SLOPE

STABILITY
Definition of slope
 Slope is the angle of inclination of soil
surface from horizontal.

Definition of slope stability

 The term slope stability may be defined as the resistance of inclined surface to
failure by sliding or collapsing. The main objectives of slope stability analysis are
finding endangered areas, investigation of potential failure mechanisms, determination
of the slope sensitivity to different triggering mechanisms, designing of optimal slopes
with regard to safety, reliability and economics, designing possible remedial measures,
e.g. barriers and stabilization
Definition of slope stability

 The term slope stability may be defined as the

resistance of inclined surface to failure by sliding or
collapsing.
Objective of Slope Stability
 The main objectives of slope stability analysis are finding
endangered areas, investigation of potential failure mechanisms,
determination of the slope sensitivity to different triggering
mechanisms, designing of optimal slopes with regard to safety,
reliability and economics, designing possible remedial measures,
e.g. barriers and stabilization
Factors of slope failure.
 The manner in which a slope fails is chiefly controlled
by the following factors;
 geological
 hydrological
 topographical
 climatic conditions
 extent of weathering of rocks / soils
Types of slope failure
Types of slope failure
 Falls are usually associated with short-term failure of steep
slopes (in artificial excavations or river banks) usually in rock
with vertical joints, Fig.1(a). As the lateral support is removed,
bulging occurs at the slope foot and tension cracks open behind
its crest, usually along the pre-existing fissures. This leads to
progressive increase of stresses in the root of the separating
mass and to the eventual collapse; the process is frequently
accelerated by water entering the tension cracks.
Types of slope failure
 Rotational slides occur characteristically in slopes of fairly
uniform clay. The failure surface is curved and usually deep
seated. The slipping mass slumps, sinking at the rear and
heaving at the toe, Fig.1(b). Approximately circular rotational
slips are associated with cut slopes of uniform clays whereas
non-circular rotational slips with natural slopes of over-
consolidated clays in which weathering has produced a softened
upper layer.
Types of slope failure
 Translational slides generally result from the presence
of heterogeneity, in the form of a weak soil layer, located
at shallow depth beneath the slope. The failure surface is
approximately planar and parallel to the ground surface,
Fig.1(c). If the plane of weakness is at a moderate depth
beneath the slope, a compound slide of partly rotational
and partly translational character may occur.
Types of slope failure
 Flows are mass movements in which there are no
well-defined failure planes, Fig.1(d). Skempton and
Hutchinson (1969) differentiate between earth flows
and mud flows; the latter are glacier-like in form
whereas the former are considered to be transitional
in character between the slides and mud flows.
Method of calculate factor of
safety (F.O.S) for slope
i. Total stress analysis
ii. Tailor stability analysis
iii. Fellenius Slices method
Total stress analysis method
 Method of analysis is used to :-
Calculation of slope stability for the case
of saturated clay short term
(ie conditions immediately after construction)

- The stability that occur may be due to soil weight, Ѡ .

- The maximum shear stress is equal to the value of c

the Øu = 0
 O
R

R
G

Curve of sliding

W
CIRCULAR SLIDE SLOPE FAILURE

R c
Ɵ

Sliding surface

W
Total stress analysis
Example 1
Check the stability of the slope if given C = 40 kN/m2 and unit
weight of the soil,γ = 18.5 kN/m3

R=17.4 m
5m
6.7 m
 B

C
R=17.4 m

10 m

1
1.5

A W
6.5 m
 F= c R2 
Wd

c R2  = 40  17.42  (84  /180)

= 1775.4 KNm/m

W  d = 105  18.5  6.5

= 12626.3 KNm/m

F = 17754.8 = 1.4 > 1 so, ok.

12626.3
Total stress analysis
Example 2
Check the stability of the slope if given C = 24.6 kN/m2 and unit
weight of the soil,γ = 16 kN/m3

R=14 m
4m
B
C

10 m

60

A
W
From the graph
θ= 74
d = 5.8 m
A = 72 m2

Given :-
 = 16 KN/m3
c = 24.6 KN/m2

c R2 
= 24.6  142  (74  /180)
= 6227.3 KNm/m

d
= 72  16  5.8
= 6681.6 KNm/m

F = c R2 
d

F = 6227.3 = 1.2
6681.6
 Taylor stability method
 D.W Taylor ( 1948 ) have introduced easy methods to determine
the lowest slope safety factor for homogeneous soil.

 This method is specific for short term cases, using non drain
strength parameters, Cu

 Assumed failure surface in the form of circular arc and there is no

tension cracks.

 By using the assumptions ф = 0 (and neglecting effects of tension

cracks), Taylor produced a series of arcs/ curved linking stability
number, N with slope angle β.

 Refer to the Figure 1 below, the charts shows the stability of

taylor.
Taylor stability chart
 The factors to be considered in stability analysis for
uniform slopes (in the cohesive soil) is soil cohesion,
shear friction angle, slope angle and required safety
factor.
 If four of the above factors combined in the form C
F Z
It produces a numbers without the size or dimension,
called stability number, N

N= C
F Z

 By the slope safety factor with stability analysis using

the taylor number is
F= C
N Z
 Stability number N, depending on the slope
inclination angle β, and the depth factor (DZ or DH is
the depth of the stratum).
Example 7

Figure 1A shows the profile of a sample excavation to be

made in the saturated clay stratum. If non drain shear
strength soil, Cu = 30kN/m² and saturated unit weight of soil,
= 19 kN/m³. Get excavation safety factor of slope failure by
using Taylor’s analysis of the stability number.
Solution:-
DZ = 12m
with the D = 12 = 12 = 1.2
Z 10
From Figure 1, Taylor Stability Chart Numbers
D = 1.2 and β = 30˚, Nc = 0.15

F= Cu = 30 = 1.05 > 1 critical

N Z 0.15x19x10
QUESTION 2

a. A slope has an inclination of 300 and is 8m high. The soil properties are Cu = 20 kN/m2,
Bulk unit weight,γ = 15kN/m3. Determine the short term factor of safety if the clay
deposit overlies rock which lies 2 m below the base of slope

Bed rock

b. A cut 13m deep is to be made in clay with a unit weight, γ of 19kN/m3 and a undrained
cohesion of 30kN/m3. A hard stratum exist at a depth of 26m below the ground surface
i. By using the Taylor’s stability Charts, determine whether the 200 slope is safe
ii. If factor of safety of 1.5 is desired, calculate the safe angle of slope.

Fellenius Slice Method
Fallenius Slice Method presuppose the
surface assumes Fellenius
failures that may occur as an arc
circle and then the plane failed attempts
is divided into several slices.

This method is also known as

the Swedish method.
 A possible failure surface will
occur is assumed to be in the form
of an arc circle with
radius R and center of circle O.
 Mass of soil which is above
the plane of the failure
of attempts (AC) is divided
into several slices with width b.
 This method is used when
the slope is likely to longer
be neglected or abandon within the
time frame in length.
 Each slice is assumed to be a straight
line with inclination to the horizontal
at an angle α , and
height Z measured at the middle
line.
 The forces
which act on a typical slice
 Weight
of slices,
W(W=bZ)

 Normal Force, N

 Water force,

 Shear force, ( =  M L)

 Daya-daya Tepian, E dan X

F.O.S =
b
W = bZ L =
cos

Slice z b W  Wsin Wcos l

4
Example 8
Find the slope safety factor using the method of slices.
Given: Divided the slope to 7 slices
C = 10 kN/m2
 = 150
 = 17.5 kN/m3
SOLUTION :
1. Sketched the figure given into the graph.
2. Scale as in the figure below.
3. Next, do 7 slices as requested.
4. The data obtained from this graph the
next sketch included in the table provided.
The slope is failure