ABSTRACT
The stability of the slope reinforced with piles is predicted by 3D elasto-plastic shear strength reduction FEM. The soil-pile interaction is simulated with zero-thickness elasto-plastic interface elements. The numerical results are compared with those obtained by the Bishop’s simplified method, where the reaction force of the piles is determined by the Ito-Matsui’s equation. The failure mechanism of the slope reinforced with piles predicted by the above two methods are of significant difference with each other. The shear strength reduction FEM shows that the pile head conditions can considerably influence the stability of the slope, but this cannot be indicated by the limit equilibrium method. The shear strength reduction FEM indicates that the soil-pile interface shear strength has some influence on the safety factor of the slope reinforced with piles, and that the resisting force by the pile comes mainly from the normal stress in the interface element.
