Lower Bound Limit Analysis Using Nonlinear Failure Criteria

The aim of this paper is to establish a systematic framework for lower bound limit analysis by means of finite element method using nonlinear failure envelopes. In this research, a nonlinear yield criterion in the form of power was applied in the slope stability analysis and the yield criterion represented in Mohr plane was transformed into the principal plane such that numerical application FEM-based limit analysis was simplified. The exact solutions to the stability number of nonlinear yield criterion were bounded within 10% by present study and existing upper bound solutions from literature. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Society for Resources, Environment and Engineering.