Introduction

to
Slope Stability analysis
-Rutvik Sheth
M.Tech (Structures)
D.D.U, Nadiad

introduction
Slopes either occur naturally or are engineered by human being.
Furthermore, the increasing demand for engineered cut and fill slopes
on construction projects has also increased the need to understand
analytical methods, investigative tools, and stabilization methods to
solve slope stability problems.
Slope stability analysis is feasible for

Natural cut slope

Hill slopes
Open excavation
Embankments for dams
Waterfront structures

Slope Stability Analysis

introduction
Slope stability methods vary in their theoretical background and
approach and hence the analysis results vary depending on the used
theory.
In addition, simplified assumptions in 2D slope stability methods have
led to factors of safety that differ from the more rigorous 3D slope
stability analysis methods.
In practice, 3D analysis of slope stability is not performed unless the
geometry of the slope is very complicated or the failure mechanism is
complex.
It is essential that a research effort be devoted to gain better
understanding of the slope failure analysis methods and to understand
the weakness and strength of the methods and to point out practical
aspects in the analysis procedures.
Slope Stability Analysis

AIMS OF SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS

To understand the development and form of natural slopes and the
processes responsible for different natural features.
To assess the stability of slopes under short-term (often during
construction) and long-term conditions.
To assess the possibility of landslides involving natural or existing
engineered slopes.
To analyze landslides and to understand failure mechanisms and the
influence of environmental factors.
To enable the redesign of failed slopes and the planning and design of
preventive and remedial measures, where necessary.
To study the effect of seismic loadings on slopes and embankments.
Evaluation of instability due to liquefaction.

Slope Stability Analysis

AIMS OF SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS

Determination of stable cut and fills slopes.
To determine factor of safety against sliding
Ground water change
Earthquake effect
Change in slope angle due to erosion
Decreasing strength due to weathering
Assessment of overall stability of shallow and deep foundations for
structures located on slopes or over potentially unstable soils, including
the determination of lateral force applied to foundations and walls due
to potentially unstable slopes.

Slope Stability Analysis

LIMIT EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSIS

Failure, sudden or gradual, is caused by overstress in a slope or its
foundation with respect to the available strength.
Limit equilibrium analysis is the basis for most methods available for
slope stability evaluations. It usually considers that the Mohr-Coulomb
failure criterion ( = c + *tan) is satisfied along an assumed failure
surface.
A free body is taken from the slope and the body and the known or
assumed forces acting on the body and the shearing resistance required
for stability are calculated.
Most practical problems are statically indeterminate and assumptions
must be made regarding the force systems and their directions of
applications in order to render the problem determinate..

Slope Stability Analysis

LIMIT EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSIS Weakness

The most important weakness in limiting equilibrium analysis is the

assumption that FOS along the entire failure surface is constant.
In connection with existing stable slopes there are a number of factors
not considered in the present state of art of analysis, including
initiation and growth of failure surfaces, stress distribution, energy
release due to progressive failure, and rate of movement.
The classical limit equilibrium analysis considers the ultimate limit
state of the system and provides no information on the development of
strain which actually occurs.
For a natural slope, it is possible that part of the failure mass is heavily
stressed so that the residual strength will be mobilized at some
locations while the ultimate shear strength may be applied to another
part of the failure mass.
This type of progressive failure may occur in over consolidated or
fissured clays or materials with a brittle behaviour.
Slope Stability Analysis

Modes of Failures
Slope failures usually occur due either to a sudden or gradual loss of
strength by the soil or to a change in geometric condition (steepening
of existing slopes). These usually take form of either:

Translational
Plane or wedge surface
Circular
Non circular

The planar failure surfaces are usually expected in slopes where a soil
layer, or relict jointing, with a relatively low strength.
The translational type of failure occurs in shallow soils overlying
relatively stronger materials and circular failure surfaces usually occur
in slopes consisting of homogeneous materials.
As most soils are heterogeneous, non circular surfaces, consisting of a
combination of planer and curved sections, are most likely.

Slope Stability Analysis

Equilibrium conditions
Two different approaches are used to satisfy static equilibrium in the
limit equilibrium analysis procedures.
Some procedures consider equilibrium for the entire mass of soil
bounded beneath by an assumed slip surface and above by the surface
of the slope. This procedure is termed as Mass Procedure. In these
procedures, equilibrium equations are written and solved for a single
free body.
In other procedures the soil mass is divided into a number of vertical
slices and equilibrium equations are written and solved for each slice.
This procedure is termed as Method of Slices. Three static equilibrium
conditions are to be satisfied:
Equilibrium of forces in the vertical direction,
Equilibrium of forces in the horizontal direction,
Equilibrium of moments about any point

Slope Stability Analysis

Thank you

Slope Stability Analysis

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