Three-dimensional reliability analysis of seismic slopes using the copula-based sampling method

Geotechnical parameters are often considered to be independent variables in the reliability analysis of slopes, however, some variables are correlated. In this study, the copula-based sampling method is first applied to study 3D reliability of seismic slopes as well as the cross correlation between the geotechnical parameters. The safety factors and the failure probability of seismic slopes are investigated using the copula-based sampling method in the framework of the 3D rigorous limit equilibrium method. Moreover, the effects of geotechnical parameters on reliability analysis of seismic slopes are studied. Two cases are considered to illustrate the efficiency of the copula-based sampling method. It is found that the results obtained using the copula-based sampling method are in good agreement with those obtained by a Monte Carlo simulation.