Slope Stability

(CIVE 1129)
Workshop @ HKVTC
(Dr. Dilan Robert)
13/11/2016
Importance of Slopes stability
Slope failures
Conceptual idea of slope stability

Driving force = Fp = Wsinθ

Resisting force = Ft = µWcosθ
If Fp > Ft; Wooden block slides down the slope
Available Re sis tan ce Ft
Factor of safety = =
Applied Stress Fp
Conceptual idea of slope stability
Seepage force (Uf)

Driving force; F’p = Wsinθ, seepage force (Uf)

Resisting force; F’t = µWcosθ , cohesion (c)

If (Fp+Uf) > (Ft+c); Slope fails
Types of Slope failures

Rotational slides
Causes of Slope failures
Stability of infinite slope

Available Strength τf
Factor of safety = =
Applied Stress τm
 Stability of infinite slope

Long term stability (i.e. Effective stress analysis) – No seepage force;

Available Strength τ f σ n' tan φ ' N 'j tan φ ' W j' cos α s . tan φ '
Factor of safety = = = = =
Applied Stress τm τm τm W j' sin α s

tan φ '
Factor of safety ( FS ) =
tan α s

At equilibrium stage; FS=1 and hence, αs=φ’

Maximum slope angle of coarse grained soil can not exceed φ’

 Stability of infinite slope

Long term stability (i.e. Effective stress analysis) – With seepage force;

Available Strength τ f σ n' tan φ ' N 'j tan φ ' W j' cos α s . tan φ '
Factor of safety = = = = = '
Applied Stress τm τm τm W j sin α s + seepage load

seepage load = i.γ w .b j .z j = sin α s γ w .b j .z j & W j' = γ '.b j .z j

σ n' tan φ ' N j tan φ ' γ '.b j .z j cos α s . tan φ ' γ '.cos α s . tan φ '
'

Factor of safety = = = =
τm τm γ '.b j .z j . sin α s + γ w .b j .z j . sin α s (γ '+γ w ). sin α s

γ '. tan φ '

FS =
γ sat . tan α s
 Stability of infinite slope

Long term stability (i.e. Effective stress analysis) – With seepage force;

γ '. tan φ '

FS =
γ sat . tan α s
γ '. tan φ '
At equilibrium stage; FS=1 and hence, tan α s =
γ sat

As most soils; γ' ≈

1
γ sat 2

Maximum slope angle of coarse grained soil in the presence of seepage is

approximately half of φ’
 Stability of infinite slope

Short term stability (i.e. Total stress analysis)

Available Strength su su su .b j su .b j
Factor of safety = = = = =
Applied Stress τm W j sin α s
'
W j' sin α s . cos α s γ .b j .z j . sin α s . cos α s
lj
su 2 su
Factor of safety ( FS ) = =
γ .z j . sin α s . cos α s γ .z j . sin (2α s )

α s = sin −1  2.su γ .z  & z =

1 2.su
At equilibrium stage; FS=1 and hence, 2   γ . sin( 2α )
Critical value (i.e. min or the depth failure initiates) of ‘z’ 2.su
z = zcr =
occurs when α=45o; γ
Forces acting on the slice
Different methods available
Slope stability for simple geometry
Taylor’s method
bj

Wj Assumes;
No seepage force
lj No Surcharge
θj
No external loading
Using total stress analysis (TSA):
Available Strength su su su .l j
Factor of safety = = = = where b = l cos θ
Applied Stress τm W j sin θ j W j sin θ j
bj lj
∑(su ) j .
cos θ j
FS =
∑ W j sin θ j

∑(su ) f
Taylor proposed; FS = N o
∑(γz ) f
where N o = Stability Number (depends on geometry )
Taylor method Cntd…
∑(su ) f
FS = N o
∑(γz ) f

FS .γH o
No =
su
Slope stability for simple geometry
Bishop-Morgenstern method
For homogeneous soil slopes with simple geometry using Bishop’s simplified method;

FS = m − nru

Where;

γ w (z w ) j
ru = Weighted average of
γ jzj

m, n = stability coefficients
Question 1
Question 2
Taylor method Cntd…
∑(su ) f
FS = N o
∑(γz ) f

FS .γH o
No =
su
Question 3
Question 4
Slope stability for simple geometry
Bishop-Morgenstern method
For homogeneous soil slopes with simple geometry using Bishop’s simplified method;

FS = m − nru

Where;

γ w (z w ) j
ru = Weighted average of
γ jzj

m, n = stability coefficients