IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/reensy/v268y2026ics0951832025011925.html

Critical failure domain-informed smart sampling for slope stability assessment using Bayesian compressive sensing and reliability sensitivity analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Meng, Fanhua
  • Pei, Huafu
  • Shi, Chao

Abstract

Slope reliability critically depends on accurately modelling spatially variable soil properties. While borehole sampling provides essential data for modelling soil variability, conventional borehole optimization strategies typically focus on minimizing spatial uncertainty, without accounting for slope failure mechanisms. There is a lack of failure mechanism-informed tools for optimizing borehole locations and number while considering cross-correlated random fields. This study develops a data-driven sampling strategy that integrates multi-task Bayesian compressive sensing (BCS), Karhunen–Loève expansion, and reliability sensitivity analysis (RSA) to adaptively identify critical failure domains and optimize borehole planning. The framework introduces a nonparametric method for interpolating cross-correlated soil fields, incorporates a spatially continuous mean reliability sensitivity indicator (MRSI) derived from First order reliability method (FORM) to guide domain identification, and extends the analysis to multi-mode failure mechanisms through multi-point FORM. The optimal borehole locations are adaptively determined based on the principle of maximum reduction in cumulative MRSI. The proposed method is illustrated through both a simulated example and real-life investigation data. Results indicate that the proposed framework can automatically identify critical failure domains for slope reliability analysis, and the determined optimal sampling locations can significantly improve the accuracy of slope reliability analysis. Limitations regarding the model’s assumptions are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Meng, Fanhua & Pei, Huafu & Shi, Chao, 2026. "Critical failure domain-informed smart sampling for slope stability assessment using Bayesian compressive sensing and reliability sensitivity analysis," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reensy:v:268:y:2026:i:c:s0951832025011925
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2025.111993
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0951832025011925
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ress.2025.111993?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Oluwatuyi, Opeyemi E. & Ng, Kam & Wulff, Shaun S., 2023. "Improved resistance prediction and reliability for bridge pile foundation in shales through optimal site investigation plans," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    2. Ding, Jiayi & Zhou, Jianfang & Cai, Wei, 2023. "An efficient variable selection-based Kriging model method for the reliability analysis of slopes with spatially variable soils," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    3. Bin Tan & Qiyuan Peng, 2024. "Reliability Analysis of Deep Foundation Pit Using the Gaussian Copula-Based Bayesian Network," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-25, December.
    4. Shirgir, Sina & Shamsaddinlou, Amir & Zare, Reza Najafi & Zehtabiyan, Sorour & Bonab, Masoud Hajialilue, 2023. "An efficient double-loop reliability-based optimization with metaheuristic algorithms to design soil nail walls under uncertain condition," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    5. Pei, Huafu & Meng, Fanhua & You, Na, 2025. "Non-parametric simulation of spatially varying geo-data from sparse measurements by the tree-structured wavelet-based Bayesian compressive sensing," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 264(PA).
    6. Sujawat, Rituraj Singh & Kumar, Ritesh & Patil, Atharva Abhay & Purkait, Ananya, 2026. "Machine learning-based mapping of the vertical scale of fluctuation of spatially varying soils by assimilating the site-specific SPT profiles," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 265(PB).
    7. Jerez, Danko J. & Chwała, M. & Jensen, Hector A. & Beer, Michael, 2024. "Optimal borehole placement for the design of rectangular shallow foundation systems under undrained soil conditions: A stochastic framework," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    8. Chen, Xin & Li, Jie, 2025. "A novel approach for structural system reliability evaluation using decoupled first-order reliability method and equivalent extreme-value event," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 257(PB).
    9. Zhao, Tengyuan & Wang, Yu, 2020. "Non-parametric simulation of non-stationary non-gaussian 3D random field samples directly from sparse measurements using signal decomposition and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    10. Papaioannou, Iason & Straub, Daniel, 2025. "FORM-based global reliability sensitivity analysis of systems with multiple failure modes," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cai, Jiayi & Zhao, Yan-Gang & Li, Pei-Pei & Peng, Zhanyi & Shimazaki, Kazushi, 2026. "An exponential normal transformation using the first three moments with application to structural reliability analysis," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 265(PA).
    2. Chen, Xin & Li, Jie, 2026. "A decoupled first-order reliability method for the time-dependent structural system reliability evaluation from the perspective of probability density evolution," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 266(PA).
    3. Pei, Huafu & Meng, Fanhua & You, Na, 2025. "Non-parametric simulation of spatially varying geo-data from sparse measurements by the tree-structured wavelet-based Bayesian compressive sensing," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 264(PA).
    4. Wu, Zehan & Deng, Hua & Wei, Xuan, 2026. "System reliability analysis of highly hyperstatic pin-jointed bar structures without searching for failure modes," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 265(PA).
    5. Li, Yajun & Qian, Cheng & Zhang, Bin & Xu, Nengxiong, 2024. "Reliability and landslide consequence analysis of long heterogeneous soil infrastructure slopes: A parallel computing investigation," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    6. Jiadong, Qiu & Ohl, Joy P. & Tran, Trung-Tin, 2024. "Predicting clay compressibility for foundation design with high reliability and safety: A geotechnical engineering perspective using artificial neural network and five metaheuristic algorithms," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    7. Jerez, Danko J. & Chwała, M. & Jensen, Hector A. & Beer, Michael, 2024. "Optimal borehole placement for the design of rectangular shallow foundation systems under undrained soil conditions: A stochastic framework," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    8. Wu, Yongxin & Wang, Juncheng & Cheng, Jialiang & Yang, Shangchuan, 2024. "Dimension-Reduction Spectral Representation of Soil Spatial Variability and Its Application in the Efficient Reliability Analysis of Seismic Response in Tunnels," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    9. Nguyen, Phong T.T. & Manuel, Lance, 2024. "Uncertainty quantification in low-probability response estimation using sliced inverse regression and polynomial chaos expansion," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    10. Lyu, Meng-Ze & Liu, Yang-Yi & Chen, Jian-Bing, 2025. "A novel model and simulation method for multivariate Gaussian fields involving nonlinear probabilistic dependencies and different variable-wise spatial variabilities," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    11. Ma, Guotao & Rezania, Mohammad & Mousavi Nezhad, Mohaddeseh & Phoon, Kok-Kwang, 2024. "Multivariate copula-based framework for stochastic analysis of landslide runout distance," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    12. Yang, Haoran & Chen, Chen & Zhao, Wenjian & Lu, Xiang & Zhang, Pengtao & Xue, Jianghan, 2025. "A novel reliability method for assessing dam slope stability by incorporating intrinsic correlations of rockfill materials," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    13. Chen, Junhua & Chen, Zhiqun & Jiang, Wei & Guo, Hun & Chen, Longmiao, 2025. "A reliability-based design optimization strategy using quantile surrogates by improved PC-kriging," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    14. Wu, Zhenyu & Li, Weiye & Li, Zefa & Chen, Jiankang & Chen, Chen & Lu, Xiang, 2026. "A methodology for ultra-high dimensional reliability analysis of slopes considering spatial variability of soil properties," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 265(PA).
    15. Xu, Yue-Bing & Liu, Lei-Lei, 2026. "Copula-based conditional reliability analysis of slopes in spatially variable soils," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 265(PB).
    16. Shen, Shuoshuo & Cheng, Jin & Zhang, Dequan & Liu, Zhenyu & Tan, Jianrong, 2026. "A unified moment approach for time-independent and time-dependent reliability analyses of robotic systems," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 265(PB).
    17. Li, Peiping & Wang, Yu, 2022. "An active learning reliability analysis method using adaptive Bayesian compressive sensing and Monte Carlo simulation (ABCS-MCS)," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    18. Zhang, Wenhan & Zhu, Xiaojun & He, Mu & Balakrishnan, N., 2026. "Adaptive design and dynamic optimization for accelerated life testing with non-destructive one-shot devices: A sequential information maximization approach," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 266(PB).
    19. Zhang, Yagang & Zhao, Yunpeng & Shen, Xiaoyu & Zhang, Jinghui, 2022. "A comprehensive wind speed prediction system based on Monte Carlo and artificial intelligence algorithms," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    20. Wang, Xiaoping & Zhao, Wei & Chen, Yangyang & Li, Xueyan, 2024. "A novel performance measure approach for reliability-based design optimization with adaptive Barzilai-Borwein steps," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:reensy:v:268:y:2026:i:c:s0951832025011925. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/reliability-engineering-and-system-safety .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.