Seminar Series: Dr. Vaughan Griffiths on Computational Slope Stability Analysis

College Station, TX-

DV Griffiths, PhD and professor of Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines visited Texas A&M University on October 13th to present his work on “Computational Slope Stability Analysis” to Civil Engineering Graduate Students. The graduate seminar, Structures, Geotechnical and Construction Division is instructed by Dr. Zenon Medina-Cetina, Associate Professor in the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M University.

Dr. Griffiths’ work is currently some of the most cited in geotechnical engineering literature on slope stability analysis. His research interests include application of finite elements and risk assessment methodologies in geotechnical engineering. In 2020, Dr. Griffiths was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

His presentation focused on the factor of safety and significant contrast between factors on loads, as opposed to factors on strength. A classical slope problem solved by Taylor’s charts from the 1930s is revisited using:

1. Simple optimization assuming circular failure mechanisms
2. Elastic-plastic finite elements with strength reduction and
3. Upper- and lower-bound finite element limit analysis

Results show the benefits of the finite element approaches, especially as slope becomes relatively flat where the simple approach starts to overestimate the factor of safety. Slope stability analysis remains a central activity for geotechnical practitioners and is a continued area of interest and research for academics.*

*Abstract & bio provided by Dr. Vaughan Griffiths.