Finite Element Modeling of the Non-Linear Behavior of Landslides

Abstract Natural disasters called landslides have the potential to seriously harm people’s safety, the environment, and structures, in addition to causing considerable damage to infrastructure. It is therefore important to be able to model and predict these phenomena. This paper focus on modeling non-linear processes using a finite element model behavior and assess the stability of a slope by calculating the safety coefficient. The characterization work was carried out on a landslide at the site located in Tizi-Ouzou (Algeria). It is characterized by steepness greater than 20%. Verification of the stability of this area, while taking into account the morphology and local geological context of the site, was carried out by finite element modeling using the Mohr-Coulomb criterion and adopting the Cam-Clay model in a Castem step-by-step non-linear calculation code, making it possible to extract the stress field, displacements and deformations and also to find the sliding surface corresponding to a minimum FOS safety coefficient. The results obtained highlight the areas of the slope undergoing plastic deformation, indicative of a high state of stress. The results make it possible to identify the weak points that show that the studied profile is exposed to a risk of landslide, in particular a deep landslide affecting soil layers with a safety factor FOS <1. Preventive actions are recommended to secure the site where supporting measures could be considered.