Slope stability is at present routinely analysed by the Limit Equilibrium approach, derived somewhat loosely from the

Theory of Plasticity. It is based on the assumption that the pattern of stress in a failing slope can be determined from
static
Equilibrium, without the need to consider stress redistribution due to elastic and inelastic straining. The stresses
acting on the boundary of the sliding body (‘rupture surface’) can then be compared with available strengths, to
evaluate equilibrium. The ‘factor of safety’ is usually defined as a ratio by which available soil or rock strength may
be reduced, without causing failure.
The Limit Equilibrium approach was originally applied to the sliding of rigid portions of a slope, along assumed
rupture surfaces. Coulomb was the first to calculate the Factor of Safety of a block above a planar surface. Later,
circular (‘Swedish Circle’) surfaces were analysed, as it was observed that slides in clay are often rotational.
In the ‘Method of Slices’ (Fellenius 1927), the sliding body, viewed in cross section, is divided into vertical slices. An
approximate assumption is made that the vertical stress at the base of each slice is constant and equal to the weight
of the material column above it. In the ‘Ordinary’ (‘Fellenius’) method, all stresses acting at the vertical boundaries
between adjacent columns are neglected. The equilibrium problem then becomes statically determinate and could
be solved by simple vector analysis. The Factor of Safety is equal to the ratio of the sum of available strengths on all
column bases, to the sum of applied shear stresses. The results are often excessively conservative.
Bishop (1955) realized that, with a circular rupture surface, it is unlikely for the inter-slice shear stresses to be very
high. He therefore assumed these to be zero and derived the normal and shear stresses at the base of each
column from vertical force equilibrium. The Factor of Safety can then be evaluated from the moment equilibrium of
the slice assembly, without the need to neglect the normal inter-slice forces. This method neglects horizontal force
equilibrium, but nevertheless produces very accurate results when compared with more sophisticated
approaches, for circular and some non-circular surfaces.
More detailed methods have been derived, taking into consideration inter-slice shear and all three equilibrium
conditions. Recently, a much more sophisticated approach, based on numerical stress-strain analysis of the slope,
has been developed, so called ‘Stress Reduction Method’ (Dawson et al. 1999). One of the advantages of this
method is that it removes the need to
Predetermine the shape of the rupture surface. However, it is much more difficult to implement and lacks the long
track record of practical experience, inherent in the Method of Slices. Thus, for the foreseeable future, the Method of
Slices will continue to be an important tool for the analysis of slope stability. An extension to a three-dimensional
‘Method of Columns’ has now also been developed (e. g. Hungr et al. 1989).

Literatura: Encyclopedia of Geomorphology