Limit-Equilibrium Analysis on Stability of a Reinforced Slope with a Grid Beam Anchored by Cables

In the stability analyses of a reinforced slope with a grid beam anchored by cables, the anchoring force of the cable is usually simplified as the concentrated force acting on the slip surface to calculate the reinforcement effect. The anchoring force actually acts on the slope surface as stress because of the effect of the grid beam. Therefore, this work proposes two new calculation modes of anchoring force: stresses with rectangular and curved distribution acting on the slope surface. In addition, the analysis considered the presence of a cavity, which results in a void underneath the grid beam near the slope surface. Then, two types of slip surfaces and the Morgenstern-Price method were adopted to study slope stability. Thus, the following conclusions were obtained: (1) three calculation modes have nearly similar solutions with less than 5% difference; (2) the arbitrary curved slip surface is suggested to be used as the critical slip surface that shows a noncircular shape; and (3) the void causes anchorage cable failure, which reduces slope stability significantly. (C) 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.