CED532

Slope and Retaining Structures

Dr. Vishwas Khatri

Associate Professor,
Slide 1 Department of Civil Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad
Dhanbad-826004 (Jharkhand), India
E-mail: [email protected]
M: +91-9882279265
Slide 2 Course Objective
 Course Philosophy:
 To provide knowledge of slope stability analyses and earth pressure problems in retaining
structures.

 Learning Outcome:
 You will be able to understand and evaluate
• The earth pressures on retaining structures,
• Stability of slopes and earthen dams for earthquake forces, and
• Design of braced excavation for deep cuts and excavation in ground.

2
Slide 3 Course Content
Syllabus
Unit/Module-I: Stability of Earth Slope 12L
Infinite and Finite slopes analysis, Conditions of analysis: steady state, end of construction and sudden draw down,
Reinforcement on slope stability.
Unit/Module-II: Lateral Earth Pressure 10L
Lateral earth pressure types, Rankine’s theory and Coulomb’s theory, Linear and composite failure surfaces, Effects due
to wall friction and wall inclination, Earth pressure determination under seismic condition.
Unit/Module-III: Retaining Structures 12L
Rigid and flexible retaining structures: Types, Stability analysis, Cantilever sheet piles, Anchored bulkheads- free earth
method, Fixed earth method, Moment reduction factors, Anchorage of sheet piles.
Unit/Module-IV: Braced Excavations 03L
Construction methods, Pressure distribution in sands and clays, Stability-bottom heave, Seepage, Ground deformation.
Term Project 02L

3
Slide 4 Books and Reference
 Text Book:
 Das, B.M. (2011). Principle of Foundation Engineering, 7th Edition, Cengage Learning, USA.
 Clayton, C.R.I., Woods, R.I., Bond, A.J. and Milititsky, J. (2014). Earth Pressure and Earth-
Retaining Structures, 3rd Edition, CRC Press

 References:
 Cheng, Y.M. and Lau, C.K. (2017).Slope Stability Analysis and Stabilization: New Methods
and Insight, 2nd Edition, CRC Press.
 Kramer, S.L. (1996). Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, 1st Edition, Pearson India
Education Services Pvt. Ltd., Noida, India.
4
Slide 7

Module/Unit-I

Stability of Slopes

7
Slide 8 Introduction
 What is slope and slope stability?
 Slope:
 Slope is an inclined surface in natural material/ground which is generally measured as a
degree of inclination with respect to horizontal.
 An exposed ground surface that stands at an angle with the horizontal is called an
unrestrained slope.
 Slope Stability:
 Slope stability implies the resistance of that inclined surface to failure by sliding or
collapsing.

8
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 9 Introduction
 Slopes can be of two types:

Slopes

Man-made Slopes /
Natural Slopes
Artificially Engineered Slopes

 Natural Slopes:
 The slopes formed due to natural process and exist naturally are called natural slopes
o Hill sides and valleys
o Coastal and river cliffs

9
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 10 Introduction
 Natural Slopes:

10
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 11 Introduction
 Natural Slopes:

11
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 12 Introduction
 Man-made Slopes/Artificially Engineered Slopes:
 Slopes created by man or artificially created due to variety of engineering activities
o Cuttings for highways, railway lines, canals, etc
o Embankments for highways, railways, etc
o Earth dams for storing water
o Pond ash dams for storing pond ash
o Temporary excavations
o Waste heap (landfill slopes)
o Landscaping for site developments, etc

12
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 13 Introduction
 Slopes either natural or man-made/artifical can be of two types:

Slopes

Infinite Slopes Finite Slopes

 Infinite Slopes:.
 Slopes which have a constant slope for a considerable extent and in which the soil
characteristics on all verticals are adequately represented by the average soil conditions.
 Infinite slope is used to designate a constant slope of infinite extent
o Ex: Long slope of a mountain/hill face
13
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 14 Introduction
 Natural Slopes:

14
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 15 Introduction
 Natural Slopes:

15
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 16 Introduction
 Finite Slopes:
 Slopes that are limited in extent.
 Slope that connect land at one elevation to the land that is not far away but is at different
elevation.
o Ex: Slopes of embankments and earth dams

16
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 17 Introduction
 Man-made Slopes:

17
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 18 Introduction
 Man-made Slopes:

18
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 19 Introduction
 Man-made Slopes:

19
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 20 Introduction
 Man-made Slopes:

20
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 21 Introduction
 Man-made Slopes:

21
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 22 Introduction
 Man-made Slopes:

22
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 23 Introduction
 Man-made Slopes:

23
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 24 Introduction
 Why need to understand the slope stability?
 Slope stability is extremely important consideration in the design and construction of all

the engineering activities/construction where slope is coming into account

o earth dams, embankments, cuttings, landfills, etc.

 Stability of natural hill slopes is also important when it exists near any engineering
structures, township, etc.

Slope failure can often be catastrophic, involving the loss of

considerable property and many lives.
24
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 25 Introduction
 Slope Failure:

25
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 26 Introduction
 Slope Failure:

26
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 27 Introduction
 Slope Failure:

27
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 28 Introduction
 Slope Failure:

28
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 29 Introduction
 Slope Failure:

29
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 30 Introduction
 Slope Failure:

30
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 31 Introduction
 Slope Failure:

31
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 32 Introduction
 Slope Failure:

32
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 33 Introduction
 Slope Failure:

33
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 34 Introduction
 Causes of Failure of Slopes:
 If the ground surface is not horizontal a component of gravity/forces tends to move the soil
downward from high point to low point.

 This tendency to move Instability If actual movement of soil occurs

Slope Failure

34
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 35 Introduction
 Causes of Failure of Slopes:
 The important factors that causes instability in a slope and lead to failure:
o Component of weight, surcharge, external loading
o Force due to seepage
o Sudden drawdown/lowering of water adjacent to a slope
o Forces due to earthquake
o Erosion of the surface of slopes (due to flowing water, wind etc)
o Construction activities (excavation of soil at toe of slope, etc)
o Geological features

35
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 36 Introduction
 Causes of Failure of Slopes:
 The important factors that causes instability in a slope and lead to failure:

36
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 37 Introduction
 Causes of Failure of Slopes:
 The important factors that causes instability in a slope and lead to failure:

37
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 38 Introduction
 Causes of Failure of Slopes:
 The important factors that causes instability in a slope and lead to failure:

38
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 39 Introduction
 Causes of Failure of Slopes:
 The important factors that causes instability in a slope and lead to failure:

39
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 40 Introduction
 Causes of Failure of Slopes:
 The important factors that causes instability in a slope and lead to failure:
o Water and wind continuously erode the slopes This changes the geometry of the
slopes, resulting in a slope failure
or landslide

40
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 41 Introduction
 Causes of Failure of Slopes:
o Long period of rainfalls saturate, soften, and erode soils.
o Water enters into existing cracks and may weaken underlying soil layers leading to failure

41
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 42 Introduction
 Causes of Failure of Slopes:
 Geological Features:
o Many failures commonly result from un-identified geological features like soil
stratification, weak soil layer, large voids, etc

42
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 43 Introduction
 Causes of Failure of Slopes:
 External Loading:
o Loads placed on the crest of a slope add to gravitational load and may cause slope failure.
o Loads may be due to structures, moving vehicles, etc

43
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 44 Introduction
 Causes of Failure of Slopes:
o Force components Gravity, Seepage force, Earthquake force, Pore water
pressure, etc
o Induce shear stress throughout the soil mass Causing instability
o Such forces are called Driving Forces/Actuating Forces.

44
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 45 Introduction
 Block Movement:

 Resisting force: FR = µsN

 Disturbing force: FD = F = F1

 FS = FR/FD.
Block is said to be stationary
 As long as µsN > F

45
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 46 Introduction
 Similarly in case of slopes:

If driving forces overcomes the Slope failure occurs in the form of mass
resisting shear strength of the soil along movement of soil along a slip surface.
the slip/rupture surface.

Shearing resistance is derived mainly from shear strength of the soil.

Also from some natural factors like roots of plants, ice lenses, etc.

46
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 47 Introduction

 Checks are made to determine the safety of the slopes, either natural or man-made.

 Checks involves determining the shear stresses developed along most likely rupture
surface and comparing with shear strength of the soil.
 This process if called ‘Slope Stability Analysis’

47
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 48 Introduction
 Different Types of Failure of Slopes:
 An earth slope may have any one of the following modes of failure:
o Rotational failure
• Toe failure
• Slope failure
• Base failure
o Translational failure
o Compound failure
o Wedge failure
o Miscellaneous failure
48
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 49 Introduction
 Different Types of Failure of Slopes:
 Rotational failure:
 This type of failure occurs by rotation of unstable mass of soil along a slip surface by the
downward and outward movement of soil, above a slip surface from rest of the soil mass.
 The slip surface is generally circular for homogeneous soils and non-circular for non-
homogeneous conditions.

49
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 50 Introduction
 Different Types of Failure of Slopes:
 Rotational failure:
 Toe failure:
 Failure occurs along a slip surface that passes through the toe of the slope
 Slope failure:
 Here slip surface intersects the slope face above the toe.
 Base failure:
 Slip surface passes below the toe of the slope

50
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 51 Introduction
 Different Types of Failure of Slopes:
 Translational failure:
 Failure occurs by sliding along a plane surface and the failure surface is not curved but a
plane surface.
 Generally occurs in infinite slopes and may also occur along slopes of layered materials.

51
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 52 Introduction
 Different Types of Failure of Slopes:
 Compound failure:
 It is a combination of both rotational and translational failures.
 The failure surface is curved at two ends with a plane in the middle portion.
 It generally occurs when a hard stratum exists at considerable depth below the toe.

52
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 53 Introduction
 Different Types of Failure of Slopes:
 Wedge failure:
 A failure along an inclined plane is known as wedge failure, also known as plane or block
failure.
 Occurs when distinct blocks or wedges of soil mass become separated from the rest of the
earth slope.

53
Introduction, Cont…

Slide 54 Introduction
 Different Types of Failure of Slopes:
 Miscellaneous failures:
 Complex failures in the form of spreads and flows fall under this category.

54