Slope Stability Check Using Bishop Simplified Methods

Table to Compute Factor of Safety

Input the following Values
Cohesion
Unit Weight of Soil
125 PCF
Times
Friction Angle of Soil
20 DEG
Base
Cohesion of Soil
200 PSF
Plus
Trial Factor of Safety
1.5 DL
Weight Weight
Slope Angle
55 DEG
Times Times Bishop
Slope Height
20 FT
Sin
Tan
Term Column 8
Base
Base Friction Trial FS Divide
Slice Width Height Area Weight Angle Angle Angle Value Column 9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Bishop
Term
New FS
Value

Column 8
Divide
Column 11

(FT)

(FT)

(CF)

(LBS)

DEG

(LBS)

(LBS)

DL

DL

DL

DL

2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0

2.5
5.0
7.5
9.0
11.0
12.0
12.0
8.0
5.0
2.0

5
10
15
18
22
24
24
16
10
4

621
1243
1864
2237
2734
2983
2983
1989
1243
497

12
15
20
24
34
45
55
63
73
79
Sum
Input

130
330
648
917
1533
2113
2443
1776
1190
488
11569

624
850
1076
1212
1393
1483
1483
1122
850
579

1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.5
0.4
Sum
New FS

607
827
1053
1198
1445
1690
1921
1682
1628
1359
13409
1.2

1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
New FS

597.8
811.5
1028.2
1164.4
1387.2
1598.0
1785.5
1535.2
1439.9
1167.1
12514.8
1.1

Col 4

Col 5

Col 6

Col 7

Col 8

Col 9

Col 10

Col 11

Col 12

Input Input
Col 2

Col 3

Bishop
Term
New FS
Value

Column 8
Divide
Column 13
DL
DL
1.0
595
1.1
807
1.1
1021
1.1
1154
1.0
1370
0.9
1571
0.8
1747
0.8
1494
0.6
1389
0.5
1117
12266
New FS
1.1
Col 13

INPUT DATA NEEDED?

Determine soil properties and slope geometry with units in pounds and feet
Draw a scaled drawing of the subject slope and a toe circle failure surface to analysis
Divide the failure area into ten vertical slices of equal width
Measure the width of the equal slices and input in Column 2
Measure the average height of each slice and input in Column 3
Measure the average angle from horizontal to slip surface for each slice and input in Column 6
This spreadsheet has slice geometry formulas built-in in Columns 2,3 and 6 (which is incorrect for most steep slopes)
See USACE Manual Number EM 1110-2-1902, Oct 31, 2003, Appendix F for additional information (on the web)

Col 14

NOTES
DL=dimensionless unit (Ratio)
Based on toe circle failure extending half the length of the slope into the top of the slope
Column 7 is the sum of the sliding forces
Column 8 is the sum of the resisting forces in each individual slice
Toe circle geometry was roughly estimated using graphic means