Stability analysis of vertical slope using fracture mechanics

Abstract

Determination of critical height of vertical slope is a very important task in geotechnical engineering. Recently, increasing number of researchers is suggesting new solutions to this task using principles of fracture mechanics, instead of classical solutions based on principles of soil mechanics. This is especially used when tension crack is present in soil. In this paper, a solution to this problem based on limit equilibrium and a solution based on upper bound theorem of limit analysis. is presented. Also, analysis of several papers from different researchers, who used fracture mechanics to solve this problem are considered. Findings obtained in those papers are presented and conclusions are made. At the end, authors’ suggestions of the way to solve this problem are given.