Hybrid energy-based dynamic stability analysis of three-dimensional pile-stabilized slopes: merging minimum potential energy and pseudo-dynamic principles

Anti-slide piles are widely used to stabilize slopes, with performance influenced by pile–soil interaction and design parameters such as diameter, spacing, and length. This study introduces a three-dimensional (3D) approach for analyzing the dynamic stability of pile-reinforced slopes, merging minimum potential energy principle and the pseudo-dynamic theory. The critical slip surface (CSS) is identified by the maximum sliding direction (SD) of landslide mass. A novel shear potential energy model is developed via mathematical transformation, accounting for influence of the distribution of shear stress on the total potential energy of system for the first time. Parametric studies on three slope cases reveal that pile position, shear strength index, and entry point location govern reinforcement effectiveness, while factors like sliding body volume and pile density have limited influence. The pseudo-dynamic method yields more conservative safety assessments than the pseudo-static approach, offering a rational and dependable framework for assessing the stability of seismic slopes. The optimal pile position corresponds to both the peak safety factor (SF) and the maximum reinforcement effectiveness, validating the proposed method’s rationality and reliability.