Stability analysis of the cutting slope considering the influence of water content of soil

Based on the method of strength reduction, numerical simulations were carried out to analyze the stability of the cutting slope. The direct shear tests of slope soil samples with different water content were carried out, and the safety factors of stability of the cutting slope were investigated with different cohesions and internal friction angles. At last, displacements and safety factors of stability of the slope with drains and without drains were calculated, and the observations of displacement of the cutting slope in field were also carried out. The results show that: The water content of the slope soil has great effects on the strength parameters, the cohesion and the internal friction angle decrease with the increase of the water content, and the effect is more significant on the cohesion than that on the internal friction angle. The safety factor of stability for the slope increases with the increase of the strength parameters, hence it increases with the decrease of the water content. The section of the slope without drains in the field is unstable, while the section with drains maintains stable.