Advanced Probabilistic Analysis of Stability Problems in Geotechnical Engineering

应用于岩土工程的概率方法的兴趣迅速增长是相对较新的。著名学者/实践者的论文，如惠特曼（2000）和邓肯（2001），通过用熟悉的术语解释方法，提高了概率概念的形象。2002年在奥地利格拉兹举行的UEF会议“岩土工程中的概率学：技术和经济风险估计”将这些概念带给了更广泛的受众，包括保险业。Baecher和Christian（2003）出版了第一本岩土工程可靠度和统计学教科书。学术价值：本研究将随机场理论和弹塑性有限元结合在“随机有限元法”（RFEM）中。这种方法是由PI及其同事开发的，用于涉及高度可变土壤的一系列岩土工程应用。在这项研究中提出的方法之一，可用于有意义的定量分析岩土边值问题的极少数技术。将研究土壤变异性对设计的影响。不同的方法产生的空间相关的随机fields.Good的土壤特性的统计特性是至关重要的建模工具，将在这项研究中开发的实际应用。将收集数字化的现场调查数据，特别是来自CPT的数据，从而能够提取相关参数，如平均值、方差和相关性。 除了在随机场模型中使用这些特定场地的属性，它将有可能开发出更强大的指导方针，为工程师表示典型的土壤变异范围，用于design.Broader的影响：这项研究旨在促进使用先进的proba-bilistic工具在岩土工程设计通过将它们应用到经典的岩土工程稳定性问题的承载能力和边坡稳定性。之所以选择这些特殊应用，是因为它们的实际重要性和失败的严重后果。预计这项研究将导致更好的理解和量化的风险和可靠性的岩土工程设计。 除了研究生培训外，该提案还将为REU计划下的本科生提供研究经验。该项目有可能吸引少数民族和妇女，这些群体在工程领域传统上代表性不足。与当地和全国平均水平相比，科罗拉多矿业学院工程专业的少数民族学生和女生比例较高。这在一定程度上是由于少数民族工程和妇女参与科学、工程和数学方案的成功和活动，这将有助于该项目的征聘。

The rapid growth in interest in probabilistic methods applied to geotechnical engineering is relatively recent. Papers by eminent academic/practitioners such as Whitman (2000) and Duncan (2001), have raised the profile of probabilistic concepts, by explaining the methods in familiar terminology. A recent UEF conference held in Graz, Austria in 2002 on "Probabilistics in Geotechnics: Gechnical and Economic Risk Estimation" has brought these concepts to a wider audience, including the insurance industry. The first textbook dedicated to reliability and statistics in geotechnical engineering has recently been published by Baecher and Christian (2003).Intellectual Merit: This research brings together random Field theory and elasto-plastic finite elements in the "Random Finite Element Methods" (RFEM). This approach has been developed by the PI and co-workers for a range of geotechnical applications involving highly variable soils. The methodology proposed in this research represents one of the very few techniques available for meaningful quantitative analysis of geotechnical boundary value problems. The impact of soil variability on design will be investigated. Different methods of generation of spatially correlated random fields will be examined.Good statistical characterization of soil properties is crucial for practical application of the modelling tools that will be developed in this research. Digitized site-investigation data, particularly from CPT will be gathered enabling relevant parameters such as the mean, variance and correlation properties to be extracted. In addition to using these site-specific properties in the random field models, it will be possible to develop more robust guidelines for engineers indicating typical ranges of soil variability for use in design.Broader Impact: This research seeks to promote the use of advanced proba-bilistic tools in geotechnical design by applying them to the classical geotechnical stability problems of bearing capacity and slope stability. These particular application are chosen because of their practical importance and the serious consequences of failure. It is expected that this research will lead to improved understanding and quantification of risk and reliability in geotechnical design. In addition to graduate training, the proposal will also provide research experience for undergraduates under the REU program. The project has potential to attract minorities and women, groups that are traditionally under-represented in engineering. The Colorado School of Mines has higher percentages of minority and women students in engineering as compared with local and national averages. This is in part due to the success and activity of the Minority Engineering and Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics Programs that will help in recruitment for this project.