CE 343
Geotechnical Engineering II
Ann Nazmun Sakib
Lecturer
Department of Civil Engineering
Bangladesh Army International University Of Science and 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-
𝝉𝒅 = 𝒄′𝒅 + 𝝈′ 𝒕𝒂𝒏 ∅′𝒅 (3)
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.
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 = 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 ∅′ )
