Mobilisation-based characteristic value of shear strength for ultimate limit states

Spatial variability in soil shear strength affects the occurrence of the ultimate limit state not only by the spatial averaging along the potential slip curve but also by seeking out mechanically admissible weak zones. The former factor (spatial averaging) reduces the variance of the mobilised shear strength, whereas the latter factor (weak-zone seeking) reduces the mean of the mobilised shear strength among others. Existing simplified formulas...