Vivek P.

Kapadia
Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
ROLE OF GRAVITY

Gravity causes the downward

and outward movement of
landslides and the collapse of
subsiding ground.
Eventually it will flatten all
slopes
The force of gravity is the
mass of a body x the sine of
the slope.
If can remove the initial
resistance to motion the body
will move.
Earthquake, heavy rain could
give initial energy

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 IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
EXTERNAL PROCESSES CAUSING FAILURE
Three major ones

On arcuate failure surfaces have balance between the driving mass

and the resisting mass. Changing either can create a landslide

Processes include: 1) steepen slope, 2) remove support from bottom

of slope, and 3) add mass high up on slope. 3
 IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
INTERNAL CAUSES OF SLOPE FAILURE
Clays

Clays form during chemical weathering due to acidic fluids such as water,
CO2 charged water and organic acids decomposing minerals created at
high pressures and temperatures.

Creates totally different internal structure. Clay minerals are built like
books and have many unfilled atomic positions in the crystal structure.

Typically can have their strength dramatically reduced by adding water

which also causes expansion. 4
 IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
INTERNAL CAUSES OF SLOPE FAILURE
Quick Clay: Ontario, Canada 1993

Fine grained rock flour left behind during the retreat of the glaciers and
deposited in a nearby sea. The clay and silt particles are loosely packed
and held together as a rock by sea salts.
When the sea retreats, the sediments are uplifted and the glue removed
by fresh water. Anything can cause the house of cards to collapse
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 IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
INTERNAL CAUSES OF SLOPE FAILURE
The five roles of water
1. Sediments have high porosities. When these void spaces are filled with
water the sediment is much heavier and the driving mass increased.
2. Water is easily absorbed and attached externally to clay minerals with a
major decrease in strength.
3. Water flowing through rocks can dissolve the minerals that bind the
rocks together. The removal of the cement makes the rock easier to
move or a slope easier to collapse.
4. Water can physically erode loose material creating caverns.
5. Pressure builds up in water trapped in the pores of sediments being
buried deeper and deeper. Sediments can compress but water does not
compress. Get abnormally high pore-water pressures which jacks up
the sediment and makes it very easy to move.

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 IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
INTERNAL CAUSES OF SLOPE FAILURE
The role of flowing water

Schematic cross section of ground water flowing through poorly

consolidated rock. The water will carry sediments to the stream
creating a series of caverns that seriously weaken a hill.

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 IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
INTERNAL CAUSES OF SLOPE FAILURE
Quick sand

Example of the Coulomb-Terazaghi equation.

The pore water pressure hw equals the weight of the sands p.
Leaves cohesionless sand with no shear stress.
With no shear stress you will sink into the sand when you walk on it.
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MASS MOVEMENTS
SLIDES
Rotational

Downward and outward

movement on a curved
surface.
Note the rotation of head and
the up movement of the toe.
Swedish circle analysis of
slope stability has a compass
set at the center of rotation.
Use this to compute driving
and resisting forces.
Note backward tilted head
and bulged toe. Toe helps
stability, tilted head catches
water.
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 MASS MOVEMENTS
SLIDES
Rotational: 1976 Ensenada slide
The slide was associated with
a pronounced head scarp
shown here.

A rotation of coherent beds

downwards and outwards
and the formation of a
pronounced bulge.

Not all rotational slides are

as simple as this because of
discontinuities on the
surface.

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MASS MOVEMENTS
SLIDES
Rotational slide

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 MASS MOVEMENTS
SLIDES
Translational slide: Pt Fermin, Ca 1929

Cross section showing block on top of a inclined slippery layer which

day lighted under the ocean.
Block moves towards the unsupported offshore.
Though triggered by watering from yard irrigation seeping down to
layers of weak clays which expand and lose strength and sliding
begins.
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 MASS MOVEMENTS
Subsidence

Flooding caused by regional subsidence associated with the Izmit

(Turkey) earthquake on August 17, 1999
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 FINITE SLOPES
A finite slope is one with a base and top surface, the height
being limited. The inclined faces of earth dams,
embankments, excavation and the like are all finite
slopes.

Most widely used method of analysis of homogeneous,

isotropic, finite slopes is the Swedish Method based on
circular failure surfaces

K.E. Patterson first applied in Sweden in 1916 Swedish

National Commission after studying number of failures
published a report in 1922 failure circle might pass above
the toe, through the toe or below it

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 FINITE SLOPES
By investigating the strength along the arc of a large
number of circles, possible to locate the circle which gives
the lowest resistance to shear

Developments made by W. Fellenenius, Terzagi, Gilboy,

Casagrande, Taylor, Bishop, etc.

Investigation of the stability of finite slopes involves the

following steps.

(a) Assuming a possible slip surface

(b) Studying the equilibrium of the forces acting on this
surface
(c) Repeating the process until the worst slip surface, that is,
the one with minimum margin of safety is found
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 FINITE SLOPES
Static Methods Of Stability Analysis

I. Total stress analysis for purely cohesive soil Swedish

Slip Circle Method
II. Total stress analysis for cohesivefrictional (c-) soil
Method of slices Swedish Method, Bishops Method
III. Taylors method
IV. Effective stress analysis for conditions of steady
seepage, rapid drawdown and immediately after
construction.
V. Friction circle method

Finite Element Analysis and Limit State Methods are

different concepts developed from primary equations of
stability.
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 FINITE SLOPES

Actuating forces
Cause slippage
gravity, seepage
forces, etc.
Stabilizing Forces
Resisting Forces
cohesive shear
strength, friction, etc.

Safety Condition Moment of Actuating Forces should

be less than or equal to Moment of Stabilizing Forces

<= + + + +
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PROCEDURE FOR ESTIMATING STABILITY
Process of Estimating Stability:
1. Estimate actuating or disturbing forces
gravity acting on body of soil
super-imposed loads (if any)
seepage force due to water flow (if any)
earthquake forces
2. Estimate stabilizing or resisting forces
mobilized shear strength
mobilized frictional resistance

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PROCEDURE FOR ESTIMATING STABILITY
Shearing and Frictional Resistance of Soil
- Determine the number, thickness and average strength
parameters of each soil layer using Coulumbs Law

- Include a factor of safety, F, to limit the maximum mobilized

shearing resistance on a failure plane;

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 SOIL STRENGTH CONSIDERATIONS

1. Short term (total stress analysis)

2. Long term (effective stress analysis)
3. Long term (heavily over-consolidated soils)

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SOIL STRENGTH CONSIDERATIONS
1. Short term (total stress analysis)

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SOIL STRENGTH CONSIDERATIONS
2. Long term (effective stress analysis)

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SOIL STRENGTH CONSIDERATIONS
3. Long term (heavily over-consolidated soils)

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EFFECTIVE STRENGTH PARAMETERS

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EFFECTIVE STRENGTH PARAMETERS

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 TOTAL STRESS ANALYSIS OF PURE
COHESIVE SOIL (SHORT TERM)

Analysis is
based on total stresses, also known as = 0 analysis
Swedish Slip Circle Method

Gives the stability of an embankment immediately after construction

Assumed that the soil has no time to drain and the shear strength
parameters used are obtained from undrained conditions with
respect to total stresses. These may be obtained from either
unconfined compression test or an undrained triaxial test without
pore pressure measurements.

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 TOTAL STRESS ANALYSIS OF PURE
COHESIVE SOIL (SHORT TERM)

AB is a trial slip surface in the form of a circular arc of radius r with

respect to center of rotation O
W is the weight of the soil within the slip surface
G is the position of its centre of gravity. 27
 TOTAL STRESS ANALYSIS OF PURE
COHESIVE SOIL (SHORT TERM)
The exact position of G is not required and it is only necessary to
ascertain the position of the line of action of W, this may be obtained
by dividing the failure plane into a set of vertical slices and taking
moments of area of these slices about any convenient vertical axis.

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 TOTAL STRESS ANALYSIS OF PURE
COHESIVE SOIL WITH TENSION CRACK
(SHORT TERM)
In case of cohesive soil when the slope is on the verge slippage there
develops a tension crack at the top of the slope. The depth of tension
crack is

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 TOTAL STRESS ANALYSIS OF PURE
COHESIVE SOIL WITH TENSION CRACK
(SHORT TERM)

It reduces the factor of safety.

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 METHOD OF SLICES
The Swedish method for cohesive-frictional (c-) soil

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 METHOD OF SLICES
The Swedish method for cohesive-frictional (c-) soil

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 METHOD OF SLICES
The Swedish method for cohesive-frictional (c-) soil

Simplified Approach
Fellenius Method

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 METHOD OF SLICES
The Swedish method for cohesive-frictional (c-) soil

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 METHOD OF SLICES
The Swedish method for cohesive-frictional (c-) soil
Normal and tangential components of various slices
in the slope

10. Repeat step 2 to 9 by considering various trial slip circles and

calculate FS for each of these slip circles. The slip circle with a
minimum FS is called critical slip circle.

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 METHOD OF SLICES
Trial Method

Different centres and different radii give many trail slip

circles for three different cases embankment failure, toe
failure and total failure

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 METHOD OF SLICES
Critical Slip Circle by Fellenius Direction angles
In case of slopes in homogeneous cohesive soil deposits, the centre of a
critical circle can be directly located by using Fellenius direction angles.
Fellenius (1936) has given direction angles and for various slopes.

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 METHOD OF SLICES
Critical Slip Circle by Fellenius Direction angles
Fellenius direction angles for locating critical slip circle

For any given slope the corresponding direction angles and are
setout from the base and the top. The point of intersection of these two
lines is the centre of critical circle. After locating the centre of critical
circle the method of slices can be adopted to obtain minimum F.S.

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 METHOD OF SLICES
Critical Slip Circle in c- Soils
1. Locate point O1 the centre of Fellenius circle

2. Locate point P at 2H below the top surface of the slope and 4.5H
from the toe of the slope

3. Extend backwards the line PO1 beyond O1

4. Construct trial slip circles with centres located on the extended

portion of the line PO1
5. For each of these trial slip circles find the F.S by the method of
slices.

6. Plot the F.S for each of these trial slip circles from their respective
centres and obtain a curve of factor of safety.

7. Critical slip circle is the one that has a minimum F.S.

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METHOD OF SLICES
Critical Slip Circle in c- Soils

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METHOD OF SLICES
Bishops Method

Interslice Forces
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 METHOD OF SLICES
Bishops Method
ASSUMES: The resultant of the forces acting on the sides of any slice is
horizontal, i.e. there is NO net force in the vertical direction

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 METHOD OF SLICES
Bishops Method

At Equilibrium

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METHOD OF SLICES
Bishops Method

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METHOD OF SLICES
Bishops Method

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RAPID ESTIMATION OF STABILITY BY
TAYLORS METHOD

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RAPID ESTIMATION OF STABILITY BY
TAYLORS METHOD

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RAPID ESTIMATION OF STABILITY BY
TAYLORS METHOD

Taylors Chart

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RAPID ESTIMATION OF STABILITY BY
TAYLORS METHOD
Different equations and charts for -

Homogeneous soils with u > 0

Layered Soil i.e. Non-Homogeneous Soil
Finding location of critical slip circle

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 STABILITY DURING STEADY SEEPAGE
When seepage occurs at a steady rate through an earth dam
or embankment it represents critical condition for the
stability of slope. When seepage occurs pore water pressure
(u) develops and this will reduce the effective stress which
in turn decreases the shear strength along the failure
surface.
The following procedure is adopted to obtain stability
1. Draw the C/S of the slope
2. Draw the potential failure surface
3. Divide the soil mass into slices
4. Calculate the weight W and the corresponding normal
and tangential components for all the slices in the usual
way

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 STABILITY DURING STEADY SEEPAGE
For the given slope construct flow net (network of
equipotential and flow lines)

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STABILITY DURING STEADY SEEPAGE

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STABILITY DURING STEADY SEEPAGE

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 FRICTION CIRCLE METHOD
This method uses total stress based limit equilibrium approach. In this
method the equilibrium of the resultant weight w, the reaction p due to
frictional resistance and the cohesive force c are considered. The
magnitude direction and line of action of w, the line of action of the
reaction force p and the cohesive force c being known the magnitude of p
and c are determined by considering the triangle of forces. The F.S. w. r. t.
cohesion and friction is evaluated.

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 FRICTION CIRCLE METHOD
On mobilization of frictional resistance. Let P be the soil reaction
opposing the sliding of soil mass as shown. P is inclined at an angle
to the normal at the point of action

The line of action of P will pass as tangent to a circle of radius R Sin

drawn with O as centre called Friction Circle or - Circle

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 FRICTION CIRCLE METHOD
For analysis the following 3 forces are considered
The weight W of the sliding soil mass
The total reaction P due to frictional resistance
The total cohesive force C mobilized along the slip surface

Resultant cohesive force C and its point of application

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 FRICTION CIRCLE METHOD
By knowing the magnitude and direction of W and the direction and
line of action of other forces the force triangle can be completed.
Measuring the magnitude of C the F.S. is computed

The minimum F.S is obtained by locating the critical slip circle

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FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

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FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

Finite Element Mesh

Seepage Analysis

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FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
Drawdown Analysis

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 CHOICE OF FACTOR OF SAFETY

Factors to be considered in making a choice of F value fall

into two broad categories;

(i) Consequences of failure: A higher factor would be

chosen where there is a risk to life and/or adjacent
structures. A lower factor when instabilities are
localised requiring simple remedial measures (pipes,
drains or road surfaces) or where the period of exposure
is short (e.g. temporary works).

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 CHOICE OF FACTOR OF SAFETY
(ii) Confidence in the information available: As a result of
complexity of the ground conditions, in-adequacy of the
S.I. information, uncertainty about the design
parameters, e.g. pore pressure. Potential future changes
to water table levels must also be considered (see
below);

End of construction (embankments & cuttings) 1.30*

Long term steady state seepage condition 1.25 1.5*
After sudden drawdown 1.20*
Slides where pre-existing surfaces exist 1.20*
Natural slope of long standing 1.10 1.20
Spoil tip 1.5
Problems involving buildings 2.0

*BS 6031 (1981) Code of practice for earthworks 62

THANKS

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