Lecture 5: Slope Stability

Analysis (Part 1)
CO2: At the end of this course,
students should be able to analysis
the stability and factor of safety of
slopes
Introduction

Whenever a mass
of soil has an
inclined surface, the
potential always
exists for part of the
soil mass to slide
from a higher
location to a lower
one
Introduction

Sliding will occur when stress developed in the soil > shear strength of the soil
Introduction

Slope Stability
Analysis

Soil Mass Bishop’s

Homogenous Homogenous
On Inclined layer Method of Simplified
of Cohesionless Cohesive
Slices Method of
Impermeable soil Soil Soil
Slices

Stability
Culmann
Method
Number
Method

Several Techniques for Slope Stability Analysis

Soil Mass On Inclined layer of
Impermeable soil

The force tending to cause sliding is the component of weight of the upper
mass’s weight (W)
Soil Mass On Inclined layer of
Impermeable soil
The upper mass’s weight;
W =Lh / 2

The force causing sliding;

Fs = W Sin  ----- (1)

And the forces resist sliding;

RS= cL + W cos  tan ϕ ---- (2)

Factor of Safety = (2) / (1)

F.S. = cL + W cos  tan ϕ
W Sin 
Soil Mass On Inclined layer of
Impermeable soil

Factor of Safety = (2) / (1)

F.S. = cL + W cos  tan ϕ
W Sin 
Example 1 (Pg 448)
Figure shows a 4.5 m cut through
two soil strata. The lower is a
highly impermeable cohesive
soil. The shearing strength data
between the two strata are as
follows:
c = 7.5 kN/m2
Angle of friction = 25
Unit weight of upper layer = 16
kN/m3

Neglect the effect of soil water

between the two strata.
Determine the safety against
sliding.
Answer 1
F.S. = cL + W cos  tan ϕ
W Sin 

L = D / sin  h = (D/ sin β) sin (β-) W = Lh / 2

= 3 / sin 30 = (3/ sin 45) sin (45 - 30) = 6 (1.1)(16.5) / 2
=6m = 1.1 m = 54.45 kN/m

F.S. = cL + W cos  tan ϕ

W Sin 

= (7)(6) + (54.45) cos 30 tan 25

(54.45) Sin 30

= 2.35 > 1.5 , OK Slope is SAFE

Slope in Homogenous Cohesionless
Soils
Homogenous soil = Only ONE type of soil
Cohesionless = c = 0 (Ex: sand, gravel)

Φ,c=0

In order to get F.S. greater than 1, β

should be less than ϕ
Slope in Homogenous Soils Possessing
Cohesion (Culmann Method)
Assumption = sliding failure will
occur along a plane that passes
through the toe.
The force causing sliding;
Fs = W Sin  ----- (1)

And the forces resist sliding;

RS= cd L + W cos  tan ϕd ---- (2)

Where;
cd = ‘developed’ cohesion
= c / F.S.c
tan ϕd = ‘developed’ angle of friction
= tan ϕ / F.S.ϕ
Slope in Homogenous Soils Possessing
Cohesion (Culmann Method)
The upper soil weight ‘W’ can be
calculated as:
W =Lh / 2

The height ‘h’ can be calculated as:

Rearrange the equations to get;

Slope in Homogenous Soils Possessing
Cohesion (Culmann Method)
Fs = W Sin  RS = cd L + W cos  tan ϕd

Equating Fs = Rs, and substituting W, Hence;

---- (1)

The critical angle (c) can be obtained by solving the above equation through
‘derivation’ : d(cd)/d() = 0

---- (2)

Substituting (2) into (1) to get

Slope in Homogenous Soils Possessing
Cohesion (Culmann Method)

The above equation is used to

1. Compute the safe depth (H) in cutting slope. One must determine
the developed cohesion (cd) and the developed angle of friction
(ϕd)
2. To determine the F.S (that satisfy both friction and cohesion)
Example Pg 451 (To check H)
A vertical cut to be made:
Unit weight = 16.5 kN/m3
Cohesion = 25 kN/m2
Angle of friction = 210
Given F.S = 2

Find safe cut, H

Answer:
Use the following equation:

cd = ‘developed’ cohesion
= c / F.S.c Given  = 900 (Vertical cut)
= 25/2 = 12.5
Solve to get H = 3.66 m
tan ϕd = ‘developed’ angle of friction
= tan ϕ / F.S.ϕ
= tan 21/2 = 0.192
Φd = 10.87
Example 2: To determine FS
Given a 1.8 m deep vertical wall trench is to be dug
in soil without shoring. The soil’s unit weight, angle
of internal friction, and cohesion are 19 kN/m3, 28,
and 20.2 kN/m2, respectively.
Determine the factor of safety of this trench, using
Culmann method.
Answer 2
Given Where;
C = 20.2 cd = ‘developed’ cohesion
Φ = 28 = c / F.S.c
tan ϕd = ‘developed’ angle of friction
= tan ϕ / F.S.ϕ

F.S.ϕ ϕd Cd F.S.c

1.0 28 5.14 kN/m2 3.39

2.0 14.89 6.57 kN/m2 3.07

3.0 10.05 7.17 kN/m2 2.82

Answer 2

F.S.c and F.S.ϕ are

plotted from which the
applicable factor of
safety of about 2.84
can be read.
DIY

1.Problems 14.2 (page 470) : Using

Culmann Method, find safe cut H

2. Problem 14.3 (Page 470): Using

Culmann method, find FS
Slope in Homogenous Soils Possessing
Cohesion (Stability Number Method)
Assumption = sliding failure will
occur along a circular arc

A parameter called the stability

number is introduced, which
group factors affecting the
stability of soil slopes.
The stability number (Ns) is
defined as follows:
Slope in Homogenous Soils Possessing
Cohesion (Stability Number Method)

Toe circle failure Slope circle failure

Midpoint circle failure

Can be determined based on angle of friction and backfill (Fig

14.9 and Fig 14.10)
Slope in Homogenous Soils Possessing
Cohesion (Stability Number Method)

Based on this Figure:

How to get
nd? 1. If  > 530, the failure surface is
Check always toe circle
Fig 14.8 2. If nd > 4 , the failure surface is
always at midpoint circle

For ϕ = 0

To determine the type of failure and the stability number can be obtained based
on ϕ and β
Slope in Homogenous Soils Possessing
Cohesion (Stability Number Method)

Based on this Figure:

1. If  > 30 , the failure surface is

always toe circle.

For soil having

cohesion and friction
Slope in Homogenous Soils Possessing
Cohesion (Stability Number Method)
Stability Number method can be used :
1. To determine the FS (both c & ) by:
Find Ns Find c Find
Use ϕ ϕ required
Try (graph) required F.S.c
F.S. ϕ given

(Trial & Error + Graph) method

2. To estimate the safe slope angle ()

Find nd  Find crequired  Find Ns (calculate)  Use graph to find 
Example 3 (Find FS)

Find the safety against failure by the stability number

Find Ns Find c Find

Use ϕ ϕ required
Try (graph) required F.S.c
F.S. ϕ given
Answer 3
1. Tan ϕrequired = Tan ϕgiven / F.S. ϕ
2. Use given β = 45 and ϕrequired from the graph to obtain Ns
3. Using formula Ns = H/crequired and given H,  to determine crequired

4. Calculate F.S.c = cgiven / crequired

F.S.ϕ ϕrequired Ns Crequired F.S.c

1.0 10 9.2 20.5 kN/m2 1.46

1.2 8.36 8.6 21.90 kN/m2 1.37

1.5 6.37 7.9 23.85 kN/m2 1.26

The Steps (1) – (4) should be repeated until F.S.ϕ = F.S.c

Answer

The Steps (1) – (4) should be

repeated until F.S.ϕ = F.S.c

To simplify the process, F.S.c

and F.S.ϕ values are plotted
from which the applicable
factor of safety of about 1.32
can be read.
DIY: Problem 14.4 (pg 470)

Determine the factor of safety against

slope failure by means of stability
number method for slope shown in
Figure 14.21
Lecture 14: Slope Stability
Analysis (Part 2)
CO5: At the end of this course,
students should be able to analysis
the stability and factor of safety of
slopes
Method of Slices
Slope failure analysis based on
assumption that failure occurs
along a curved surface.
Procedure:
1. Draw the slope to scale
by assuming a trial failure curve
2. Divide the soil into a number of
vertical slices of equal width.
3. Calculate the weight (W) of
each slice (volume x )
4. Determine the angle of trial
surface failure to the horizontal
axis (). Note that it may be
negative in certain situation.
Method of Slices
Example 14.8 (Pg 464)

The stability of the slope

is to be analyzed. The
length of the trial curve, L
= 10.8 m and the angle
of friction ϕ, = 5 and the
cohesion, c = 19.15
kN/m2.

Find the F.S

Example 14.8
Answer 14.8

2.06
Exercise

Calculate the
factor of safety for
a slope with angle
is 450 and height is
15.24 m. The soil
parameters are: c 15.24 m
= 17.1 kN/m2,
450
 = 19.2 kN/m3,
 = 340.
Answer 1
Slice W = bz  W sin  W cos 
(kN/m)
1

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Answer
Slice W = bz  W sin  W cos 
(kN/m) (kN/m) (kN/m)

1 = 2.6 x 5.8 x 19.2 = 700 272 99.0

289.5

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9


Answer
Slice W = bz  W sin  W cos 
(kN/m) (kN/m) (kN/m)

1 = 2.6 x 5.8 x 19.2 = 700 272.0 99.0

289.5

2 2 m x 9.8 m x 19.2 = 376.32 52 296.5 231.7

3 2m x 10.6 x 19.2 = 407.04 40 261.6 311.8
4 2m x 10m x 19.2 = 384 31 197.8 329.2
5 2m x 9m x 19.2 = 345.6 28 162.2 305.1
6 2m x 8m x 19.2 = 307.2 20 105.1 288.7
7 2m x 6.2 x 19.2 = 238.08 11 45.4 233.7
8 2m x 4.2m x 19.2 = 161.28 4 11.3 160.9
9 3.2 m x 2m x 19.2 = 122.88 -17 -35.9 117.5

 1316 2077.6
Answer
Length L = (990 /3600 ) x (2r)
= 0.274 x 2 x 3.142 x 16.4 m
= 28.3 m
Given c = 17.1 kN/m2 ,  = 340

F.S = [(17.1)(28.3) + (2077.6)( tan 340 )] / (1316)

= 1.43
Bishop’s Simplified Method of Slices

Bishop (1955) assume that all

forces (weight W, shear T, normal
H) and a set on the base (shear S,
normal N) acting on the slice
Bishop’s Simplified Method of Slices
Solving the equilibrium of all forces to derive the F.S

------- (1)

Use trial F.S for equation

Where
(2) to get m , then insert
C = cohesion m in (1) to get F.S.
b = breadth of slice Procedure is repeated until
W = weight of slice correct (same) value of F.S
ϕ = angle of friction is found.
m = [1+ (tan  tan ϕ)/F.S) cos  ------ (2)
Bishop’s Simplified Method of Slices