Dr.

J Shaikh
Assistant Professor
Geotechnical Engineering 2 ⇒ Assignment 5 Department of Civil Engineering

Assignment 5 on Unit 5 (Stability of Slope)

[Answers]
Q.1. Short answer type questions:
a) Write a short note on stability of soil slope.
Answer: ⇒ A soil slope is an inclined ground surface which can be either natural or human-made. Stability of
soil slope refers to the state where the inclined soil mass can withstand its self-weight and external forces
without experiencing any deformations. Understanding of the slope stability is invariably required in the
construction of highways, railways, earth dams and river-training works. The stability of the soil slopes is,
therefore, of concern to the geotechnical engineer. Mainly five factors influence slope stability of a soil slope
such as shear strength, unit weight of the soil, , height and inclination of the slope, pore pressure within the soil.

b) Discuss various causes of slope failure.

Answer: ⇒ Various causes of slope failure:
(i) Erosion, (ii) Rainfall, (iii) Earthquakes, (iv) Geological factors, (v) External loading, (vi) Tsunami, (vii)
Rapid drawdown of nearby water level, (viii) Increment of pore water pressure, (ix) Construction activities,
(x) The change in topography, (xi) Volcanic eruption, (xii) high speed wind

c) What do you mean by natural and manmade slope? Give example for each.
Answer: ⇒ Natural slope: The earth slope that exist in nature and are formed geologically due to natural
process. Such slopes existing in hilly and mountainous areas are examples of natural earth slopes.
Manmade slope: The earth slopes constructed by human for various reasons s are called as manmade slopes.
The slopes of embankments constructed for roads, railway lines, canals etc. and the slopes of earth dams
constructed for storing water are examples of man-made slopes.

d) Differentiate between finite and infinite slope with example.

Answer: ⇒ Difference between finite and infinite slope:

Finite slope Infinite slope

The slope that is of limited extent. Mostly The type of slope extending infinitely, or up to an
engineers deal with this type of slopes. extent whose boundaries are not well defined.
The slopes of embankments and earth dams are The long slope of the face of a mountain is an
examples of finite slopes. example of this type of earth slopes.

This slope has limited height This slope has great extent over long distance.

Mostly manmade slopes are this kid of slope. Mostly natural earth slopes are this kid of slope.

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 Dr. J Shaikh
Assistant Professor
Geotechnical Engineering 2 ⇒ Assignment 5 Department of Civil Engineering

e) List five different major categories of slope failure according to Cruden and Varnes (1996).
Answer: ⇒ Major five types of slope failure according to Cruden and Varnes (1996) are as follows:
1. Fall: It is the detachment of soil and/or rock fragments that fall down a slope
2. Topple: It is a forward rotation of soil mass about an axis below the centre of gravity of displaced mass.
3. Slide. This is the downward movement of a soil mass occurring along a surface of rupture
4. Spread: It is a form of sliding of soil mass by translation.
5. Flow: This is a downward movement of soil mass similar to a viscous fluid

Or Illustration of various types of slope failure:

Topple Fall

Slide
Flow

Spread

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 Dr. J Shaikh
Assistant Professor
Geotechnical Engineering 2 ⇒ Assignment 5 Department of Civil Engineering

f) Illustrate three types of failure of finite slope.

Failure
Failure Failure
Failure
surface
surface surface
surface

Toe Toe Soil

Soil of of high
high strength
strength Toe Toe Homogeneous
Homogeneous soilsoil G.L. G.L.
G.L. G
G.L.G.L.
BaseBase Base
Base
FaceFace failure
failure ToeToe failure
failure

Face Failure
surface

s soil G.L. G.L. Toe Softer soil

Base
Base failure
g) Express stability number in terms of slope angle 𝛽 and angle of friction ∅.
Answer: ⇒ Stability number:
Stability number = 𝑆𝑛 = cos 2 𝛽 (tan 𝛽 − tan ∅)
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝛽 = 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∅ = 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
h) Write down the expression for Taylor’s stability number with description of each parameter used.
𝐜
Answer: ⇒ Stability number: 𝐒𝐧 = 𝑭
𝒄 𝛄𝐇

Where, c = Cohesion, γ = Unit weight, Hc = Height of slope and Fc = Factor of safety gainst cohesion
i) Mention the condition to make a slope in a cohesionless soil stable where no external force is present.
Answer: ⇒ Angle of internal friction (∅) must be greater than the angle of slope with horizontal (β) to
make a slope stable in cohesionless soil where no external force is present.
j) Write the expression for factor of safety against shear strength where 𝑐𝑓 and ∅𝑓 are cohesion and angle of
friction respectively that develop along the potential failure surface within a soil mass having cohesion of c
and angle of friction of ∅. Consider 𝜎 as the normal stress acting on the potential failure surface.
Answer: ⇒ Shear strength of the soil = 𝜏 = 𝑐 + 𝜎 tan ∅
Shear stress developed during failure = 𝜏𝑓 = 𝑐𝑓 + 𝜎 tan ∅𝑓
𝜏 𝑐+𝜎 tan ∅
Hence, Factor of safety = 𝜏 = 𝑐
𝑓 𝑓 +𝜎 tan ∅𝑓

Where, 𝑐 = cohesive strength of the soil and ∅ = angle of internal friction

𝑐𝑓 = cohesion and ∅𝑓 = angle of internal friction which developed during the failure of the soil in shear.

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 Dr. J Shaikh
Assistant Professor
Geotechnical Engineering 2 ⇒ Assignment 5 Department of Civil Engineering

Q.2 Long answer type questions:

a) A slope of infinite extent is made in dense sand layer at an angle of 30° (slope angle: 𝛽) to the horizontal.
Determine the factor of safety of the slope against shear failure if the angle of friction of the sand is 36°.
tan ∅
Solution: ⇒ For cohesionless soil, the factor of safety of the slope against shear failure = 𝐹 = tan 𝛽
Where, ∅ = Angle of internal friction of soil = 36° (Given)
𝛽 = Angle of internal friction of soil = 30° (Given)
tan ∅ tan 36°
Hence, the factor of safety of the slope against shear failure = 𝐹 = tan 𝛽 = = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 (Ans.)
tan 30°

b) A slope is to be constructed at an inclination of 30° with the horizontal direction. Determine the safe height
of the slope at a factor of safety of 1.5. The soil has the following properties: unit weight (𝛾) of 19 kN/m3,
cohesion (𝑐) of 15 kN/m2, and 22.5° as angle of friction (∅). [Assume a stability number (𝑆𝑛 ) as 0.046
corresponding to inclination of 30° and mobilized frictional angle of 15°]
𝑐
Solution: ⇒ We know stability number = 𝑆𝑛 = 𝐹 𝛾𝐻
𝑐
Where, 𝑐 = cohesion of the soil = 15 kN/m2 (Given)
𝐹𝑐 = factor of safety against soil cohesion = 1.5 (Given)
𝛾 = unit weight of the soil = 19 kN/m3 (Given)
𝑆𝑛 = Stability number = 0.046 (Given)
𝑐 15
Hence, the safe height of side slope = H = 𝐹 𝛾𝑆 = 1.5×19×0.046 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟒𝟒 m (Ans.)
𝑐 𝑛

c) An excavation is made with a vertical face in a clay soil which has unit weight (𝛾) of 18 kN/m3 and cohesion
(𝑐) of 50 kN/m2. Determine the maximum depth of the excavation so that it remains stable. [Assume a stability
number (𝑆𝑛 ) as 0.261 corresponding to inclination of 90° and mobilized frictional angle of 0°]
𝑐
Solution: ⇒ We know stability number = 𝑆𝑛 = 𝐹 𝛾𝐻
𝑐
Where, 𝑐 = cohesion of the soil = 50 kN/m2 (Given)
Depth of excavation would be maximum if 𝐹𝑐 = factor of safety = 1 for stable condition
𝛾 = unit weight of the soil = 18 kN/m3 (Given)
𝑆𝑛 = Stability number = 0.261 (Given)
𝑐 50
Hence, the maximum depth of excavation = H = 𝐹 𝛾𝑆 = 1×18×0.261 = 𝟒𝟎. 𝟕𝟕 m (Ans.)
𝑐 𝑛

d) A cutting is to be made in clay for which the cohesion is 35 kN/m2 and φ = 0°. The density of the soil is 20
kN/m3. Find the maximum depth for a cutting of side slope 1.5 to 1 if the factor of safety is to be 1.5. Take
the stability number for a 1.5 to 1 slope and φ = 0° as 0.17.
Solution: ⇒ The maximum depth for a cutting of side slope = H = 𝛾𝑆𝑐𝑑 = 𝐹 𝛾𝑆
𝑐
𝑛 𝑐 𝑛

2
Where, 𝑐 = cohesion of the soil = 35 kN/m (Given)
𝐹𝑐 = factor of safety against soil cohesion = 1.5 (Given)
𝛾 = unit weight of the soil = 20 kN/m3 (Given)
𝑆𝑛 = Stability number = 0.17 (Given)
𝑐 35
Hence, The maximum depth for a cutting of side slope = H = 𝐹 𝛾𝑆 = 1.5×20×0.17 = 𝟔. 𝟖𝟔 m (Ans.)
𝑐 𝑛

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 Dr. J Shaikh
Assistant Professor
Geotechnical Engineering 2 ⇒ Assignment 5 Department of Civil Engineering

e) An embankment is inclined at an angle of 35° and its height is 15 m. The angle of shearing resistance of the
soil is 15° and its cohesion is 200 kN/m2. The unit weight of the soil is 18.0 kN/m3. If Taylor’s stability
number is 0.06, find the factor of safety with respect to cohesion.
𝑐
Solution: ⇒ We know, Stability number = 𝑆𝑛 = 𝐹 𝛾𝐻
𝑐

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, H = Height of slope = 15 m, 𝑐 = soil cohesion = 200 kN/m2, 𝛾 = unit weight of the soil = 18 kN/m3
𝐹𝑐 =Factor of safety with respect to cohesion =?
𝑐 200
Hence, Stability number = 𝑆𝑛 = 𝐹 𝛾𝐻 ⇒ 0.06 = 𝐹 ×18×15
𝑐 𝑐

200
⇒ 𝐹𝑐 = 0.06×18×15 = 𝟏𝟐. 𝟑 (Ans.)

f) A cut is to be made in a soil that has unit weight (𝛾) of 17 kN/m3, cohesion (𝑐) of 40 kN/m2, and 15° as angle
of friction (∅). The side of the cut slope will make an angle of 30° with the horizontal. What will be the
maximum depth of the cut slope if 3 is ensured as the factor of safety (𝐹𝑠 ) against shear failure?
Solution: ⇒ Given 𝐹𝑠 = 3, ⸫ 𝐹𝑐 = 𝐹𝑐 = 3
4𝑐 sin 𝛽 cos ∅
If 3 is ensured as the factor of safety, height [H = { } ] of cut slope with a slope angle (𝛽) of
𝛾 1−cos(𝛽−∅)

30° in soil having unit weight (𝛾) of 17 kN/m3, would be maximum

𝑐 40
when 𝑐𝑑 = 𝐹 = = 13.33 kN/m2 and ∅𝒅 = tan−1(0.089316) = 5.1°
𝑐 3
tan ∅ tan 15°
(𝐴𝑠, tan ∅𝑑 = = = 0.089316)
𝐹∅ 3

4𝑐𝑑 sin 𝛽 cos ∅𝑑 4×13.33 sin 30° cos 5.1°

Hence, maximum depth = 𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥 = { }= × {1−cos(30°−5.1°)} = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟖 m (Ans.)
𝛾 1−cos(𝛽−∅𝑑 ) 17

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