Numerical simulation on stability of right bank slope of Longpan in Tiger-Leaping Gorge area

The stability of the right bank slope of Longpan in Tiger-Leaping Gorge area is important to the building of the Tiger-Leaping Gorge reservoir. So it is important to select a proper method to obtain correct results. With the development of the calculations techniques, especially with the development of nonlinear mechanics of the rock and soil materials, the strength reduction FEM emerged as required. In the strength reduction FEM, it was not necessary to know where the slip surface was, and the initial geostatic stress could be included in the analysis which was more advantageous than the limited equilibrium method. The strength reduction FEM was used to study the stability of the right bank slope of Longpan in Tiger-Leaping Gorge area, and the stability coefficient of the slope under current stress state, the potential failure surface and its failure model. As a comparison, DEM analysis of the slope was executed. It was indicated that there was basic consistency between the results of the strength reduction FEM and DEM, which ensured the reliability of the result.