Slope Stability 15

15.1 INTRODUCTION
Slopes can be natural or artificial. Natural slopes occur in hilly terrains, or can be created by
earthquakes, landslides, erosion, ground subsidence, etc. Artificial slopes arc created in the
process of building embankments or carrying out excavations. When the ground is not horizontal,
it is possible that part of the soil mass from the higher ground will slide downward, potentially
rendering the slope unstable. Figure 15.1 shows a slope failure along the banks of a river.

Figure 15.1 A slope failure (Courtesy of Dr. Kirralee Rankine, Golder Associates,
421 Australia)
 422 Geotechnical Engineering

Figure 15.2 Slopes; (a) embankment (b) excavation

The stability of the slopes of the embankment (Figure 15.2a) or excavation (Figure 15.2b)
depends on three major factors, height H, slope angle β, and shear strength parameters (c, ϕ).
Increasing the height or slope angle reduces the stability. Larger shear strength parameters, C and
ϕ, result in increased shear strength and improved stability. The slopes analyzed in this chapter
are two-dimensional with the third dimension assumed infinitely long. This can be assumed a
plane-strain loading situation.

15.2 SLOPE FAILURE AND SAFETY FACTOR

Let's consider the slope shown in Figure 15.3a where failure can take place along an unknown
failure surface. It is a two-dimensional plane-strain problem where the dimension perpendicular
to the paper is very long. Observations of previous slope failures suggest that the two-
dimensional failure surface can be approximated by a circular arc. There can be thousands of
potential failure circles as shown in Figure 15.3b, and the failure·will take place along the most
critical slip circle with the lowest safety factor. How do we define the safety factor?

Let's assume there is a possibility of failure a.long the arc AB in Figure 15.3a. The self-
weight W of the sliding mass ABC induces instability, which is resisted by the shear strength
τ
mobilized along the failure surface AB. The mobilized shear strength mob is the shear stress
acting along the arc AB, maintaining equilibrium. If the shear stress (i.e., mobilized shear
strength) acting along the arc AB is less than the shear strength
τ f , the slope is stable. The
safety factor for this potential failure circle can be defined as:

f
F (15.1)
 mob

The type of failure shown in Figures 15.3 and 15.4a is rotational, where the failure mass rotates
about a center and the failure surface takes the shape of a circular arc. This is quite common in
homogeneous soils. When a relatively thin layer of weak soil overlies a stiff stratum over a
 Slope Stability 423

Figure 15.3 Failure circles: (a) sliding mass in equilibrium (b) potential slip circles

Figure 15.4 Types of slope failure: (a) rotational (b) translational (c) compound

long stretch as shown in Figure 15.4b, the failure mode is translational, where the failure mass
slides downward along the slope. In Figure 15.4c, the failure surface cannot get through the stiff
stratum due to its high shear strength, and a compound failure occurs. This is a combination of
rotational and translational modes.

15.3 STABILITY OF HOMOGENEOUS UNDRAINED SLOPES

A homogeneous clay slope under undrained condition
(φ u =¿0; τ f =¿c u )¿¿ is shown in Figure
15.5 Failure can take place along an unknown slip surface in the form ofa circular arc. Let's
consider a potential slip surface AB, consisting of a circular arc with its center at O. The weight
of the soil enclosed within the arc is W, acting at the centroid of the hatched area, horizontal
c ,
distance of d from the center 0. The shear stress acting along the arc AB is u ,mob which is the
shear strength
 424 Geotechnical Engineering

Figure 15.5 Slip circle in a homogeneous undrained stope

mobilized to maintain equilibrium. The normal stresses acting along the arc pass through the
center O.
Taking moment about O:

Wd= cu , mob l arc, AB R

l
where arc , AB is the length of the arc AB. Therefore, the mobilized shear strength can be
obtained
from:

Wd
cu , mob  (15.2)
larc , AB R
The safety factor for the above slip circle can be determined from Equation 15.1, assuming
τ f =¿c u ¿
and
τ mob=cu ,mob , 111is can be repeated for several potential slip circles until the
one with the minimum safety factor is found. Taylor (1937) proposed a shortcut to locale this
critical circle where the safety factor is the minimum. This method is discussed in the following
section.

Example 15.1: A 5.0 m-high embanment with a 2(H ):1(V) slope is constructed on a clay sub
c =¿30 kPa ¿ c =¿ 45 kPa. ¿
soil with u . The embankment is made of a clay where u The
3
unit weights of both clays can be assumed as 18 kN/m . Estimate the safety factor for
the slip circle shown in the figure at the top of page 425. The area ABCDE =
45. 4 m2 .

Solution: Let's consider a unit thickness:

W =18 ×45. 4 =817 .2kN
 Slope Stability 425

Example 15.1: Continued

30
cu , mob =
Along the arc ABC, F
45
cu ,mob =
Along the arc CD, F
67 π
larc , AB =¿9.86× =¿11.53 m ¿¿
180
38π
larc ,CD =¿9.86× =¿6.54 m ¿¿
180
Taking moment about O:

817 .2× 3 .0 = [( 30/F )×11. 53 + ( 45/F )× 6 .54 ]×9.864 → F =2.57

15.3.1 Taylor's Stability Chart for Undrained Clays (φu =0 )

Immediately following an excavation or the building of an embankment, one can assume that the
clays are loaded under undrained conditions. Taylor (1937) proposed some design charts to
locate the critical circle in undrained clays
( φu =¿0)¿ . He identified three groups of failure
circles: toe circles, slope circles, and midpoint (or base) circles as shown in Figure 15.6. When
the slope angle β is greater than 53°, the failure occurs along a circular arc passing through the
nd > 4 , nd > 4 ,
toe; such a circle is known as a toe circle (Figure 15.6a). When the critical
circle reaches the region beneath the toe as shown in Figure 15.6c with the center directly above
the middle of the slope. The failure mode is known as base failure, and the critical circle is
 426 Geotechnical Engineering
nd > 4 ,
known as a midpoint or base circle. When it is possible that the critical circle exits on
the face of the slope as shown in

Figure 15.6 Critical slip circles in undrained clay slopes: (a) toe circle (b) slope circle (c) midpoint circle

d n > 4,
Figure 15.6b. Such circles are known as slope circles. When depending on the value
of β, it is possible to have a toe, slope, or midpoint-critical circle.
Taylor (1937) proposed a stability number defined as:

γH
Ns  (15.3)
cu , mob
c
u ,mob
where is the shear strength mobilized along the critical slip circle to maintain
equilibrium. The interrelationship among
nd , β, and N s is presented in the form of a
stability chart as shown

Figure 15.7 Taylor's stability chart for undrained clay slopes

 Slope Stability 427

in Figure 15.7. The safety factor can be computed using Equation 15.1. Such analysis is known
as short-term or total stress analysis.

Example 15.2: A six meter·deep excavation is made at a 35° slope in a 9 m-thick clay deposit
as shown in the figure. The clay is underlain by bedrock. The unit weight of the clay is 20
kN/m 3 . Find the safety factor for slope failure along the critical slip circle. What type
of slip circle is it?

9
nd = =¿1.5; β =¿35° ¿¿
Solution: 6

From Taylor's chart (Figure 15.7):

γH
Ns =
c u , mob
20×6
∴ cu,mob = =¿20.3 kpa ¿
5.9
cu 30
∴ F= = =¿1 .48 (a midpoint circle ) ¿
c u ,mob 20 .3

' '
15.4 TAYLOR'S STABILITY CHARTS FOR c −φ SOILS
For soils possessing cohesion and friction (e.g., clayey sands or clays in d rained conditions), the
procedure is slightly complex. The shear strength of a soil in terms of effective stresses can be
written as: ' ' '
τ f = c + σ tan {φ ¿ (15.4)
As seen in Equation 15.4, shear strength derives its contribution from cohesive and frictional
resistances along the slip surface. In a stable slope (i.e., F > 1), only a fraction of the shear
 428 Geotechnical Engineering

strength is mobilized along the potential slip circle. This means that only fractions of the
cohesive and frictional resistances are mobilized. The mobilized shear strength along a slip circle
can be written as: ' ' '
τ mob = c mob + σ tan {φmob ¿ (15.5)
Assuming that the degree of mobilization is the same in cohesive as well as frictional resistances,
the safety factor can be defined as:

f c tan  
F   (15.6)
 mob cmob tan mob


c tan  
where c is the safety factor in terms of cohesion and is tan
the  safety factor in terms of friction,
mob
Fc Fφ, mob

sometimes denoted by and respectively.

'
Through an '
iterative process using Taylor's
(I937) stability chart shown in Figure 15.8, c mob and φ mob can be determined such that
F c =¿Fφ . ¿
This is illustrated in Example 15.3.

Figure 15.8 Taylor's stability chart for c' − φ' soils

Example 15.3: A 9.0 m-high embankment is made of the following soil parameters: c' = 30
3
kPa, φ =10 ° , and γ =19 kN/m . The slope is at an angle of45" to horizontal. Find
'

the safety factor of the critical slip circle.

Continues
 Slope Stability 429

Example 15.3: Continued

Solution:
F φ =¿2.0: ¿
Trial 1: Let's try
tan {φ ' tan 10
Fφ = '
→2.0 ¿ = '
→φ'mob ¿ =¿5. 04 °
tan { φ mob tan { φmob
'
φ mob ¿ 5. 04 °, N s =¿ 7.5 ¿
For β = 45° and from Figure 15.8, :
γH ' 19×9
Ns = → c mob = =¿22 .8 kPa ¿
'
c mob 7 .5
c' 30
∴ F= = =¿1.32, ¿
'
c mob 22.8 Fφ
which is less than (assumed as 2.0).
F φ =¿1.45, ¿ Fφ
Trial 2: Let's try a value between the two values above:
'
tan {φ tan 10
Fφ = '
→1 . 45 ¿= '
→φ'mob ¿ =¿6 . 93°
tan {φ mob tan {φ mob

φ 'mob ¿6 . 93 °, N s =¿ 80: ¿
For β= 45° and from Figure 15.8,
γH 19×9
Ns = → c 'mob = =¿21 . 4 kPa ¿
'
c mob 80
'
30
∴ F = 'c = =¿1.40 , ¿
c mob 21. 4 Fφ
which is very close to the assumed of 1.45.
F = F c ¿ F φ ¿ 1. 43,
A few more trials would converge to which is the true safety
factor for the critical slip circle.

15.5 INFINITE SLOPES

Figure 15.9 shows an infinitely long slope where a soil layer of thickness z overlies a stiff
stratum, along which failure occurs. The slip is purely translational along the sliding plane, which
is the interface between the soil and the stiff stratum. The water table is at a height of mz above
the failure plane, where m < 1. It is assumed that the ground surface, water table, and the failure
plane are parallel, inclined at an angle of{3 to the horizontal. Let's consider the vertical slice
shown in the figure, which is equilibrium under the following forces: W, T, N', U, and R where:

W = weight of the slice

T = tangential shear force along the failure plane, resisting the slide
N' = normal force at the failure plane due to the effective stresses
U = normal force at the failure plane due to pore water pressure
R = end force acting on both vertical sides, in opposite directions parallel to the slope
 430 Geotechnical Engineering

Figure 15.9 Infinite slope

Considering a un it thickness perpendicular to the plane:

W =b mz γ sat +b(1−¿m)z γ m ¿ (15.7)

T =W sin β (15.8)
'
N = N + U =W cos β
(15.9)
N is the total normal load that includes the contributions from the effective stresses and the pore
water pressure. From Equations 15.7 and 15.9:

N =[ b mz γsat + b(l −¿m )z γ m ] cos β ¿

N = b mz γ ' cos β + b mz γw cos β+b( l −¿m) z γ m cos β ¿
∴ N ' =b mz γ' cos β +b (l − m)z γ m cos β

and
U =b mz γ ' cos β

The effective normal stress and the pore water pressure on the failure plane are given by:

N' 2
=mz γ cos2 β+b( l −¿m)z γ m cos β ¿
'
σ '=
b /cos β (15.10)

U
u= =mz γ w cos2 β
b /cos β (15.11)
 Slope Stability 431

The shear strength along the failure plane is given by:

' ' ' ' ' 2 '
τ f = c + σ tan {φ =c + [ mγ + (1 −¿m)γ m ] z cos β tan {φ ¿

The shear strength mobilized along the failure plane is given by:
T W sin β
τ mob= = =[mz γ sat + (l −¿m) γ m ] sin β cos β ¿
b/cos β b /cos β
' ' 2 '
τf W sin β c +[mz γ + ( l −¿m) γm ] cos β tan { φ
∴ F= = = ¿
τ mob b /cos β [ mz γsat + ( l −¿ m) γ m ] z sin β cos β (15.12)

The general expression for the safety factor in Equation 15. 12 above can be used to investigate
some special cases.
Special case 1: Dry granular soil
In dry granular soil, c' = 0 and m = 0. Substituting these in Equation 15.12 gives:
tan {φ '
F= ¿
tan β (15.13)

Special case 2: Fully submerged granular soil with steady seepage down the slope
In a critical situation where the soil is fully submerged and seepage occurs down the slope with c'
= 0 and m = 1, Equation 15. 12 becomes:
'
γ ' tan {φ
F= ¿
γ sat tan β
(15. 14)

Special case 3: Cohesive soil with no water table present

In a cohesive soil where there is no water table present (i.e., where m = 0), Equation 15.12
becomes:
F=
c' +tan { φ' ¿
γ m z sin β cos β tan β (15.15)

Special case 4: Fully submerged cohesive soil with steady seepage down the slope
In a fully submerged cohesive slope (m = 1), Equation 15. 12 becomes:

c γ tan  
F  (15.16)
 m z sin  cos  γ sat tan 
 432 Geotechnical Engineering

Example 15.4: Steady seepage occurs down an infinite granular slope with a water table at
the ground level. The saturated unit weight of the sand is 19 kN/m J and the effective
friction angle is 32°. What is the maximum possible slope such that there will be no
failure?
Solution: The situation is the same as in Special case 2, where the safety factor is given by
Equation
15.14. Substituting F = 1:

(19−9.81) tan 32
1= → β=16 .8°
19 tan β

15.6 METHOD OF SLICES

The soil enclosed within the slip circle is not always homogeneous. Part of the soil here may be
submerged. The simple methods discussed in the previous sections cannot be applied in these
circumstances. Such complex situations can be analyzed by the method of slices.
Figure 15.l0a shows a slip circle of radius R where the enclosed soil is subdivided into
α1
vertical sections or slices. The circular arc at the base of the ith slice is inclined at to the
horizontal. The free body diagram of the ith slice is shown in Figure 15. l0b. This slice is in
equilibrium under the following forces:
Wi
 = self-weight
Ti
 '
= tangential force resisting the slide '
 N i = normal load at the base due to effective stress σ i
Ui u
 = normal load at the base due to pore water pressure i
Ei , Ei+1
 = the horizontal end forces
W i ,W i+1
 = vertical shear forces along the sides of the slice

To define the safety factor for this potential slip circle, Equation 15.1 can still he applied. The
inherent assumption is that the safety factor is the same along the entire slip circle, and hence at
each slice. Let's consider a unit thickness and take moment about the center 0, and add them up
n n
for all lhe slices:
∑ i ∑ W i R sin α i
T R =
i=1 i=1
n n
∑ τ mob ,i li = ∑ W i sin α i
i=1 i=1

where
li
is the arc length measured nalong
τ mob=τ f / F
τ f , i the bottom
n of the slice. Substituting
∑ i ∑ i αi l = W sin
i=1 F i=1
 Slope Stability 433

n n n n n
τ f ,i li of slices: (a)
Figure 15.10 Method ' slices (b)
' free body
' diagram
' of ith slice
' (c) force
' polygon for ith slice
∑ F
∑ ci li +∑ σ i li tan { φi ∑ ci li + ∑ N i tan { φ i
i=1
∴ F= n
= i=1 n
i=1
= i=1 n
i=1
¿¿
∑ W i sin α i ∑ W i sin α i ∑ W i sin α i
i=1 i=1 i=1 (15.17)

The safety factor can be determined from '

Equation 15.17, provided all the parameters are known '
'
α
for each slice. The parameters i i i i , and ' i can be easily determined, but not N i .
c , l , φ , W
E Xi .
This makes it an indeterminate problem where N i . depends on the end forces i and
th ΔEi =¿ Ei+ 1−¿ Ei ¿¿
Figure 15.10c shows the force polygon for the i slice where and
ΔX i =¿ X i −¿ X i+1 . ¿¿

15.6.1 Ordinary Method of Slices

The ordinary method of slices, also known as the Swedish or Fellenius method of slices, is the
simplest and earliest of the different methods of slices reported in the literature. It is assumed that
ΔX i =0 ΔEi =0
at each slice, and (Fellenius 1936). Therefore (sec Figure 15.11a):
'
W i cosα i = N i +¿U i ¿
N 'i =¿W i cos αi −¿ui li ¿¿
 434 Geotechnical Engineering

Figure 15.11 Force polygons;

(a) ordinary method (b) Bishop's
simplified method

n n
' ' '
Substituting this expression for N i in∑ c i l i + ∑15.1
Equation (W i cosα
7: i −¿ ui li )tan { φ i
i=1
F = i=1 n
∑ W i sin αi
i=1 (15.18)

Hand calculations can be made to compute the safety factor based on Equation 15.1 8. This can
also be easily implemented in a spreadsheet. By neglecting the interslice forces, the ordinary
method of slices violates force equilibrium, but satisfies moment equilibrium.

15.6.2 Bishop's Simplified Method of Slices

i ΔX =0
Bishop (1955) proposed a method where he assumed at each slice. The resulting force
T
polygon is shown in Figure 15.11b. Here,τ i can be1
written as:
f ,i
Ti= li = ¿¿¿
F F

From the force polygon (Figure15. 10b):

'
W i =¿ T i sin α i + N i cosα i +¿ U i cos α i ¿ ¿

U i =¿ui li , ¿ Ti
Substituting . and for in the above
' equation:
1 ' ' '
W i = [ c 1 l 1 + N tan { φ ]sin α i + N i cos α i +u i l 1 cosα i ¿
F i

c'i l i sin α i
W i− −ui l i cos αi
F
N 'i = ¿
+sin α i tan { φ 'i
cos α i
F (15.19)
 n Slope Stability 435
n
li =¿bi ¿cosα i ¿ ' ' ' N 'i
Substituting ci liexpression
; and the above + N i tanfor
∑ { φi ∑ in Equation 15.17:
i=1 i=1
F= n
¿
∑ W i sin α i
i=1

' '
c i l i sin α i
n
F×∑ W i sin α i =∑
i=1
n

i =1
{ ( '
c i bi
cos α i
+
W i−

cos α i
F
−u i l i cos α i

+ sin α i tan { φi

'
F
'
) }
¿ tan { φ ¿

'
i

c i bi tan α i

n
n
F×∑ W i sin α i =∑
i=1 i =1
n

{ (
c i bi
cos α i
+
' W i−

cos α i
F
−ui b i

+sin α i tan { φ i
F
' ¿
) }
tan { φ ¿

sec α i

F=
∑ {c'i b i +(W i −¿ ui bi )tan {φ'i }
i=1

n
{ 1+
F
'
tan α i tan { φi ¿
}
∑ W i sin αi
i=1 (15.20)
The problem with Equation 15.20 is that since the safety factor F is appearing on both sides of
the equation, it can only be solved by trial and error.
The stability analysis methods discussed herein are known as limit equilibrium methods.
They are based on equilibrium considerations only and do not give any idea regarding the
magnitudes of displacements. Further extensions to the method of slices were proposed by
Morgenstern and Price ( 1965), Spencer (1967), and several others. Some of these methods allow
for noncircular slip surfaces. Today, computer programs incorporating the above methods
are available for analyzing slope stability problems.

15.7 STABILITY ANALYSIS USING SLOPE/W

For analyzing slope stability and for determining the safety factor of a soil or rock slope, there
are several limit equilibrium methods available. The Student Edition of SLOPE/ W 2007

accommodates a few of them (e.g., Fellenius, Bishop, Morgenstern-Price, etc). SLOPE/W is a

slope stability software that is used in more than 100 countries. It works on the basis of limit
equilibrium principles, and incorporates several different methods of analysis. Its user-friendly
interface and versatility make it one of the most popular software packages worldwide when it
comes to slope stability analysis. It is part of the GeoStudio 2007 suite of software. A DVD
containing the Student Edition of GeoStudio 2007 is included with this book. This section
 436 Geotechnical Engineering
describes how to use the Student Edition of SLOPE/W in solving slope stability problems. The
student version has a few limitations that make it suitable mainly for learning and evaluation. The
full version is available from GEO-SLOPE International, Canada (http://www.geo-slope.com).
The full version has several advanced features (e.g., external loads, tension cracks, non
circular slip surfaces, more constitutive models, soil reinforcements, auto-search) that are not
available in the Student Edition. Nevertheless, the Student Edition is adequate to tryout a wide
range of simpler problems and to get a feel for a versatile slope stability analysis software. There
is a very good chance that some of you will use it in professional practice, sooner rather than
later.

15.7.1 Getting Started with SLOPE/W

When running GeoStudio, select Student License from the start page. All GeoStudio project files
are saved with extension .gsz so that they can be called by any of the applications
(e.g.,SlGMA/W,SEEP/W) within the suite.
Familiarize yourself with the different toolbars that can be made visible through the
View/Toolbar… menu. Moving the cursor over an icon displays its function. In the Analysis tool
bar, you will sec three icons, DEFINE , SOLVE,and CONTOUR, next to each other. DEFINE
and CONTOUR are two separate windows and you can switch between them. The problem is
fully defined in the DEFINE window and saved. Clicking the SOLVE icon solves the problem as
specified. Clicking the CONTOUR icon displays the results in the CONTOUR window. The
input data can be changed by switching to the DEFINE window and SOLVEd again for different
output.
The major components in solving a slope stability problem are:
1. Defining the geometry
2. Defining the soil properties and assigning them to the regions
3. Defining the piezometric line (water table)
4. Defining the method of analysis (e.g., Morgenstern-Price) and the slip circles
5. Solving the problem
6. Displaying the results (e.g., critical slip circle, plots, etc.)

1. Defining the geometry:

Always have a rough sketch of your problem geometry with the right dimensions before you
start SLOPE/W. When SLOPE/W is started, it is in the DEFINE window. The Set menu
has two different but related entries, Page… and Units and Scale…,which can be used to
define your working area and units. A good start is to use a 260 mm (width) × 200 mm
 Slope Stability 437

(height) area that fits nicely on an A4 sheet. Here, a scale of 1:200 would represent 52 m
(width) × 40 m (height) of a problem geometry. Try to use the same scale in x and y
directions so that the geometry is not distorted. The Grid… feature will allow you to select
the grid spacing, make it visible, and snap it to the grid points. The Axes... feature will allow
you to draw the axes and label them. Sketch/Axes… may be a better way to draw the axes
and label them. Use View/ Preferences… to change the way the geometry and fonts are
displayed and to change the way the slip circles arc graphically presented.
Use Sketch/Lines to sketch the geometry using free lines. Use Modify/Objects… to
delete or move them. Sketch is different from Draw. Use the Draw/Regions... feature on the
sketched outlines to create the real geometry and define the different material zones. One
may also omit Sketch and start from Draw feature instead. While Sketching, Drawing, or
Modifying, right-clicking the mouse ends the action. The Sketch Menu has commands to
draw dimension lines with arrowheads and to label the dimensions and objects. Sketch
objects are not used in any computations.

2. Defining soil properties and assigning to regions:

Use Draw/Materials…,to assign the material properties (i.e., c, ϕ, γ) and apply them to the
regions by dragging. The Student Edition can accommodate up to three different materials.
They can be either Mohr-Coulomb materials or impenetrable bedrock.
3. Defining the piezometric fine:
From Keyln/Analyses... select piezometric line for PWP conditions in the settings. Use
Draw/Pore Water Pressure.… to draw the piezometric line. It does not have to be
horizontal.
4. Defining the method of analysis and the slip circles:
In Keyln/Analyses... select the method of analysis (e.g., Spencer) and give a name and
description to the problem. Under the Settings... tab, select how the pore water pressure is
specified (e.g., piezometric line). A series of circular trial slip surfaces can be defined in two
ways: (a) Entry and Exit (b) Grid and Radius, through Keyln/Analyses…/Slip Surface. With
the Entry and Exit method, it is required to specify where the circular arc enters and exits the
slope. The number of slip circles can be varied by adjusting the increments. In the Grid and
Radius method, a grid has to be specified (the four corners

defined counterclockwise, starting from the top left) where each of the grid points will be a
center. The radius is defined by the lines confined within a box (the four corners defined
counterclockwise, starting from top left) that are tangent to the circles. In both methods, the
slip circles are defined through the Draw/Slip Surface feature. The number of slices (default
= 30) can be varied through the Advanced tab.
A Single slip circle can be defined with the Grid and Radius method by collapsing the
center-grid into a Single point and by collapsing the tangential lines into a single line.
 438 Geotechnical Engineering
5. Solving the problem:
Once the problem is fully defined through the above steps, it can be SOLVEd, and the results
can be viewed in a CONTOUR window. If SOLVE does not really solve and suggests an
error, you can view the errors in the Draw/Slip Surface dialog box. You can switch between
the DEFINE and CONTOUR windows while experimenting with the output. This can be
very effective for a parametric study. The Tools/Verify feature can be used for checking the
problem definition before solving.
6. Displaying the results:
Once the problem ~ solved, the critical slip surface appears in the CONTOUR window by
default. By selecting the number of slip circles from View/ Preferences… multiple slip
surfaces with the lowest safety factors can be viewed. Selecting the Draw/Slip Surfaces
menu, it is possible to access all the trial circles and see what they look like. The critical one
appears at the top of the list, along with the safety factors, center coordinates and the radii
for all in the list. The slice details are available only for the critical slip circle, for which
various plots can be generated using the Draw/Graph… feature in the CONTOUR window.
Example 15.5:slip
The critical Solve Example
circle, force15.1 using SLOPEI W, dividing the soil into 6 slices. Show
rdpolygons, graphs, or data can be copied to the clipboard.
the force polygon 3
Draw/Contour… canforbetheused to slice
drawusing thefactor
safety ordinary (Fellenius)
contours whenmethod.
the slipWhat is the
circles are
area of soil enclosed within the critical slip circle? Summarize the forces
specified using the Grid and Radius method. The contour intervals and the number of in the
4 th slice for the Fellenius, simplified Bishop, Janbu, and Morgenstern-P:rice methods.
contours can be specified. To show the contour labels, click Draw/Contour labels, which
Solution:
will change the cursor from an arrow to a crosshair. Place the cursor on a contour line and
left-click the mouse. This will display the con tour value.
Not all the defined circles will be geometrically sensible. When error messages are
displayed, go to the help menu and find the appropriate error message number that
corresponds to the error message number that was displayed in the problem; this should help
you understand the reason. It is a good practice to do a coarse run to identify the
approximate slip circle and then do some fine-tuning.

Continues
 Slope Stability 439

Example 15.5: Continued

From View…/Slide Mass ,the area of the sliding mass = 46.27 m2
Increasing the number of slices will alter the safety factor and make it converge. By
placing the cursor within any slice while using the Draw/Slip Surfaces…/View Slice Info
feature, it is possible to access the data including the forces, force polygon, etc. Note the
Xi Ei
absence of the end forces and (remember it is the ordinary method); they
will appear with the other methods. Note that the force polygons are not closing in the
ordinary method due to the assumptions made regarding the end forces.

W(kN) N (kN) T (kN) ∆E (kN) ∆X (kN)

Fellenius 221.9 204.9 30.1 0.0 0.0
Bishop 221.9 227.8 30.1 －60.0 0.0
Janbu 221.9 227.5 30.5 －59.0 0.0
Morgenstern-Price 221.9 223.3 30.1 －57.8 －4.2

It can be seen that the ordinary method (Fellenius) neglects the interslice forces, which
can be substantial. As a result, the safety factor from this method has to be relied on with
caution.
440 Geotechnical Engineering

Example 15.6: An excavation is made as shown in the figure where the soil properties are
as follows:
3 ' '
Top layer: γ =18 .0 kN/m , ' c =¿20 kPa, φ' =¿24° ¿¿
3
Midlayer: γ =19 .0 kN/m , c =¿15' kPa , φ =¿26°
'
¿¿
3
Bottom layer: γ =19 .5 kN/m , c =¿10 kPa , φ =¿22° ¿¿

Evaluate the minimum safety factor and locate the critical slip circle using (a) the
ordinary method (b) Bishop's Simplified method (c) Janbu's method, and (d) the
Morgenstern-Price method.
Try the above by specifying the slip circle using the (a) Entry and Exit and (b) Grid and
Radius methods.
Continues
 Slope Stability 441

Example 15.6: Continued

Show the critical slip circle obtained from Bishop's method with the Grid and Radius method, showing the safety factor contour.

Solution:

The position of the critical slip circle depends on the shear strength parameters, c and ϕ. If c = 0
(i.e., shear resistance is purely frictional, the slip circle tends to be shallow and the failure zone is
parallel to the slope. If ϕ = 0 (i.e., shear resistance is purely cohesive), the critical slip surface can
be deeper. This is illustrated in Example 15.7.
 3
18.5kN/m .
442 Geotechnical Engineering

ption.

e, the force triangles do not close. Bishop's method includes ∆E (∆X is neglected), and hence the force polygons close better than in the
 Slope Stability 443

WORKED EXAMPLES
c =¿30 kPa ¿
1. An 8 m-deep excavation is made into a clay deposit with u and
γ =19 kN/m 3 . A hard stratum consisting of very stiff clays lies at a depth of 10 m below the
ground level.

a. What would be the steepest slope at which a cut could be made before any failure
occurs?
b. Find the slope that would give a short -term safety factor of 1.2.
c. What would be the safety factor against any short-term failure if the excavation
was made at 30° to horizontal?
Solution:
a. 10
nd = =¿1.25 ¿
8

For the steepest slope without failure:

F =1 → cu ,mob =¿30 kPa ¿
γH 19×8
Ns = ' → c 'u,mob = =¿ 5 . 07 ¿
c u ,mob 30

From Taylor's chart (Figure 15.7), β = 63° ... toe circle

b.

19×8
F =1 → cu ,mob =¿30/1.2=¿25.0 kPa→ N s = =¿6.08 ¿¿¿
25
From Taylor's chart, β = 39° ... midpoint circle

nd
c. For β = 30° and = 1.25, from Taylor's chart:
19×8
N s =¿6.4= ¿
c 'u,mob

∴ cu,mob =¿23.8 kPa→F ¿30/ 17 .8 =¿ 1.26 ¿¿

 444 Geotechnical Engineering
2. A cohesive infinite soil slope has 2.5 m soil overburden above the underlying stiff stratum.
The slope is inclined at 20° to the horizontal and 3there ' is no water table within the
overburden soil. The soil properties are γ m =¿19.0 kN/m ,φ =¿15° , ¿¿ and c' = 35 kPa.

Determine the following:

a. Safety factor against sliding
b. Maximum shear stress developed within the overburden soil
c. Shear strength along the potential failure plane above
d. Critical height of overburden that would have caused sliding
Solution:
a. Substituting m = 0' in Equation 15.15:
'
c +tan {φ 35 tan15
F= = + =¿ 3 . 03
γ m z sin βcos β tan β 19× 2. 5×sin 20×cos 20 tan20

b. Substituting m = 0 in the expression for mobilized shear stress at depth z:

τ mob =¿γ m zsin β cos β =¿19 × 2.5 × sin20 cos20=¿ 15.3 kPa ¿¿¿

c. Substituting m = 1 in the expression for shear strength at depth z:

' 2 ' 2
τ f =c +γ m z cos β tan {φ =¿35 + 19 × 2.5 ×cos 20 × tan 15=¿ 46.2 kPa ¿

d. Substituting F = 1 in Equation 15.15:

35 tan15
1   H  21.7 m
19  H  sin 20cos 20 tan20

3. Use SLOPE/W to identify the type of failure, the location, and the short-term safety factor of
the critical slip circle for the3 following three undrained clay slopes where
c u =35 kPa ,
φ u ¿0,
and γ = 19 kN/m :
a. Bedrock 11 m below ground; height = 9 m; slope = 1(H): 1.5(V)
b. Bedrock 8 m below ground; height = 6 m; slope = 1.5(H): l (V)
c. Bedrock S m below ground; height = : S m; slope = 2( H): l (V)
Use Simplified Bishop's method.
Solution:
a. Toe circle with F = 1.113 (see figure a)
Also shown in the figure are the five slip circles with the lowest safety factors.
 Slope Stability 445

b. Midpoint circle with F = 1.886 (see figure b on page 446)

c. Compound (not in Taylor's chart); a slope circle consisting of circular arcs and a
straight line, with F = 1.533 (see figure c on page 446)
 446 Geotechnical Engineering

4. An 8.0 tn-high embankment is being built with a slope of 1.5(H ): 1(V) on a ground where
3
φ ' =34 ° , c' = 5 kPa, and γ = 20.0 kN/m . The properties of the embankment soil are as
follows:

3
φ ' =24 ° , c' = 10 kPa, and γ =19 .0 kN/m .
Using SLOPE/W, find the safety factor of the embankment against slope instability based on the
Morgenstern -Price method when there is 5.0 m of water in the reservoir with the water level at
aeb (see the top figure on page 447).

If the water level in the reservoir is drawn down rapidly to the ground level, estimate the new
safety factor of the slope, assuming that the phreatic line is cdeb.
 Slope Stability 447

In both cases, use the Grid and Radius method to specify the slip circles and show five
safety factor contours with intervals of 0.05.

Solution: With 5.0 m of water, F = 1.53 (safety factor contours from 1.55 to 1.75).

When the water level drops suddenly to cdeb, F = 1.03; safety factor contours from 1.05
to 1.25.
 448 Geotechnical Engineering

' 3
5. A 5 m-thick sand ( φ =24 ° , c' = 10 kPa, and γ =19 .0 kN/m ) overlies a stiff stratum on
an infinite slope at an angle of 12(H):5(V). The water table lies at a depth of 2.5 m with in
the sand and is parallel to the slope. Using the theory of infinite slope, find the safety factor.
Carry out this analysis using SLOPE/W. (Hint: Set to a very small scale to be able to draw a
slip circle of a very large radius, tangent to the stiff stratum.)
What would be the safety factor if the sand were dry?
Solution: Substituting
( mγ ' + (l −c'm)
= γ0 in Equation
' 15.12:
m ) tan {φ (0. 5×9 . 19+ 0 .5×19) tan34
F= = × =¿1. 201 ¿
(m γ sat + ( l −¿m) γ m ) tan β (0 . 5×19+ 0 . 5× 19 ) 5/12

The critical slip circle shown in the figure on the top of page 449, as obtained from
SLOPEIW, gives a safety factor of 1.238 (the center is not marked to scale). Reducing the scale,
thus enabling larger slip circles, will make the safety factor converge to the above value of 1.201
(see figure on page 449).
If the sand were dry, from Equation 15.13: '
tan {φ tan34
F= = =1.618 ¿
tan β 5/12

Using the above slip surface with SLOPE/W, F = 1.628.

 Slope Stability 449

REVIEW EXERCISES

1. A cut is made into a layered clayey soil as shown in the figure below. Assuming the clays to
be under undrained conditions with unit weights of 18.0 kN/ml, find the safety factor for the
13.0 m-radius slip circle shown. The area of ABCDEH is 65.7 m2•
Answer 2.22

2. Show that the centroid G of the circular sector area shown in part (a) of the figure below is
located at a distance x from the center, given by:
2R sin θ
x̄ =
θ
 450 Geotechnical Engineering
where θ is in radians.

An 8.0 m-high and 45° clay slope is shown in part (b) of the figure, with a potential slip circle
of 11.0 m radius. The undrained shear strength of the clay is 30 kPa and the unit weight is
18.0kN/m3 .

a. Find the angle AOB.

b. Find the weight of the soil mass enclosed within the arc (i.e., ABC) and the horizontal
distance of its centroid from O.
c. Find the safety factor for possible failures along this slip circle.
d. What would be the new safety factor if the dark shaded section EHJC is removed?
Answer 74.2 ° ; 548. 1 kN, 5. 95 m; 1. 44; 1.76

c =¿25 kPa ¿
3. A 6 m-deep 3excavation is to be made in a day deposit where u and
γ =19. 0 kN/m The bedrock is at a depth of9 m. What should be the slope of the
excavation so that the short-term safety factor is 1.5?
Answer: 20°, midpoint circle

4. Summarize the key features of the Morgenstern-Price, Janbu, and Spencer methods, along
with the simpler Fellenius and Bishop methods.
 Slope Stability 451

5. Solve Worked Example 15.3 using Taylor's chart, identifying the type of critical slip circle
and the safety factor. Compare the results.
Answer: Toe circle, 1.08i Midpoint circle, 1.90; Slope circle, 1.88

6. Rapid drawdown is a critical situation associated with failure of slopes when there is a
sudden drop in water levels. Discuss this.

7. A 6.0 m-high clay slope is constructed

3
at an inclination of 2.5(H):1(V) in a clay with
cu =¿45 kPa ¿ γ = 19 kN/m
and . The bedrock lies 6 m below the bottom of the slope.
Using Taylor’s chart, find the safety factor of the slope. What is the type of critical slip
circle? Repeat t exercise using SLOPE/W and locate the critical slip circle.
Answer: F = 2.41, Midpoint circle; F = 2.40, Midpoint circle, Center = 22.6111,20.5 m. and radius
= 18.5 m.

8. Carry out Example 15.3 using SLOPE/W and find the safety factor of the slope.
Answer: 1.424

9. An infinite slope of sands is at inclination of 2(H): 1(V). The friction angle of the sand 34°.
Find the safety factor of the slope using Equation 15.13 and SLOPE/W.
Answer: 1.349, 1.353

3
10. A 10.0 m -high, undrained clay slope with a unit weight of 19 kN/m stands vertically.
Using Bishop's simplified method in SLOPE/ W, estimate the minimum undrained shear
strength required for the slope to remain stable.
Answer: 40 kPa

3
11. In a 10 m-high slope where c' = 20 kPa and γ =19 kN/m , use Bishop's simplified
method in SLOPE/W and complete the flowing table.
Extend the table on the top or page 452 and develop a design chart similar to Taylor's (or
make it even better!).

φ' ( ° ) β (° ) F =F c =¿ F φ ¿ φ' (° ) '

c mob ( kPa )
'
N s =¿ γ H/ { c mob
mob

5 45 0.814 6.13 24.57 7.23

10 45 0.982 10.18 20.37 9.33
20 45 1.305 15.58 15.33 12.40
25 45 1.467 17.63 13.63 13.94
 452 Geotechnical Engineering
5 26.6*
10 26.6*
20 26.6*
25 26.6*
*2(H):(V) slope

3 c =¿30 kPa ¿
12. For an undrained clay slope with H = 8 m , γ =19 kN/m , and u , use
Bishop's simplified method in SLOPE/W to complete the following table.
Expand this table and develop Taylor's chart for undrained day slopes using SLOPE/W.

'
nd Slope,H:V ( ° ) Fmin c mob ( kPa ) N s ( Eq.15.3 )
Type of circle

1.0 8:1 (7.13)

1.0 5:1 (11.31)
1.0 4:1 (14.04)
1.0 3:1 (18.43) 1.925 15.59 9.75 S2
1.0 2:1 (26.57)
1.0 1.5:1 (33.69)
1.0 1:1 (45.00)
1.0 1:1.5(56.31)
1.0 1:2 (63.43)
1.0 1:3 (71.57) 0.974 30.80 4.93 T
1.0 1:4 (75.96)
1.0 1:5 (78.69)
1.0 1:8 (82.88)
1.2 8:1 (7.13)
1.2 5:1 (11.31)
1.2 4:1 (14.04)
1.2 3:1 (18.43)
1.2 2: 1 (26.57)
1.2 1.5:1 (33.69) 1.244 24.12 6.30 T
1.5 2:1 (26.57) 1.241 24.17 6.29 B1
1.5 1.5:1 (33.69)
4.0 2:1 (26.57) 1.109 27.05 5.62 B1 S1
= Slope circle; S2 = Compound slope circle (part of the critical surface is a straight line along the bedrock);
T = Toe circle; B1 = midpoint or base circle; B2 = Compound base circle (part of the critical surface is a
straight line along the bedrock).
I iscthe shear strength required 10 maintain equilibrium and therefore it can exceed cu , . implying F <
u ,mob
1