Approaches to the stability analysis of slopes subjected to seismic loading: A review

Abstract

• Offering a comprehensive review of existing seismic slope stability analysis methods and providing a valuable resource for geotechnical engineers to identify the most effective Seismic Slope Stability Analysis methods for different scenarios. • Comparing various analytical and numerical methods and highlighting their respective advantages and limitations. • Exploring diverse load application techniques in seismic stability analysis and shedding light on the critical factors influencing the accuracy and reliability of slope stability assessments during earthquakes. • Identifying the key parameters and conditions affecting the performance of different seismic slope stability analysis methods and offering insights into optimizing these approaches for improved safety and accuracy. The recurrence of slope failures during past catastrophic earthquakes has led to substantial loss of life and structural damage. As a result, assessing earthquake-induced landslides remains a critical focus in geohazard research. While numerous methods have been developed to evaluate the seismic stability of slopes, they vary in assumptions and accuracy. However, most approaches follow one of two fundamental philosophies: calculating a factor of safety (FS) against sliding failure or estimating the permanent displacement upon failure. This paper provides a comprehensive review of various analytical and numerical approaches used for seismic slope stability analysis, serving as a guideline for selecting the most suitable method for evaluating earthquake-triggered landslides. The strengths and limitations of each approach are highlighted to aid in informed decision-making. The primary methods discussed include the pseudo-static approach, the pseudo-dynamic approach, the permanent displacement technique, and stress-deformation analysis. Additionally, advanced approaches with potential applications in large deformation seismic analysis of slopes are examined. Findings indicate that while stress-deformation analysis offers several advantages over pseudo-static, pseudo-dynamic and permanent displacement methods, these benefits come at the cost of increased complexity, requiring more time and effort for problem formulation, material characterization, result interpretation, and significantly higher computational resources. Ultimately, the selection of an appropriate method should be based on the required level of accuracy, project-specific needs, available data, and the complexity necessary to capture the critical aspects of the problem.

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