ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes that the strength reduction technique used in the framework of finite element method can given information regarding different failure mechanisms by keeping the different stages generated during the process. It deals with the determination of safety zones and local minima by using finite element analysis. Used is made of finite element method in order not to constraint the analysis by neither the assumptions in the location of the sliding surface nor in the interslice force function. Safety zones and local minima are detected in finite element analysis by keeping all the shear zones defined by using different strength reduction coefficients. The chapter presents a proposal to identify different failure surfaces by retaining the information given in the strength reduction method by different strength reduction factors. Small changes in soil properties can cause remarkable changes in the failure mechanism, thus safety zones should be evaluated by performing different soil combinations.
