Method of Slices

• Method of Slices
• Non-homogenous soils (mass procedure is not accurate)
• Soil mass is divided into several vertical Parallel slices
• The width of each slice need not be the same
• It is sometimes called the Swedish method

112
 Method of Slices

• It is a general method that can be used for analyzing irregular slopes in

non-homogeneous slopes in which the values of c’ and f ’ are not
constant.

• Because the SWEDISH GEOTECHNCIAL COMMISION used this method

extensively, it is sometimes referred to as the SWEDISH Method.

• In mass procedure only the moment equilibrium is satisfied. Here attempt

is made to satisfy force equilibrium.

g1, c’1,
b2
f’1
g2, c’2, g, c’, f’
f’2 b1
g3, c’3,
f’3
Non-homogeneous Slope Irregular Slope 113
 Method of Slices

• The soil mass above the trial slip surface is divided into several vertical parallel
slices. The width of the slices need not to be the same (better to have it equal).
• The accuracy of calculation increases if the number of slices is increased.
• The base of each slice is assumed to be a straight line.
• The inclination of the base to the horizontal is a.
• The height measured in the center line is h.
• The height measured in the center line is h.
• The procedure requires that a
series of trial circles are chosen
and analyzed in the quest for
the circle with the minimum
factor of safety.

Tr

114
 Method of Slices

• Forces acting on each slice

• Total weight wi=ghb
• Total normal force at the base Nr=s*L
• Shear force at the base Tr=t*L
• Total normal forces on the sides, Pn and Pn+1
• Shear forces on the sides, Tn and Tn+1
• 5 unknowns Tr ,Pn ,Pn+1 ,Tn ,Tn+1
• 3 equations SFx=0 , SFy=0 ,SM=0
• System is statically indeterminate
• Assumptions must be made to solve the problem
• Different assumptions yield different methods
• Two Methods:
• Ordinary Method of Slices (Fellenius Method)
• Bishop’s Simplified Method of Slices 115
 Method of Slices

For the whole sliding mass

S Mo  0
SW * r * sin a - ST * r  0
SW * sin a  ST
t
f
T  t *l  *l
d F
s
t
f
SW * sin a  *l
F
s
St * l
f
Fs 
SW * sin a
S(c * l  s * tan f * l )
Fs  n
SW * sin a 116
 Method of Slices

S(c * l  s * tan f * l )
Fs  n
SW * sin a
Ss n * l  SN
Sc * l  tan f * SN
Fs 
SW * sin a
Equation is exact but approximat ions are introduced in finding
the value of force N

Two Methods :
• Ordinary Method of Slices
• Bishop' s Simplified Method of Slices

117
 Ordinary Method of Slices

Fellenius’ Method
Assumption
 For each slice, the resultant of the interslice forces is
zero.
 The resultants of Pn and Tn are equal to the resultants
of Pn+1 and Tn+1, also their lines of actions coincide.

Rn

Rn+1

118
 Ordinary Method of Slices

SFn  0 (to stay away from Tr )

N r  Wn * cos a n n
S ( c* ln  Wn * cos a n tan f )
Fs 
SWn * sina n
For undrained condition:
c  cu f 0
c l
Fs  u
SWn * sina n
119
 Ordinary Method of Slices

Steps for Ordinary Method of Slices

• Draw the slope to a scale
• Divide the sliding wedge to various slices
• Calculate wn and an for each slice
• an is taken at the middle of the slice wn
wn
• Calculate the terms in the equation

S ( c* ln  Wn * cosa n tanf )

Fs  an
SWn * sina n an
+ve
-ve

• Fill the following table

Slice# wn an sin an cos an ln wn sin an wn cos an

120
 EXAMPLE

Find Fs against sliding

Use the ordinary method of slices

121
 Bishop’s Simplified Method of Slices

Assumption
For each slice, the resultant of the interslice forces is
Horizontal.

i.e. Tn =Tn+1

122
 Bishop’s Simplified Method of Slices

SFy  0 (to stay away from Pn and Pn  1 )

y
Wn  N r * cos a n  Tr * sin a n
 c  s n tan f 
Tr  t d * ln    ln
 Fs 
cln s n ln tan f
Tr  
Fs Fs
cln N r tan f
Tr  
Fs Fs
cln N tan f
Wn  N r * cos a n  sin a n  r sin a n
Fs Fs

123
 Bishop’s Simplified Method of Slices

cln
Wn  sin a n
Fs
Nr 
tan f sin a n
cos a n 
Fs
 cln 
 W n  sin a n 
Fs
Scln  tan f  
 cos a  tan f sin a n 
 n
Fs  bn
Fs  but ln 
tan f sin a n cos a n
cos a n 
Fs

Fs 
1
SWn sin a n
S cbn  Wn tan f
tan f sin a n
cos a n 
Fs
Trail and error procedure
124
 Bishop’s Simplified Method of Slices

Steps for Bishop’s Simplified Method of Slices

• Draw the slope to a scale
• Divide the sliding wedge to various slices
• Calculate wn and an for each slice
• an is taken at the middle of the slice
• Calculate the terms in the equation

Fs 
1
SWn sin a n
S cbn  Wn tan f
tan f sin a n
cos a n 
Fs
• Fill the following table
Slice# wn an sin an cos an bn wn sin an
• Assume Fs and plug it in the right-hand term of the equation
then calculate Fs
• Repeat the previous step until the assumed Fs = the
calculated Fs.
125
 Bishop’s Simplified Method of Slices

tan f sin a n
ma ( n )  cos a n 
Fs
1
( cbn  Wn tan f )
Fs  S SWn sin a n
ma ( n )

1 c' bn  Wn tan f 
Fs  ( )
 Wn sin a n cos a n 
sin a n tan f 
Fs

126
 Bishop’s Simplified Method of Slices

• Example of specialized software:

– Geo-Slope,
– Geo5,
– SVSlope
– Many others

127
Determine the safety factor for the given trial rupture surface shown in
Figure 3. Use Bishop's simplified method of slices with first trial factor of
safety Fs = 1.8 and make only one iteration. The following table can be
prepared; however, only needed cells can be generated “filled”.

128
 SOLUTION
Fs = 1.8
Table 1. “Fill only necessary cell for this particular problem”
Width Height Height Area Weight
Slice Wn sin a
bn hl h2 A Wn α(n) mα(n)
No. (kN/m)
(m) (m) (m) (m2) (kN/m) (7) (8)
(1) (9)
(2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

1 22.4 70
2 294.4 54
3 ? 38
4 435.2 24
5 390 12
6 268.8 0.0
7 66.58 -8

129
 Remarks on Method of Slices

o Bishop’s simplified method is probably the most widely used (but it has
to be incorporated into computer programs).

o It yields satisfactory results in most cases.

o The Fs determined by this method is an underestimate (conservative) but

the error is unlikely to exceed 7% and in most cases is less than 2%.

o The ordinary method of slices is presented in this chapter as a learning

tool only. It is used rarely now because it is too conservative.

o The Bishop Simplified Method yields factors of safety which are higher
than those obtained with the Ordinary Method of Slices.

o The two methods do not lead to the same critical circle.

o Analyses by more refined methods involving consideration of the forces acting
on the sides of slices show that the Simplified Bishop Method yields answers
for factors of safety which are very close to the correct answer. 130
 Remarks on Method of Slices

Two Methods:
Ordinary Method of Slices
• Underestimate Fs (too conservative)
• Error compared to accurate methods (5-20%)
• Rarely used

Bishop’s Simplified Method of Slices

• The most widely used method
• Yields satisfactory results when applying computer
program

131