Framework for Reliability Based Design of Geotechnical Structure: Random Fields Approach

In recent years, there has been a significant trend for adoption of the reliability based design in the geotechnical engineering field due to uncertainties and risks which are central features of geotechnical engineering. The current practices in reliability based design have been based on factors of safety using Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD), and a probabilistic framework which is deterministic technique in analyzing linear failures using form. The objective of this study is the integration and implementation of Reliability Based Design (RBD) using random field approach in geotechnical engineering; aims in provision of a harmonized framework of geotechnical structures design in mitigating the risk and incorporating the uncertainties in the design. The study was made through a reinforced slope with soil nails, and two slope analyses were carried out. The methodology is based on form with set varied soil parameters, and integrated approach of Monte carlo simulation and Adaptive Radial based Importance Sampling on random fields of two soil spatial variables. The analysis of a slope results are presented as factors of safety, probability of failures, reliability index and with a realized slope failure. The results of this approach have verified the actual performance of the geotechnical structure with better quantified measures of slope stability using random fields which are dynamic due to the environmental influences as compared to form with set varied soil parameters where daily influences on soil are not taken into account. The approach provides critical mode of failures due to the variation of the soil parameters and reliability, based design to ensure structural safety, with an economic value.