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Seismic Analysis of a Soil Slope to Develop Correlations for Factor of

Safety Considering Horizontal and Vertical Seismic Coefficients
To cite this article: Muhammad Israr Khan and Shuhong Wang 2020 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 495 012036

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4th International Conference on Environmental and Energy Engineering (IC3E 2020) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 495 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/495/1/012036

Seismic Analysis of a Soil Slope to Develop Correlations for

Factor of Safety Considering Horizontal and Vertical Seismic
Coefficients

Muhammad Israr Khan1,* and Shuhong Wang1

1
School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, China
*
Corresponding Author Email; 1727011@stu.neu.edu.cn

Abstract: Seismic analysis of soil slopes is required to get safe factor of safety value for slope
design. Especially in earthquake zones. Factor of safety value is always effected by seismic
coefficients, such as horizontal and vertical coefficients. Normally a variation in factor of
safety values is observed in normal analysis of a slope where seismic coefficients are kept zero
as compare to seismic analysis where seismic coefficients are considered in the analysis. In this
research, seismic horizontal coefficients as well as vertical seismic coefficients are used to find
the factors of safety. Correlations are developed between factor of safety values and seismic
coefficients. The correlation can be used to find the factor of safety in any slope stability
project for a homogenous slopes. The outcome of this work are the correlations. These
correlations can be used to find the factor of safety values considering horizontal seismic
coefficient, vertical seismic coefficient and both.

1. Introduction
In most of the engineering design projects, there are always two types of consideration. Design with or
without seismic effects. The seismic analysis are always different than the normal non-seismic
analysis. The regions where earthquake and ground vibration is of much concern, the seismic analysis
is having more importance compare to the regions where earthquakes are very rare and in low
concentration. This paper is related to the seismic analysis of a soil slope.

2. Literature Survey
The influence of soil strength on the probability of failure of slopes using conventional limit
equilibrium slip circle analysis has been explored by [1-4]. The same analysis is done using seismic
horizontal and vertical coefficients. Regarding the consideration of horizontal and vertical seismic
effects, it is a subject of debate between researchers. Some of the researchers claim that the vertical
seismic effect is very less and therefore can be neglected while other researchers claim that the vertical
effect must also be considered to know about the actual response [5-9]. Keeping the past research in
consideration, it is therefore decided to work on this subject with following steps:
 Analyse with considering Horizontal Seismic Coefficient (HSC) and ignoring vertical effect
 Analyse with considering Vertical Seismic Coefficient (VSC) and ignoring horizontal effect
 Analyse with considering both horizontal and vertical seismic effects

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4th International Conference on Environmental and Energy Engineering (IC3E 2020) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 495 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/495/1/012036

3. Methodology
Twenty four number of analysis was performed on a predefined slope. The angle of repose was varied
from 30 to 45 degrees during this analysis. The horizontal seismic coefficient was 0.05 minimum and
0.15 maximum as recommended in the paper [10]. While the vertical seismic coefficients are in range
of 0.0125 to 0.05.
A limit equilibrium software is used in this analysis namely slide. The variation of factor of safety
is provided in graphical form for all the cases.
Figure 1 shows the slope model used in this analysis:

Figure 1. Slope model

Cohesion of the material is kept constant as 11 kN/m2. Angle of repose range is 30 to 45 with five
degrees interval. Unit weight is 14 kN/m3. Angle of internal friction is 31 degrees. Horizontal seismic
coefficient is 0.05, 0.10, 0.20 and vertical seismic coefficient is 0.012, 0.25 and 0.05. Table 1 shows the
summary of material properties and the factor of safety achieved in all the cases.
Table 1. Material properties and analysis details
Case Cohesion Angle of Friction Factor of
Unit Weight Horizontal Vertical
Number 2 Repose angle Safety
(kN/m ) (kN/m3) coefficient Coefficient
(M) (AOR) () (FS)
1 11 30 14 31 0.05 0 1.451
1 11 30 14 31 0.10 0 1.302
1 11 30 14 31 0.20 0 1.068
2 11 35 14 31 0.05 0 1.397
2 11 35 14 31 0.10 0 1.275
2 11 35 14 31 0.20 0 1.075
3 11 40 14 31 0.05 0 1.315
3 11 40 14 31 0.10 0 1.213
3 11 40 14 31 0.20 0 1.034
4 11 45 14 31 0.05 0 1.195

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4th International Conference on Environmental and Energy Engineering (IC3E 2020) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 495 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/495/1/012036

4 11 45 14 31 0.10 0 1.105
4 11 45 14 31 0.20 0 0.950
5 11 30 14 31 0 0.0125 1.628
5 11 30 14 31 0 0.025 1.624
5 11 30 14 31 0 0.05 1.617
6 11 35 14 31 0 0.0125 1.533
6 11 35 14 31 0 0.025 1.527
6 11 35 14 31 0 0.05 1.516
7 11 40 14 31 0 0.0125 1.425
7 11 40 14 31 0 0.025 1.418
7 11 40 14 31 0 0.05 1.405
8 11 45 14 31 0 0.0125 1.289
8 11 45 14 31 0 0.025 1.283
8 11 45 14 31 0 0.05 1.273
9 11 30 14 31 0.05 0.0125 1.450
9 11 30 14 31 0.10 0.025 1.302
9 11 30 14 31 0.20 0.05 1.078
10 11 35 14 31 0.05 0.0125 1.393
10 11 35 14 31 0.10 0.025 1.270
10 11 35 14 31 0.20 0.05 1.074
11 11 40 14 31 0.05 0.0125 1.311
11 11 40 14 31 0.10 0.025 1.207
11 11 40 14 31 0.20 0.05 1.032
12 11 45 14 31 0.05 0.0125 1.191
12 11 45 14 31 0.10 0.025 1.099
12 11 45 14 31 0.20 0.05 0.947

4. Results and Discussions

Figure 2 shows the factor of safety graph in case when only horizontal seismic coefficient are
considered and the vertical seismic coefficient is kept zero.
Figure 3 shows the factor of safety graph in case when only vertical seismic coefficient are
considered and the horizontal seismic coefficient is kept zero.
Figure 4 shows the factor of safety graphs in case both horizontal seismic coefficient as well as
vertical seismic coefficient are considered.

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4th International Conference on Environmental and Energy Engineering (IC3E 2020) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 495 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/495/1/012036

Case - 1 FS = -2.5229 (HSC) + 1.568 Case - 2

R²= 0.9961 FS = -2.1257 (HSC) + 1.497
1.397 1.275 R²= 0.9974
2 1.451 1.302 1.5 1.075
Factor of Safety (FS)

Factor of Safety (FS)

1.5 1.068
1
1
0.5 0.5
0 0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
Horizontal Seismic Coefficient (HSC) Horizontal Seismic Coefficient (HSC)

Case - 3 Case - 4 FS = -1.6214 (HSC) + 1.2725

FS = -1.8614 (HSC) + 1.4045
1.315 1.213 R²= 0.9989 R²= 0.9985
1.5 1.5 1.195 1.105
1.034
Factor of Safety (FS)

Factor of Safety (FS)

0.95
1 1

0.5 0.5
0 0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
Horizontal Seismic Coefficient (HSC) Horizontal Seismic Coefficient (HSC)

Figure 2. Factor of Safety graph in case HSC is considered and VSC is kept zero

Case - 5 FS = -0.2914 (VSC) + 1.6315 Case - 6 FS = -0.4514 (VSC) + 1.5385

R²= 0.9988 R²= 0.9995
1.628 1.533
1.63 1.535
Factor of Safety (FS)

Factor of Safety (FS)

1.624 1.527
1.625 1.53
1.525
1.62 1.617 1.516
1.52
1.615 1.515
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0 0.02 0.04 0.06
Vertical Seismic Coefficient (VSC) Vertical Seismic Coefficient (VSC)

Case - 7 FS = -0.5314 (VSC) + 1.4315 Case - 8 FS = -0.4229 (VSC) + 1.294

R²= 0.9997 1.289 R²= 0.9978
1.43 1.425 1.29
Factor o Safety (FS)

Factor of Safety (FS)

1.418 1.283
1.42 1.285
1.28
1.41 1.405 1.273
1.275
1.4 1.27
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0 0.02 0.04 0.06
Vertical Seismic Coefficent (VSC) Vertical Seismic Coefficient (VSC)

Figure 3. Factor of Safety graph in case VSC is considered and HSC is kept zero

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4th International Conference on Environmental and Energy Engineering (IC3E 2020) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 495 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/495/1/012036

Case - 9 FS = -2.4457 (HSC) + 1.562 Case - 9 FS = -9.7829 (VSC) + 1.562

R²= 0.9947 R²= 0.9947
2 1.45 2 1.45
1.302 1.302

Factor of Safety (FS)

Factor of Safety (FS)

1.5 1.078 1.5 1.078

1 1
0.5 0.5
0 0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0 0.02 0.04 0.06
Horizontal Seismic Coefficient (HSC) Vertical Seismic Coefficient (VSC)

Case - 10 FS = -2.1029 (HSC) + 1.491 Case - 10 FS = -8.4114 (VSC) + 1.491

1.393 R²= 0.9966 1.393 R²= 0.9966
1.5 1.27 1.5 1.27
1.074 1.074

Factor of Safety (FS)

Factor of Safety (FS)

1 1
0.5 0.5
0 0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0 0.02 0.04 0.06
Horizontal Seismic Coefficient (HSC) Vertical Seismic Coefficient (VSC)

Case - 11 FS = -1.8443 (HSC) + 1.3985 Case - 11 FS = -7.3771 (VSC) + 1.3985

R²= 0.998 R²= 0.998
1.311 1.207 1.311 1.207
1.5 1.5
1.032 1.032
Factor of Safety (FS)

Factor of Safety (FS)

1 1
0.5 0.5
0 0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0 0.02 0.04 0.06
Horizontal Seismic Coefficient (HSC) Vertical Seismic Coefficient (VSC)

Case - 12 FS = -1.6114 (HSC) + 1.267 Case - 12 FS = -6.4457 (VSC) + 1.267

R²= 0.9976 R²= 0.9976
1.5 1.191 1.099 1.5 1.191 1.099
Factor of Safety (FS)

Factor of Safety (FS)

0.947 0.947
1 1

0.5 0.5
0 0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0 0.02 0.04 0.06
Horizontal Seismic Coefficient (HSC) Vertical Seismic Coefficient (VSC)

Figure 4. Factor of Safety graph in case both HSC and VSC is considered

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4th International Conference on Environmental and Energy Engineering (IC3E 2020) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 495 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/495/1/012036

Case 1: Considering HSC and keeping VSC as zero

From figure 2, the final mean equation for the factor of safety came out to be:
FS = - 2.032 * HSC + 1.4355 (1)
Applicability of this equation is 99.77 %.
Case 2: Considering VSC and keeping HSC as zero
From figure 3, the final mean equation for factor of safety came out to be:
FS = - 0.4243 * VSC + 1.4739 (2)
Applicability of this equation is 99.89 %
Case 3: Considering both HSC and VSC
From figure 4, the final mean equation in case of HSC came out to be:
FS = - 2 * HSC + 1.430 (3)
Applicability of this equation is 99.67 %.
While from same figure 4, the final mean equation in case VSC came out to be:
FS = - 8 * VSC + 1.43 (4)
Applicability of this equation is 99.67 %.

5. Conclusions
Equation 1 and 2 can be used to find out the factor of safety in case only HSC and VCS is considered
respectively. Equation 3 and 4 can be used for calculating factor of safety in case both HSC and VSC
are considered.
In further research, these results can also be compared with normal analysis where seismic
coefficients are kept zero to get a clear understanding of the difference between seismic and non-
seismic analysis.

Acknowledgments
This work was conducted with supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China
(Grant Nos. U1602232 and 51474050), Doctoral Scientific Research Foundation of Liaoning
Province (Grant No. 20170540304 and 20170520341), China Scholarship Council (Grant No.
201806080103), Key Research and Development Program of Science and Technology in Liaoning
Province, China (Grant No. 2019JH2/10100035), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central
Universities (Grant No. N170108029).

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4th International Conference on Environmental and Energy Engineering (IC3E 2020) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 495 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/495/1/012036

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