CE 333

Geotechnical Engineering II

Sultan Mohammad Farooq

Sheikh Sharif Ahmed

Department of Civil Engineering

Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology
 Slope Stability

 An exposed ground surface that stands at an angle with

the horizontal is called an unrestrained slope.

 The slope can be natural or manmade.

 If the ground surface is not horizontal, a component of

gravity will tend to move the soil downward.

 If the component of gravity is large enough, slope failure

can occur i.e., the soil mass in zone 𝒂𝒃𝒄𝒅𝒆𝒂 can slide
downward.

 The driving force overcomes the resistance from the

shear strength of the soil along the rupture surface.
 Slope Stability

𝒄 𝒅

Soil after
slope failure

𝒂 𝒃

𝒆
Figure 01
Schematic Diagram of Slope Failure
 Slope Stability

 Civil Engineer’s task is to make calculation to check the

safety of natural slopes, slopes of excavation and
compacted embankments.

 This check involves determining the shear stress

developed along the most likely rupture surface and
comparing of with the shear strength of the soil.

 This process is called slope stability analysis.

 The most likely rupture surface is the critical surface that

has the minimum factor of safety.
 Slope Stability

Generally, Factor of safety is defined as-

𝝉𝒇
𝑭𝒔 = (1)
𝝉𝒅

Where,

𝐹𝑠 = 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒𝑡𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

𝜏𝑓 = 𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙
𝜏𝑑 = 𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒.
 Slope Stability

The shear strength of a soil consists of two components,

cohesion and friction, and may be written as-

𝝉𝒇 = 𝒄′ + 𝝈′ 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′ (2)

Where,

𝑐′ = 𝑐𝑜ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛
∅′ = 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝜎′ = 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
 Slope Stability

In a similar manner, we can write-

𝝉𝒅 = 𝒄′𝒅 + 𝝈′ 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′𝒅 (3)

Where,

𝑐𝑑′ = 𝑐𝑜ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔

𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒

∅′𝑑 = 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔

𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
 Slope Stability

Substituting Eqs. 2 and 3 into Eq. 1, we get-

𝝉𝒇 𝒄′ +𝝈′ 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′
𝑭𝒔 = = (4)
𝝉𝒅 𝒄′𝒅 +𝝈′ 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′𝒅

The factor of safety with respect to cohesion-

𝒄′
𝑭𝒄′ = (5)
𝒄′𝒅
The factor of safety with respect to friction-
𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′
𝑭∅ ′ = (6)
𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′𝒅
 Slope Stability

If
𝒄′ 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′
′ =
𝒄𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′𝒅

Then

𝑭𝒔 = 𝑭𝒄 ′ = 𝑭 ∅ ′ (7)

 When 𝑭𝒔 is equal to 1, the slope is in a state of

impending failure.

 Generally, a value of 1.5 for the factor of safety with

respect to strength is acceptable for the design of a
stable slope.
 Slope Stability

 The failure of an earth slope involves a ‘slide’.

 Gravitational forces and forces due to seepage of water

in the soil mass, progressive disintegration of the
structure of the soil mass and excavation near the base
are among the chief reasons for the failure of earth
slope.

 Slides and consequent failure of earth slopes can occur

slowly or suddenly.
 Slope Stability

 The slope may be an ‘infinite’ one or a ‘finite’ one.

 An infinite slope represents the surface of a semi-infinite

inclined soil mass; obviously, such a slope is rather
hypothetical in nature.

 An infinite slope is one which represents the boundary

surface of a semi-infinite soil mass inclined to the
horizontal.

 In practice, if the height of slope is very large, one may

consider it as an infinite one.
 Slope Stability

 It is assumed that the soil is homogeneous in its

properties.

 If different strata are present, the strata boundaries are

assumed to be parallel to the surface.

 Failure tends to occur only along a plane parallel to the

surface.
 Slope Stability

 A slope of a finite extent, bounded by a top surface is

said to be finite.

 A ‘finite slope’ is one with a base and a top surface, the

height being limited.

 The inclined faces of earth dams, embankments, and

excavations are all finite slopes.
 Slope Stability

The shear strength of the soil is-

𝝉𝒇 = 𝒄′ + 𝝈′ 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′

Assume that, the pore water pressure is zero.

The slope failure occurs by the movement of soil above the

plane 𝑨𝑩 from right to left.
 Slope Stability

Figure 02
Analysis of Infinite Slope without Seepage
 Slope Stability

Let us consider a slope element 𝒂𝒃𝒄𝒅 that has a unit length

perpendicular to the plane of the section shown.

The forces, 𝑭, that act on the faces 𝒂𝒃 and 𝒄𝒅 are equal

and opposite and can be ignored.
 Slope Stability

 The weight of the soil element,

𝑾 = (Volume of soil element) × (Unit weight of soil) = 𝛾𝐿𝐻 (8)

 The weight 𝑾 can be resolved into two components:

1. Force perpendicular to plane 𝑨𝑩
= 𝑵𝒂 = 𝑾𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜷 = 𝜸𝑳𝑯𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜷
2. Force parallel to plane 𝑨𝑩
= 𝑻𝒂 = 𝑾𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜷 = 𝜸𝑳𝑯𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜷
This is the force that tends to cause the slip along the plane.
 Slope Stability

 The effective normal stress at the base of the slope

element,

𝑵𝒂 𝜸𝑳𝑯𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜷
𝝈′ = = 𝑳 = 𝜸𝑯 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷 (9)
𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆 ( )
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜷

 The effective shear stress at the base of the slope

element,

𝑻𝒂 𝜸𝑳𝑯𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜷
𝝉= = 𝑳 = 𝜸𝑯 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜷 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜷 (10)
𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆 (𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜷)
 Slope Stability

Figure 02
Analysis of Infinite Slope without Seepage
 Slope Stability

 The reaction to the weight 𝑾 is an equal & opposite

force 𝑹.

 The normal & tangential components of 𝑹 with respect to

the plane 𝑨𝑩 are-

𝑵𝒓 = 𝑹 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜷 = 𝑾 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜷 (11)

And

𝑻𝒓 = 𝑹 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜷 = 𝑾 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜷 (12)

 Slope Stability

Figure 02
Analysis of Infinite Slope without Seepage
 Slope Stability

For equilibrium, the resistive shear stress that develops at

the base of the element is equal to-

𝑻𝒓
= 𝜸𝑯𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜷 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜷
𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆

The resistive shear stress may also be written as Eq. 3-

𝝉𝒅 = 𝒄′𝒅 + 𝝈′ 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′𝒅

The value of the normal stress is given by Eq. 9 and

substitution of Eq. 9 into Eq. 3 yields-

𝝉𝒅 = 𝒄′𝒅 + 𝜸𝑯 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′𝒅 (13)

 Slope Stability

Figure 02
Analysis of Infinite Slope without Seepage
 Slope Stability

Thus,

𝜸𝑯𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜷 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜷 = 𝒄′𝒅 + 𝜸𝑯 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′𝒅

or

𝒄′𝒅
= 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜷 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜷 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′𝒅
𝜸𝑯
= 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜷 − 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′𝒅 (14)
 Slope Stability

𝐹𝑠 = 𝐹𝑐 = 𝐹𝜑
𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′ 𝒄′
𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′𝒅 = & 𝒄′𝒅 = 𝑐′ tan ∅′
𝑭𝒔 𝑭𝒔 ′ =
𝑐𝑑 tan ∅′𝑑

Substituting the above relationships into Eq. 14, the factor

of safety with respect to strength-

𝒄′ 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′
𝑭𝒔 = + (15)
𝜸𝑯 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜷 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜷
 Slope Stability

For granular soils,

′
𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅
𝒄′ = 𝟎, and 𝑭𝒔 =
𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜷

This indicates that in an infinite slope in sand, the value of

𝑭𝒔 is independent of the height 𝑯 and the slope is stable as
long as 𝜷 < ∅′ .

If a soil possesses cohesion and friction, the depth of the

plane along which critical equilibrium occurs may be
determined by substituting 𝑭𝒔 = 𝟏 & 𝑯 = 𝑯𝒄𝒓 into Eq. 15.
Thus,
𝒄′ 𝟏
𝑯𝒄𝒓 = (16)
𝜸 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷 (𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜷−𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′ )