Analysis of Regional Stability by Theory of Preferred Plane

The theory of the preferred plane is a new model for engineering geological or geotechnical problems. In this paper, the preferred-plane theory and its methods for regional stability analysis are put forward. It indicated that the preferred fault exerts an overwhelming.control to the regional stability and there are four fundmental indices determining the preferred fault. For regional stability assessment, the corresponding principles, including earthquake engineering analysis, and expert system (REPP)are discussed as well.