Shallow stability of soil slope with frame protection considering rainwater seepage: A calculation method

This paper introduces an integrated calculation method for analyzing the impact of frame protection engineering on the safety factor of shallow stability for soil slopes. The calculation method is based on the infinite long slope model, but it produces superior results by comprehensively taking into account the anti-sliding effect of the shallow slope sliding body. It combines the tension zone at the upper edge, the main sliding zone in the middle section, and the compression zone at the lower edge, while considering the anti-sliding force system of the frame protection structure and its contact surface with the soil. By converting the three-dimensional force system into a two-dimensional plane problem, an approximate calculation method for the shallow stability analysis of soil slopes with frame protection under rainfall seepage was established and numerically verified using the finite element method. The analysis indicates that the safety factor of the slope decreases significantly when seepage force is considered. As the length of the main sliding zone increases, the safety factor gradually decreases and approaches the result of the infinite long slope model. When the length decreases to zero, the safety factor gradually increases and approaches the result of the circular slip model. The use of frame protection significantly improves slope stability under rainfall seepage, and the safety factor increases with the number and embedded depth of the frame structure.