A simplified method for calculating the reliability of rockfill dams slope stability using nonlinear parameters

A simplified method for calculating the reliability of rockfill dams slope stability using nonlinear parameters | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article A simplified method for calculating the reliability of rockfill dams slope stability using nonlinear parameters Li Kangping, Zhou Heng, Li Feng, Du Jifang, Zhao Qing, Bai Yani This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5790505/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 31 Jul, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Slope Reliability analyses are widely used in geotechnical engineering. A reliability analysis of the slope stability of rockfill dams is based on the strength of the granular materials used. However, the characteristics of the shear strengths of granular materials are non-linear, so that calculating the reliability index requires significantly more iterations and partial derivatives. To optimise this iterative method, an algorithm is proposed to linearise Duncan’s non-linear strength parameters. This study expands Duncan’s non-linear model using a Taylor series, and derives a relation between the strength parameters used for Duncan’s non-linear criterion and those for the Mohr–Coulomb linear criterion. In the present study, the accuracy of the linearisation algorithm was verified for a simplified slope and the proposed linearisation algorithm is coded into a computer program, STAB. The linearisation algorithm was applied to a reliability analysis of the slope stability of the rockfill used for Shuang Jiang Kou Dam in China. Results indicate that the linearized parameters yield similar reliability indices to the nonlinear parameters, demonstrating the feasibility of the approach for reliability analysis of rockfill dams. Earth and environmental sciences/Natural hazards Physical sciences/Engineering Rockfill dam Slope stability Non-linear strength criterion Reliability analysis Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 31 Jul, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Accepted 24 Jul, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 24 Jul, 2025 Editor invited by journal 23 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 Apr, 2025 Reviews received at journal 24 Apr, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 Apr, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 24 Apr, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 09 Apr, 2025 First submitted to journal 27 Mar, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5790505","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":447461041,"identity":"485fe50c-3a16-479c-97d7-4d7edacc9026","order_by":0,"name":"Li Kangping","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Power China Northwest Engineering Corporation Limited","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Li","middleName":"","lastName":"Kangping","suffix":""},{"id":447461042,"identity":"5f9518c7-ed2a-4eab-a78c-c74391a9daa6","order_by":1,"name":"Zhou Heng","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Power China Northwest Engineering Corporation 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A reliability analysis of the slope stability of rockfill dams is based on the strength of the granular materials used. However, the characteristics of the shear strengths of granular materials are non-linear, so that calculating the reliability index requires significantly more iterations and partial derivatives. To optimise this iterative method, an algorithm is proposed to linearise Duncan\u0026rsquo;s non-linear strength parameters. This study expands Duncan\u0026rsquo;s non-linear model using a Taylor series, and derives a relation between the strength parameters used for Duncan\u0026rsquo;s non-linear criterion and those for the Mohr\u0026ndash;Coulomb linear criterion. In the present study, the accuracy of the linearisation algorithm was verified for a simplified slope and the proposed linearisation algorithm is coded into a computer program, STAB. 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