plastic Strain and choose Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of
the Expression section. From the menu, choose Component 1>Solid Mechanics>Strain>
solid.epe - Effective plastic strain.
3 In the Effective Plastic Strain toolbar, click Plot.
Set up a 1D plot in order to visualize the maximum displacement in the domain.
1D Plot Group 5
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Factor of Safety in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, choose Study 3 -
Solid Mechanics (Factor of Safety)/Solution 3 (sol3).
Global 1
1 Right-click Factor of Safety and choose Global.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the y-Axis Data section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
4 Locate the x-Axis Data section. From the Parameter list, choose Expression.
5 Click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of the x-axis data section. From the
menu, choose Global definitions>Parameters>FOS - Factor of safety.
6 Click to expand the Coloring and Style section. Find the Line markers subsection. From
the Marker list, choose Circle.
7 From the Positioning list, choose In data points.
8 In the Factor of Safety toolbar, click Plot.
Extrusion 2D 1
1 In the Results toolbar, click More Data Sets and choose Extrusion 2D.
2 In the Settings window for Extrusion 2D, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Study 3 - Solid Mechanics (Factor of Safety)/
Solution 3 (sol3).
4 Locate the Extrusion section. In the z maximum text field, type L1+L2+L3.
5 In the z variable text field, type Z.
6 In the Results toolbar, click 3D Plot Group.
3D Plot Group 6
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click 3D Plot Group 6.
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, type Displacement in the Label text field.
Surface 1
1 Right-click Results>Displacement and choose Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of
the Expression section. From the menu, choose Component 1>Solid Mechanics>
Displacement>solid.disp - Total displacement - m.
3 In the Displacement toolbar, click Plot.
4 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>Views node.
Camera
In order to better visualize 3D plot, change the 3D view so that thickness direction is out-
of-plane.
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>Views>View 3D 2 node, then click
Camera.
2 In the Settings window for Camera, locate the Position section.
3 In the x text field, type 83.
4 In the y text field, type 100.
5 In the z text field, type 410.
6 Click Update.
7 Locate the Up Vector section. In the x text field, type -0.15.
8 In the y text field, type 0.9.