Stability analysis of reinforced slopes based on apparent cohesion method

This paper presents stability analysis of reinforced slopes. Reinforced earth is treated as a soil with additional anisotropic „apparent” cohesion. This „reinforced effect” depends on the soil and reinforcement properties and the inclination of failure surface at its intersection with the reinforcement as well. The tensile rupture and pull-out rupture of reinforcement are taken into account. This approach based on simplified Bishop method is adapted to analysing reinforced earth constructions. The modification permits to assess the internal and overall stability of reinforced slope. It also enables to check the correctness of design considerations i.e. provision and distribution of reinforcement in construction. The theoretical prediction of external stability is compared with full scale test results. The overall stability analysis of soil nailing structure at the toe of steep slope of cliff coast is also presented.