Stability assessment of SRM slopes considering spatial randomness and cross-correlated spatial variability via a random NCDDAM

Due to the influence of geological environments and material composition, soil-rock mixture (SRM) slopes exhibit not only pronounced heterogeneity and discontinuity but also critical spatial randomness and cross-correlated spatial variability. However, these two spatial characteristics tend to be oversimplified or overlooked in previous studies. To address this deficiency, the two-phase random-media reconstruction (TPRMR) technique and the random-field generation method have been enhanced. These enhancements are integrated with a nodal-based continuous-discontinuous deformation analysis method (NCDDAM) to develop the random NCDDAM (RNCDDAM). Through RNCDDAM, spatial randomness can be considered without the necessity of constructing numerous random structural models, whilst cross-correlated spatial variability of multi-phase geomaterials, such as SRMs, is effectively captured. Additionally, a regression method is proposed to stabilize the mean and standard deviation of random fields, overcoming statistical discrepancies and preventing their interference in numerical simulations. Finally, the impact of these two spatial characteristics on the complex behavior and stability of SRM slopes is assessed in this study.