CE153: GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 2

LESSON 4: SLOPE STABILITY ANAYSIS

UNRESTRAINED SLOPE is an exposed ground surface that stands at an angle with the horizontal. The
slope can be natural, slopes that exist in hilly areas or man-made, slopes of embankments constructed for
roads railway lines, canals etc.
Civil engineers often are expected to make calculations to check the safety of natural slopes, slopes of
excavations and compacted embankments. This check involves determining the shear stress developed along
the most likely rupture surface and comparing it with the shear stress developed along the most likely rupture
surface and comparing it with the shear strength of soil. The process is called slope STABILITY ANALYSIS. The
most likely rupture surface is the critical surface that has the minimum factor of safety. Slope stability refers to
the condition of inclined soil or rock slopes to withstand or undergo movement. Slope stability is ultimately
determined by two factors: the angle of the slope and the strength of the materials on it.
This lesson discusses the basic principles involved in slope stability analysis.

Learning Objectives: After completing this lesson, the learner will be able to
1. Discuss the factors affecting the slope stability
2. Learn different terms and notations involve in slope stability analysis.
3. Differentiate and explain finite and infinite slope
4. Know and understand the different equations involve in solving the slope stability of given soil
5. Incorporate equations in calculating the factor of safety of given slope
6. Calculate correctly the values involve in the stability analysis of soil.
.
MODES OF SLOPE FAILURE: Cruden and Varnes (1996) classified the slope failures into the following :
1. Fall. This is the detachment of soil and/or rock fragments that fall down a slope
2. Topple. This is a forward rotation of soil and/or rock mass about an axis below the center of gravity of
mass being displaced
3. Slide. This is the downward movement of a soil mass occurring on a surface of rupture
4. Spread. This is a form of slide by translation. It occurs by “sudden movement of water-bearing seams of
sands or silts overlain by clays or loaded by fills”
5. Flow. This is a downward movement of soil mass similar to a viscous fluid.

TYPES OF SLOPE:
1. INFINITE SLOPES – It is used to designate a constant slope of infinite extent.
Example: The long slope of the face of a mountain
2. FINITE SLOPES - Slopes that are limited in extent.
Example: The slopes of embankments and earth dams

Terms and notations:

F.s = factor of safety against sliding on the rock surface
H = height of soil above the interface of rock and soil
Β = angle that the slope makes with the horizontal
Φ = angle of friction of soil
Φd = the angle of friction that develops along the potential failure surface
c = cohesion
cd = cohesion that develops along the potential failure surface
δsat = saturated unit weight of soil
δs = unit weight of soil above rock
H = height of soil above the interface of rock and soil

FOR INFINITE SLOPE:

[source: Das, Principles of geotechnical Engineering] CE153

[source: Besavilla Geotechnical Reviewer]
 FACTOR OF SAFETY AGAINST SLIDING

FOR CLAY
 No pore water pressure is found on the soil
c tanΦ
F. S. = +
δHcos²βtanβ tanβ

 When there is seepage on the soil due to to the ground

water level which coincides with the ground surface.

c (δsat − δw)tanΦ
F. S. = +
(δsat)Hcos²βtanβ (δsat)tanβ

FOR SAND
 Factor of safety without seepage
tanΦ
F. S. =
tanβ

 Factor of safety when there is partial seepage

Hδw tanΦ
F. S. = [1 − ]
(δsat)H tanβ

 Factor of safety when subjected to full seepage

δsat − δw tanΦ
F. S. = [ ]
δsat tanβ

[source: Das, Principles of geotechnical Engineering] CE153

[source: Besavilla Geotechnical Reviewer]
 MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE SLOPE FOR WHICH CRITICAL EQUILIBRIUM OCCURS

c
Hcr =
(δs)cos²β(tanβ − tanΦ)

FACTOR OF SAFETY

FACTOR OF SAFETY When: FSc = FSΦ

c + σtanΦ
F. S. = c tanΦ
cd + σtanΦ𝑑 =
c𝑑 tanΦ𝑑
c tanΦ
FS𝑐 = FS𝛷 = F. S. = FS𝑐 = FS𝛷
c𝑑 tanΦ𝑑
Where:
 FSc = factor of safety with respect to cohesion
 FSΦ = factor of safety with respect to friction
 cd= cohesion that develops along the potential failure surface
 Φd = the angle of friction that develops along the potential failure surface

ANALYSIS OF FINITE SLOPE WITH PLANE FAILURE SURFACE (CULMAN’S METHOD)

Culman’s analysis is based on the assumption that the failure of a slope occurs along a plane when the
average shearing stress tending to cause the slip is more than the shear strength of the soil. Also, the most
critical plane is the one that has a minimum ratio of the average shearing stress that tends to cause failure to
the shear strength of soil.

[source: Das, Principles of geotechnical Engineering] CE153

[source: Besavilla Geotechnical Reviewer]
 F1 + F2 Where FSc = FS = FSΦ
F. S. =
W2 c c c
F1 = μW1 FS𝑐 = FS = FS𝑐 =
c𝑑 c𝑑 c𝑑
W1 = Wcosϴ tanΦ tanΦ
FS𝛷 = FS =
tanΦ𝑑 tanΦ𝑑
W2 = Wsinϴ
tanΦ δsH[1 − cos(β − Φ𝑑)]
F2 = c𝑑 tanΦ𝑑 = c𝑑 =
F. S. 4 sinβ cosΦ𝑑
xH
W= δs
2

MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE SLOPE FOR WHICH CRITICAL EQUILBRIUM OCCURS

4c sinβ cosΦ
Hcr = [ ]
δs 1 − cos(β − Φ)

4c𝑑 sinβcosΦ
Ho = [ ]
δs 1 − cos(β − Φ𝑑)

MODES OF FAILURE OF FINITE SLOPE

1. When the failure occurs in such a way that the surface of sliding intersects the slope at or above its toe,
it is called a slope failure. The failure circle is referred to as a toe circle if it passes through the toe of
the slope and as a slope circle if it passes above the toe of the slope. Under certain circumstances, a
shallow slope failure can occur.

2. When the failure occurs in such a way that the surface of sliding passes at some distance below the toe
of the slope, it is called a base failure. The failure circle in the case of base failure is called a midpoint
circle.

[source: Das, Principles of geotechnical Engineering] CE153

[source: Besavilla Geotechnical Reviewer]
 Stability Analysis Procedures:

1. MASS PROCEDURE: In this case, the mass of the soil above the surface of sliding is taken as a unit. This
procedure is useful when the soil that forms the slope is assumed to be homogeneous, although this is
not the case in most natural slopes.
2. METHOD OF SLICES: In this procedure, the soil above the surface of sliding is divided into a number of
vertical parallel slices. The stability of each slice is calculated separately. This is a versatile technique
in which the non-homogeneity of the soils and pore water pressure can be taken into consideration. It
also accounts for the variation of the normal stress along the potential failure surface.

SLOPE STABILITY NUMBER

Cd
n=
δsH
n = stability number
1 δsH
= (stability factor)
n C𝑑

CRITICAL HEIGHT OF SLOPE

When: F.S. =1 and cd = cu

cu
Hcr =
(δs)n

cu = undrained shear strength

δs = unit weight of soil
n = stability number
Hcr = critical height of slope

FOR CRITICAL EQUILIBRIUM

FS𝑐 = FS𝛷 = F. S.
cd = c
H = Hcr
c
H𝑐𝑟 =
δs(n)

Factor of safety with respect to cohesion

c
FS𝑐 =
c𝑑
Factor of safety with respect to friction
tanΦ
FS𝛷 =
tanΦ𝑑
[source: Das. Principles of Geotechnical Engineering and Besavilla Geotechnical Reviewer]

[source: Das, Principles of geotechnical Engineering] CE153

[source: Besavilla Geotechnical Reviewer]
PROBLEM1: The figure shows an infinite slope, the shear strength parameters at the interface of soil and rock
are as follows:

Angle of friction = 24º

Cohesion of soil = 16Kpa
Unit weight of soil = 16.50 KN/m3
H=6m Saturated Unit weight of soil = 19.40 KN/m3

β = 20º

1. Determine the factor of safety for following cases:

a) no water pressure
b) There is seepage through the soil and that the groundwater level coincides with the ground
surface.
2. Determine the height if the factor of safety has a value of 1.0 and the angle that the slope makes with
the horizontal is equal to 30º
SOLUTION:
(1-a) F.S. against sliding when no water pressure
c tanΦ
F. S. = +
δHcos²βtanβ tanβ
16 tan24 H=6m
F. S. = +
(16.5)(6)cos²(20)tan(20) tan20
𝐅. 𝐒. = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟐𝟔 β = 20º

(1-b) F.S. against sliding when there is a water seepage

c (δsat − δw)tanΦ
F. S. = +
(δsat)Hcos²βtanβ (δsat)tanβ
16 (19.4 − 9.81)tan24 H=6m
F. S. = +
(19.4)(6)cos²(20)tan(20) (19.4)tan20
𝐅. 𝐒. = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟑𝟐 β = 20º

(2) Height of soil if F.S is equals to 1.0

H= Hcr
c
Hcr =
(δs)cos²β(tanβ − tanΦ)
16
Hcr =
(16.5)cos²(20)(tan 30 − tan24)
𝐇𝐜𝐫 = 𝟖. 𝟑𝟏𝟏

[source: Das, Principles of geotechnical Engineering] CE153

[source: Besavilla Geotechnical Reviewer]
PROBLEM 2: An infinite slope of granular soil is shown in the figure with the given properties;

 Saturated unit weight = 18KN/m3

 Effective cohesion = 42Kpa.
 Slope angle β=21º
 Effective friction angel = 32º

H=6m

β = 21º

a) Determine the factor of safety if no seepage will occur;

b) Determine the factor of safety if slope is subjected to partial seepage parallel to the slope with water at
a depth of 4m above the rock.
c) Determine the factor of safety if subjected to full seepage parallel to the slope;
SOLUTION:
(a) F.S. if no seepage
tanΦ
F. S. =
tanβ
tan32
F. S. =
tan21
𝐅. 𝐒. = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟐𝟖

(b) F.S. if partial seepage

Hδw tanΦ
F. S. = [1 − ]
(δsat)H tanβ
4(9.81) tan32
F. S. = [1 − ]
(18)(6) tan21
𝐅. 𝐒. = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟗𝟐𝟖

(c) F.S. if full seepage

δsat − δw tanΦ
F. S. = [ ]
δsat tanβ
18 − 9.81 tan32
F. S. = [ ]
18 tan21
𝐅. 𝐒. = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟒𝟏

[source: Das, Principles of geotechnical Engineering] CE153

[source: Besavilla Geotechnical Reviewer]
PROBLEM 3: The cut slope shown in the figure shall be constructed in soft clay soil, rising at an angle of 70º to
the horizontal. The soil has a unit weight of 17KN / m3 and shear strength of 28 KN / m2. The maximum depth
to which the excavation can be carried out is 8.22 m. The critical circle at A is tangent to the horizontal axis.
(a) Calculate the stability of the number
(b) Calculate the angle of the failure plane with the horizontal plane.
(c) Determine the radius of the circle of the toe
B 6.78 m C

Failure plane Hcr=8.22m

A
70º θ
SOLUTION:
(a) Stability number
Cu
Hcr =
δs(n)
28
8.22 =
17(n)
𝐧 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟎𝟎

(b) Angle of the failure plane with the

horizontal plane
Hcr
tan70 =
x1 O
X1 = 2.992
R
X2 = 2.992 + 6.78 = 9.772
Hcr θ
tanθ = θ
X2 6.78 m C
R B
8.22
tanθ =
9.772

(b) Radius of the Circle Failure Hcr=8.22m

plane
AC² = 8.22² + 9.772²
A
70
º
θ
AC = 12.77
12.77
X1
sin40.07 = 2
R
X2
R = 9.92 m

𝛉 = 𝟒𝟎. 𝟎𝟕

[source: Das, Principles of geotechnical Engineering] CE153

[source: Besavilla Geotechnical Reviewer]
PROBLEM 4: In saturated clay, A cut slope had been excavated. The angle of the slope is 38 degrees with the
horizontal. Slope failure occurred when the cut reached a depth of 8 m. The previous exploration of the soil
found that a rock layer was situated at a depth of 12.0 m below the ground surface. . Suppose the saturated
unit weight of the soil is 17.4 KN / m3 of the undrained condition.

(a) Calculate the undrained clay cohesion If the stability number is 0.18.
(b) Determine the nature of this critical circle?
(c) Determine the location or distance the slipping surface intersected the bottom of the excavation if
n=0.95.

C D

H=8m

A B β = 38º
DH=12m

nH

SOLUTION:
(a) Undrained cohesion
Cu
Hcr =
δ(n)
Cu
8=
17.4(0.18)
𝑪𝒖 = 𝟐𝟓. 𝟎𝟓𝟔 𝑲𝑵/𝒎²

(b) Nature of the critical circle

 MIDPOINT CIRCLE

(c) Distance
AB = nH
AB = 0.95(8)
𝑨𝑩 = 𝟕. 𝟔𝒎

[source: Das, Principles of geotechnical Engineering] CE153

[source: Besavilla Geotechnical Reviewer]