Probabilistic assessment of passive earth pressures considering spatial variability of soil parameters and design factors
Abstract The stability design of soil structures, such as retaining walls, has traditionally relied on deterministic analyses that use averaged soil parameters. However, modern computational advances, particularly Monte Carlo simulations (MCs), have highlighted the limitations of this approach. Engi...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87989-3 |
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| author | Jim Shiau Tan Nguyen Thinh Pham-Tran-Hung Jun Sugawara |
| author_facet | Jim Shiau Tan Nguyen Thinh Pham-Tran-Hung Jun Sugawara |
| author_sort | Jim Shiau |
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| description | Abstract The stability design of soil structures, such as retaining walls, has traditionally relied on deterministic analyses that use averaged soil parameters. However, modern computational advances, particularly Monte Carlo simulations (MCs), have highlighted the limitations of this approach. Engineers are now increasingly focused on understanding the probability of failure (PF) associated with specific safety factors. This study explores the impact of spatial variability in soil properties, specifically the friction angle and unit weight, on PF. By applying log-normal distributions and spatial correlation lengths, extensive MC simulations were combined with finite element limit analysis to establish relationships between safety factors and PF. This research makes several contributions to geotechnical engineering. It integrates MC simulations with finite element limit analysis to provide a statistically robust framework for evaluating PF in soil structures. The use of adaptive finite element meshes introduces new insights into failure mechanisms, addressing gaps in existing studies. Additionally, the study presents a set of parametric design charts that enable practitioners to estimate PF for specific safety factors effectively. These findings provide practical tools for design engineers, supporting better decision-making and increasing confidence in design outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6e821f882f4c440cb0aef22801c0c3a3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-6e821f882f4c440cb0aef22801c0c3a32025-02-09T12:31:28ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115112310.1038/s41598-025-87989-3Probabilistic assessment of passive earth pressures considering spatial variability of soil parameters and design factorsJim Shiau0Tan Nguyen1Thinh Pham-Tran-Hung2Jun Sugawara3School of Engineering, University of Southern QueenslandSmart Computing in Civil Engineering Research Group, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Ton Duc Thang UniversityFaculty of Civil Engineering, Ton Duc Thang UniversitySchool of Engineering, University of Southern QueenslandAbstract The stability design of soil structures, such as retaining walls, has traditionally relied on deterministic analyses that use averaged soil parameters. However, modern computational advances, particularly Monte Carlo simulations (MCs), have highlighted the limitations of this approach. Engineers are now increasingly focused on understanding the probability of failure (PF) associated with specific safety factors. This study explores the impact of spatial variability in soil properties, specifically the friction angle and unit weight, on PF. By applying log-normal distributions and spatial correlation lengths, extensive MC simulations were combined with finite element limit analysis to establish relationships between safety factors and PF. This research makes several contributions to geotechnical engineering. It integrates MC simulations with finite element limit analysis to provide a statistically robust framework for evaluating PF in soil structures. The use of adaptive finite element meshes introduces new insights into failure mechanisms, addressing gaps in existing studies. Additionally, the study presents a set of parametric design charts that enable practitioners to estimate PF for specific safety factors effectively. These findings provide practical tools for design engineers, supporting better decision-making and increasing confidence in design outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87989-3Random fieldProbabilistic analysisLimit analysisEarth pressuresDesign charts |
| spellingShingle | Jim Shiau Tan Nguyen Thinh Pham-Tran-Hung Jun Sugawara Probabilistic assessment of passive earth pressures considering spatial variability of soil parameters and design factors Scientific Reports Random field Probabilistic analysis Limit analysis Earth pressures Design charts |
| title | Probabilistic assessment of passive earth pressures considering spatial variability of soil parameters and design factors |
| title_full | Probabilistic assessment of passive earth pressures considering spatial variability of soil parameters and design factors |
| title_fullStr | Probabilistic assessment of passive earth pressures considering spatial variability of soil parameters and design factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Probabilistic assessment of passive earth pressures considering spatial variability of soil parameters and design factors |
| title_short | Probabilistic assessment of passive earth pressures considering spatial variability of soil parameters and design factors |
| title_sort | probabilistic assessment of passive earth pressures considering spatial variability of soil parameters and design factors |
| topic | Random field Probabilistic analysis Limit analysis Earth pressures Design charts |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87989-3 |
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