Probabilistic Analysis of Pile‐Reinforced Slopes Considering Anisotropic Spatial Soil Properties

ABSTRACT The strength of earth slopes can vary in different directions due to natural soil formation processes. When studying the stability of earth slopes reinforced with piles to prevent sliding, it is crucial to consider the anisotropic spatial variability. To address this, Cholesky decomposition method is employed to generate random fields with anisotropic distributions and Monte Carlo simulation is utilized to study the stochastic responses. In this paper, the upper limit analysis theory is used to calculate the safety factor of the pile‐reinforced slope, considering four potential failure modes: base failure, surface failure, toe failure, and failure in front of the pile. The results are validated through comparison with advanced finite element limit analysis. Additionally, a reliability index is introduced to assess the likelihood of slope failure. The pattern of potential slope slip is presented, along with an estimate of the volume of earth that could be displaced in the event of a failure. These comprehensive reliability evaluation results provide valuable insights for the engineering design of pile‐reinforced slopes and the management of slope instability risks.