The meshfree localized Petrov-Galerkin approach in slope stability analysis

Abstract

The article focuses on the use of the meshfree numerical method in the field of slope stability computations. There are many meshfree implementations of numerical methods. The article shows the results obtained using the meshfree localized Petrov-Galerkin method (MLPG) - localized weak-form of the equilibrium equations with an often used elastoplastic material model based on Mohr-Coulomb (MC) yield criterion. The most important aspect of MLPG is that the discretization process uses a set of nodes instead of elements. Node position within the computational domain is not restricted by any prescribed relationship. The shape functions are constructed using just the set of nodes present in the simple shaped domain of influence. The benchmark slope stability numerical model was performed using the developed meshfree computer code and compared with conventional finite element (FEM) and limit equilibrium (LEM) codes. The results showed the ability of the implemented theoretical preliminaries to solve the geotechnical stability problems.