Slope Stability

•Classification of soil mass

movement
•Types of landslide
•Analysis of slopes
•Methods of soil slope analysis
•Short term analysis
•Long term analysis
•Some example problems

1
 Classification of soil mass movement

Geomorphological Geotechnical

1 Creep 1. Not normally important from engineering

point of view.
2 Frozen ground
phenomenon 2. Processes that take place on a geological
time scale (examples: Glacial activity,
3 Landslides Periglacial environment - Repeated
thawing + freezing) – can give rise to
residual slip planes.

3. Landslides; Downslope movement of soil,

rock, and other materials - Relatively
rapid - involving shear failure on discrete
boundaries of moving mass. These are
the main engineering problems.
2
Landslide types:
1. Translational slides, 2. Rotational slides, 3. Falls.

1. Translational slides.
• Limited to shallow depth

• Movement occurs predominantly

along planar surfaces.

• Relatively superficial (i.e. slip is

prevented from going deep into weaker
the ground).

• Includes mudflows (for cohesive Stronger

soils) and flow slides (for
Cohesionless soils).

• Flow slides occur in cohesionless The stronger material

material at/or near saturation. prevents penetration
of the failure
– Potentially very dangerous
because they occur at very
fast rate. 3
 2. Rotational slides: Single Rotational slip, Multiple Rotational slides
and Successive Rotational slip.
• Movement results from forces that cause a turning moment.

SINGLE ROTATIONAL SLIP

Base Failure

Circular
Slip surface
Failure emerges on
base
surface

Toe Failure Non-circular

Shallow
Slip surface emerges on
the slope or at the toe
4
Multiple and Successive Rotational slides

Typically occurs on cliffs

close to the sea
Plan View

3. Falls (stone and rock falls)

The mass in motion travels most of the distance through the air
Stone Falls: Provide protection by means of fencing
Rock Falls: Methods of analysis from Rock mechanics for large slides.

5
 Some
examples 6
 Classification
Classification

Geomorphological Geotechnical

√ Creep Analysis

√ Frozen ground
phenomenon History

√ Landslides Geometry

7
 Geotechnical Classification
We have to decide:
a) Analysis:
Is it,
• Short term analysis? Rate of loading is faster than rate of
consolidation (e.g., during the construction phase).
• During this phase, it is difficult to measure the pwp changes.
• Hence, use total stress analysis (or undrained analysis).
• This is also called ϕ = 0 analysis (zero angle of shearing
resistance) and hence f = cu (since  f = c ' +  ' tan  ' = c ' + ( n − u ) tan  ')
• That is, the shear strength of soil becomes equal to the
undrained cohesion parameter cu.
• In the laboratory, cu can be determined from a UU shear
test. and sometimes from unconfined compression test
8
 Geotechnical Classification…

We have to decide:

Is it,
• Long term analysis? Rate of loading is slower than the rate of
consolidation (e.g., post-construction phase).
• Hence, use effective stress analysis (c', ϕ') as the pwp changes can
be measured.
• In the laboratory, CD shear tests or CU tests with pore water
pressure measurements are carried out to determine c' and ϕ'

Shear strength =  f = c ' +  ' tan  ' = c ' + ( n − u ) tan  '

9
 Geotechnical Classification…
b) History

Is it,
• 1st time slide, or
• Slide on existing shear surface

c) Geometry

Is it,
• a circular or non-circular slip surface?

• Based on these (a, b and c), we can then decide on the method
of analysis to use.

10
 Analysis of slopes
• Research is carried on all 3 of these.
• LIMIT DESIGN METHOD is adopted, i.e. analysis at failure, i.e. state of
equilibrium at Factor of Safety, FOS = 1.
• Factor of Safety, FOS or F, is defined as:

 strength Shear strength available

FOS or F = =
 mobilised Shear strength mobilized or applied shear stress
[c ' + ( n − u ) tan  ' ]
F=

where  strength = c ' + ( n − u ) tan  ' is shear strength from Mohr - Coulomb failure theory

11
 Embankment construction
• Looking at things from point P’s viewpoint.
• During the period of construction, the shear stress increase as the
height of the embankment increases.
• At the end of construction, the increase in shear stress stops.

At P
•Normally consolidated (NC) clay
•Over consolidated (OC) clay
12
 NC
OC
PWP (u) Due to GWL
time
Length of time for excess PWP
dissipation depends on value of k
FOS (hydraulic conductivity)

OC FOS = [c’+ (n- u) tan’]/

NC
time

Rapid Pore pressure Pore pressure

Construction Dissipation Equilibrium
Φ = 0 method C’, Φ’ method

13
Methods of Stability Analysis

Methods of Analysis
Circular method

Dimensionless approach
(Taylor’s method)
Short term, ϕ = 0, f = cu

Long slope (infinite slope)

Long term, c′, ϕ′ For circular surfaces

f = c′ + σ′ tan ϕ′

For Non-circular surfaces

14
Circular method: Short term ϕ = 0 analysis
In addition to end of construction we must have saturated, intact clay for ϕ = 0 to be
applicable

Circular Method (Disturbing Moment = Restoring Moment)

X
A
O Wx = f. AB.R
θ
R Wx = fR .R
H
f = cu Wx = cu R 2
B τf
cu R 2
F .S =
W Wx

15
 Example
A unsupported slope is
shown. Determine the O
factor of safety against
sliding for the trial slip Θ = 650
surface. Take c = 50 kPa C B
and Φ = 0. The weight of
the wedge ABC is 2520 kN
and acts at a horizontal 11 m W
distance of 11 m from the
vertical AO.

Answer- 1.28
A

16
Splitting the failure segment - slices (circular method)
d
O Very important:
See Text Book by Barnes

Slope stability chapter

Circular arc analysis – undrained
Condition using slices
R for
Factor of safety calculation
α and
Tension crack

W See example problems

in the same chapter
b

α Overturning moment = Wd
Resisting moment = Cu X length of arc for the slice at base X R
 Dimensionless approach – Taylor’s stability
number (Taylor’s method)

• Circular method requires investigation of different

positions of slip circles to find the worst case (i.e., lowest
FOS).
• Time consuming.
• To resolve this, Taylor produced stability charts that give
the factor of safety for the worst case.

– Strictly applicable for saturated clay, total stress

analysis (undrained condition)
ϕ= 0

18
 Dimensionless approach (Taylor’s method)
Consider the following diagram: • Where a hard stratum
exists, Df is easily
nH determined.
H DH
Depth factor, D f =
H
β DH
Cu
F=
N H

Hard layer F – Factor of Safety

If β > 53°, all slip circles pass through the

Cu – Undrained shear strength
toe, i.e., Df = 1. N – Stability Number (from chart)
For a homogeneous soil mass we can find
that as Df increases, cu activated also  Bulk unit weight
increases.
Position of circle is determined from n. H – Depth to the toe
19
Taylor calculated N for the critical
circle for all the quoted cases and
presented them in charts.

DH
Df =
H
cu
N=
FH

Use dotted lines for the case:

H
β DH

(Fig 10.10 in Scott) 20

 Example
• A cut of depth 10 m is made in a cohesive
soil deposit (c = 30 kPa, Φ = 0, and  = 20
kN/m3). There is a hard stratum under the
cohesive soil at a depth of 12 m below the
original ground surface. If the required
factor of safety is 1.5, determine the safe
slope.
Answer- 100

21
 Long term analysis
Use effective stress analysis approach, i.e. c′, ϕ′

Long term, c′, ϕ′

Infinite slope

Non Circular surfaces

Circular surfaces

Swedish method Conventional method

Bishop’s Routine method Janbu routine method

Bishop and Morgenstern Morgenstern and Price method

method
22
 Infinite Slope Analysis
• A slip surface which runs parallel to slope and is quite shallow
(length >> than depth).
b

W
B z
mz
A
⍺
T ⍺

l
N
23
Infinite Slope Analysis…

W =  bz l=
b
cos 
W weight of slice
 Bulk unit weight of the soil b
b Width of the slice
z Depth to the slip surface
l Length of the slice B
W
z
mz
Also, A
⍺
N = W cos
T ⍺
l
T =W sin  N

24
Infinite Slope Analysis…

f c'+( −u) tan  '

F= = n
 

N W cos  W cos2  bz cos 2 

n = = = = =z cos 2 
l1 b / cos  b b
T T W sin  cos  bz sin  cos 
= = = = = z sin  cos
l1 b / cos  b b
Substituting σn and τ into the factor of safety equation, you get:

c' + (z cos2 − u) tan '

F=
z sin cos 25
Infinite Slope Analysis…

Some special cases,

(i) if c ' = 0 i.e. for a sand

 

u tan '

F = 1−





 z cos 2  tan



ub ub u
Now, If ru = pore water pressure coefficient = = =
W bz z


2  tan '
Therefore, F = 1− ru sec 
  

 tan
 


26
Infinite Slope Analysis…

(ii) if u is also =0 i.e. for a dry sand

b
Then,

tan '
F= W

tan
z
A
⍺
T ⍺
l
N

27
Infinite Slope Analysis…

(iii) If c’ = 0 and groundwater table is at a vertical height of mz

above the slip surface, i.e. steady seepage parallel to
ground level.
  b

u 
tan '
F = 1−





 z cos 2  tan



Then,
 w  tan '
B
 C
 D
F = 1− m  ⍺
z
mz

 tan
 W
 
 
A
⍺
Note that, T ⍺
u = mz w cos 2  l

N 28
Infinite Slope Analysis…

(iv) If in (iii), GWL is at GL, i.e. m = 1, then


 
− w tan ' 


tan '

'

 b
F = sat

 = 








tan  

tan 



B
sat sat C
D
z
W
⍺ mz
A
⍺
T ⍺
l
N
29
Infinite Slope Analysis…

(v) If in (iv), F = 1, then

 

tan =

 ' 
 tan ' =
tan  '
 


 

2
sat
If dry sand slope is set up, angle of shearing resistance is = 30o, say
if water table is at surface (m = 1), then slope will slip to an angle of
approx. 15o since tanΦ’ ≈ Φ’ and tanα ≈ α

30
31
 Long term analysis
Use effective stress analysis approach, i.e. c′, ϕ′

Long term, c′, ϕ′

Infinite slope

Non Circular surfaces

Circular surfaces

Swedish method Conventional method

Bishop’s Routine method Janbu routine method

Bishop and Morgenstern Morgenstern and Price method

method
32
 Circular and non-circular methods
• A general approach of analysis
is to divide the slip plane into
slices.
6
• Consider the stability of each
slice. 4 5
3
2
• Combine the individual 1
stabilities to obtain the overall
stability of the slope.

• The more slices that are used,

the more accurate the
estimation of slope stability
(although there is an optimum
number of slices).

33
 Circular surfaces
Method 1. Original - Swedish method of slices (after Fellenius)
Centre point
x
O • The assumption in this case is
b that the Forces on side of a
slice (i.e., due to E and X)
R have zero resultant in the
direction normal to the failure
En Xn+1 arc for that slice.
• We therefore say E and X are
Xn W En+1 both = zero.
T
Failure surface
 N L= arc length
 = Slope angle for the
particular slice
b = width of slice 34
 Original - Swedish method of slices (after Fellenius) contd…

•Factor of safety:
 f c ' + ( n − u ) tan  '
F= = (1) Note: Stress = Force/Area

 
Area = L (m) X 1 (m)

N
n = (2)
L

• Take moments about O (i.e., the centre of the slip circle), for all
slices:
x
Wx = TR
O
(3)
T

T
x = R sin  ,  = (4)

R
L


W
35
 Original - Swedish method of slices (after Fellenius) contd…

Substituting (4) into (3)

 =  W sin 
(5)
L
 N  
Substituting (5) into (2)
  C ' L + 
L
− u 

L tan  ' 
 (6)
F=
W sin 
Resolving normal to the slip surface (if one considers E and X forces):
N = (W + X n − X n +1 ) cos  − ( En − En +1 ) sin  (7)
Based on the assumptions,
N = W cos  (8)
Ignoring X and E, we have

Factor of Safety: F=
 ( C ' L + (W cos  − uL ) tan  ' )
(9)
W sin 
36
 Circular surfaces…
• In certain cases assumptions for E and X =0
give rise to appreciable errors.

• Therefore, the method was updated by Bishop.

• Refer to A.W. Bishop, Geotechnique 1955. “The

use of the slip circle in the stability analysis of
slopes”.

37
 Method 2: Bishop’s Routine method
• Bishop assumed the interslice forces have zero resultant in the
vertical direction.
• i.e. X = 0,
• Introducing ru – pore pressure coefficient, i.e. express PWP in terms
of weight of soil in slice.

u b
ru =
W
• Factor of safety can be defined as:
sec 
 ( C ' b + W (1 − r ) tan  ')
1
F=
W sin  tan  ' tan 
u
1+
F

Note: Derivation - book

38
 Method 2: Bishop’s Routine method contd…

• Note that F is on both sides of the equation. Therefore the equation

need to be solved by an iterative method.

• Assume F, substitute in RHS and solve for new value of F.

• Using new F, re-substitute again and solve again.

• Usually 2 or 3 iterations are sufficient.

• Repeat for other slip surfaces and obtain a contour plot for minimum
factor of safety.

• Some slope stability softwares accommodate this procedure.

39
 Method 3: Stability coefficients - Bishop and Morgenstern method
Ref. Bishop and Morgenstern, Geotechnique 10, 1960. Stability coefficients for Earth Slopes.

• They produced a series of stability

coefficients for earth slopes.
• They defined critical factor of safety as: F = m − nru
u b
ru =
W
m and n are stability coefficients
m and n can be obtained from stability charts.
H
Charts are for : DH
β
– A non-dimensional parameter, c′/  H
– Depth factor, Df
– Friction angle, Φ′ Hard layer
– Slope angle, β
Refer to figure 10.17 and Example 10.5 in Scott
40
Fig. 17: Effective stress stability coefficients
(Scott)

41
Fig. 17: Effective stress stability coefficients
(Scott)

42
Non-Circular Failure Surfaces
Non-circular surfaces:

Conventional method

Janbu routine method

Morgenstern and Price method

43
Method 1: Conventional method

L b

X1
W
X2 E1
E2

l
T
 N = N'+U
d

44
 Method 1: Conventional method contd..

Key points:

Factor of safety: F=
 C ' l +  (W cos  − ul ) tan  '
W sin 
• This equation is same as in Original Swedish method

• Approximations introduced: Interslice forces ignored.

• Exact only for planar surfaces.

• Therefore, error increases as d/L increases.

• d/L up to 0.1 is accurate enough.

45
 Method 2: Janbu routine method
• The conventional method ignores interslice forces
completely, whilst in Janbu’s method interslice forces
are included.

• Factor of safety can be derived to yield:

 
f 0   c '+ ( p − u ) tan  'b  sec 2  
F=  
W tan   1 +  tan  tan  '  
  
  F 
Where, p=W/b, fo is the factor that takes into
account interslice forces
46
 Method 2: Janbu routine method contd..

′ = 0 soil
• The Janbu equation also
has to be solved iteratively
and summed over all the
fo c,  soil slices.

• Also need to try a range of

c = 0 soil surfaces.

• This method is equivalent

for non-circular methods
as the Bishop method for
circular slips.

0.2 d/L • Applicable for both circular

0
and non-circular.

Refer to Figure 12.17 in Barnes

47
 Method 3: Morgenstern and Price method

• Applicable for both •They assume a relationship between X and E.

circular and non-
circular.

X = . f ( x).E
• This method
chooses to satisfy
both force and
moment equilibrium
for each slice.
X Vertical forces
• Suitable for
computer use only. Horizontal forces
E
• Most expensive in Is a function which varies continuously
terms of computer f ( x)
time but most across the slip
accurate.
 Is a scaling factor

48
 Summary of non-circular analysis
Sl no Methods Equilibrium Ease of
equations calculation

1. Infinite slope analysis Force Hand

equilibrium

2. Conventional Force Hand or

equilibrium computer

3. Janbu routine Force Hand or

equilibrium computer

4. Morgenstern and Price Force and Computer

Moment
equilibrium
49
 Choice of Method
• For hand calculations use Janbu Routine
or sometimes Conventional if slip is nearly
planar.

• For computer calulations try Janbu firstly

but if it runs into difficulty use Morgenstern
and Price.

50