SLOPE STABILITY PROBLEMS

MODES OF SLOPE INSTABILITY

Instability and failure of natural and artificial slopes are due to externally induced
elements (humidity, flooding, proximity erosions, and constructions activities) and
internal elements (stratigraphy, cohesion, capillary suction, eccentric normal stress).

Falls (sudden and rapid movements of slope to new equilibrium state) and Topples
(falls associated with faulted rocks and stratified stiff soils) are not normally evaluated
by conventional equilibrium theories of soil mechanics, instability evaluation here are
dealt with by the rupture theories of rock mechanics.

Slides (rotational, transitional and compound slides), Spreads (associated with plastic
flow of soft soil mass) and flow (predominantly induced by liquefaction in low
density sandy and excess positive pore water pressure in fine soil) are slope instability
modes that conform with the equilibrium theories of conventional soil mechanics.

Most of slope stability analysis in soil mechanics are related mainly to soil slides
because of determinate post slide residual stresses that permits back analysis, and to
spreads and flows as special case studies with low to nonexistent residual stresses due
to fluidization.

Analysis of Slope Stability Problems

Soil slopes fails along existing weak bedding (mainly stratified) planes and stress
induced weak planes when the shear stress induced on that plane (due to normal and
eccentric loading of the overburden and surcharge) is equal to the shear resistance
offered by the plane due to cohesion and frictional angle.

MODIFIED CODUTO PROBLEM

The properties of the cut slope in a shale formation shown in fig 1 are as follows;
Unit weight = 20.1 kN/m3, and along bedding planes, effective cohesion cʹ and
friction angle φʹ are 15kPa and 20 degrees. On the bedding plane defined by an
apparent dip of 16 degrees, compare the factor of safety against failure when (a) the
average water level rises from 3m above the bedding plane to 10m above the bedding
plane , (b) falls from 3m above the bedding plane to more than 10m below the
bedding plane of interest.
 Fig 1

W/b = area of triangular wedge x unit weight =( 0.5 x 85 x 11.3) x (20.1)

When the water table is 10m above the critical bedding plane.

u = 9.8 x 10 = 98kPa

c ¢l + [(W / b) cos a - ul ] tan f ¢

FOS =
(W / b) sin a

15kPa (88.4) + [(9650) cos16° - (98kPa )(88.4 m)] tan 20

FOS =
(9650) sin 16°

When the water table is 10m above the critical bedding plane

15kPa (88.4) + [(9650) cos16°)] tan 20

FOS =
(9650) sin 16°

Plot the variation of FOS vs water table. Comments

Explore the effect of change in the magnitude of natural slope angle or 1:1.5 on factor
of safety. Try 1:1, and 1:2. Comments

TENSION CRACK INDUCED INSTABILITY IN COHESIVE SOILS

Stability of slopes in cohesive soil wedge along a circular slip circle.

The disturbing moment = weight of wedge x moment arm from the c.g of the wedge
= (soil density x volume) x (horizontal dist from center of wedge to centre of circle)

The resisting moment = cohesion x arc length of circular slip x radius

= c x r ϴ x r = cr2 ϴ
Frequently in tropical residual clayey soils, tension crack appears at some idstance
from the top of an earth slope and paral to it. The depth of this crack (ht) is taken as
2c/γ for purely cohesive soil and (2c √Nφ )/ γ for granular clays,, and is the point
through which the slip circle will pass.
Nφ = tan2(45 + φ/2).
No cohesive forces can develop to this depth. This crack may fill up with water and
exert hydrostatic pressure that induces a moment about the centre of the slip circle.

The bank of a canal has a profile shown in fig 2. The material is homogenous clay of
density 2000kg/m3, cohesion of 30kpa and angle of shearing resistance of 0. For the
trial slip circle shown, the area ABCDE is 151m2 and the centroid is at G. Find for
each of the following conditions , the the factor of safety for this slip circle:

(a) If the water in the canal is level with the top of the bank
(b) If the canal is empty.
Allow for a tension crack 3m deep which may be filled with water.

95.5˚

J B C

17m D
8m
3m
fig2
3.2 G
fig 2
A 30˚ F H

(a)If the canal is full

Disturbing moment = 151 x 9.8 x 3.2 = 4720 kN/m
Resisting moment = AED x 30 x 17
= 17 x 95.5 x π/180 x 30 x 17 = 14400 kN/m
FOS = 14.4/4.72 = 3.04

(b)If canal is empty;

AH = 8√3 =13.8. Thus AF = 10.8m
OF2 = 172 x 10.82 ,, OF = 13.1m.,, JF = 8.0m , OJ = 5.1

Disturbing moment
= 151x (2 x 9.8) x 3.2 +Pressure from water in crack [1/2 x 9.8 x 32 x (5.1 +2)]
= 9481 kN/m
Resisting moment = 14400 kN/m
Factor of Safety = 14.4/9.48 = 1.52
PROBLEM

Evaluate the stability of the 8 m tall, 1.5:1 slope shown in fig 3 by the Ordinary
method of Slices and effective stress analysis. The soil is homogenous, the properties
are, cʹ = 20 kPa, φʹ = 30̊ . The soil unit weight is γ = 20 kN/m3 below the water table
and γ = 19.5 kN/m3 above the water table.

3m 4m 5m 6m 1m 20kPa/m pad

α = 67
7m
8m
α = 60
6m
2m
3m fig 3
1m
α = 30
α= -10 α=5
PROBLEM

Evaluate the stability of the 8 m tall, 1.5:1 slope shown in fig 4 by The Ordinary
method of Slices and effective stress analysis. The soil is homogenous, the properties
are γ = 20 kN/m3 , cʹ = 20 kPa, φʹ = 30̊ and the water table is below the failure cirle.

3m 4m 5m 6m

TENSION CRACK

7m
8m
α = 60
6m

3m fig 4

α = 30
α= -10 α=5