Analysis of discrete element methods on stability of cutting slope at the nature state and saturation state

Stability analysis of cutting slope is the core issue of highway engineering construction. Most of the landslide occur in rainy season or a short time after rainfall. The effect of rainfall by considered reasonably is very necessary in the stability analysis of slope. For the sake of recognizing the deformation and destruction characters of cutting slope engineering, taking the cutting slope of YU-Qian highway for example, five excavation steps and six analysis stages are divided into simulating the slope stability dynamically by discrete element methods at the nature state and saturation state respectively according to the actual situation of the engineering construction, meanwhile, the key element of the weak interlayer is traced to analyzing. The results show that the slope has better stability at the nature state in the middle of excavating, and the slope stability level decreases obviously when the cutting slope is at the saturation state. Especially, when the slope is excavated to step 4, that is to say, when the weak interlayer is cut overhead, the fluctuation of deformation and safety factor is increased. The phenomena reconfirms that the weak interlayer is the important factor of controlling the slope stability, and water that causes slope instability and failure is inducing factor. The research results can offer necessary theory basis for the reasonable control of slope.