Geotechnical Engineering 1 (Soil Mechanics)

Module 11 – Pat 1: Slope Stability

Objective:

After studying these topics the students will be able to:

1. Determine the stability of slopes with or without seepage.

Content:

A. Introduction

Slopes in soils and rocks are ubiquitous in nature and in man-made structures. Highways,
dams, levees, canals and stockpiles are constructed by sloping the lateral faces of the soil because
slopes are generally less expensive than constructing walls. Natural forces (wind, water, snow, etc)
change the topography on Earth and other planets, often creating unsuitable slopes. Failures of
natural slopes (landslides) and man-made slopes have resulted in much death and destruction. Some
failures are sudden and catastrophic; others are insidious. Some failures are widespread; others are
localized.
Geotechnical engineers have to pay particular attention to geology, surface drainage,
groundwater, and the shear strength of soils is assessing slope stability. However, we are
handicapped by the geological variability of soils and methods of obtaining reliable values of shear
strength. The analyses of slope stability are based on simplifying assumptions and the design of a
stable slope relies heavily on experience and careful site investigation.
A few simple methods of analysis from which you should be able to:
1. Estimate the ability of slopes with simple geometry and geological features.
2. Understand the forces and activities that provoke failures.

3. Understand the effects of geology, seepage and pore water pressures on the stability of slopes.

B. Definitions of Key Terms

1. Slip or failure zone is a thin zone of soil that reaches the critical state or residual state and results
in movement of the upper soil mass.

2. Slip plane or failure plane or slip surface or failure surface is the surface of sliding.

3. Sliding mass is the mass of soil within the plane and the ground surface.

4. Slope angle (αs) is the angle of inclination of a slope to the horizontal. The slope angle is
sometimes referred to as a ratio, for example, 2:1 (horizontal: vertical).

5. Pore water pressure ratio (ru) is the ratio of pore water force on a slip surface to the total
weight of the soil and any external loading.

C. Some Type of Slope Failures

Slope failures depend on the soil type, soil stratification, groundwater, seepage, and the slope
geometry. We will introduce a few types of slope failure that are common in soils. Failure of a slope
along a weak zone of soil is called a translational slide. The sliding mass can travel long distances
before coming to rest. Translational slides are common in coarse-grained soils.
A common type of failure in homogeneous fine-grained soils is a rotational slide that has its
point of rotation on an imaginary axis parallel to the slope. Three types of rotational failure often

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occur. One type, called a base slide, occurs by an arc engulfing the whole slope. A soft layer resting on
a stiff layer of soil is prone to base failure. The second type of rotational failure is the toe slide,
whereby the failure surface passes through the toe of the slope. The third type of rotational failure is
the slope slide, whereby the failure surface passes the slope.
A flow slide occurs when internal and external conditions force a soil to behave like a viscous
fluid and flow down even shallow slopes, spreading out in several directions. The failure surface is ill
defined in flow slides. Multiple failure surfaces usually occur and change continuously as flow
proceeds. Flow slides can occur in dry and wet soils.
Block or wedge slides occur when a soil mass is shattered along joints, seams, fissures, and
weak zones by forces emanating from adjacent soils. The shattered mass moves as blocks and wedges
down the slope.
D. Some Causes of Slope Failure

Slope failures are caused, in general, by natural forces, human misjudgment and activities, and
burrowing animals. Describe below some of the main factors that provoke slope failures.
1. Erosion
2. Rainfall
3. Earthquakes
4. Geological Features
5. External Loading
6. Construction Activities
a. Excavated Slopes
b. Fill Slopes
7. Rapid Drawdown

Essential Points:

1. Geological features and environmental conditions (e.g., external loads and natural forces) are
responsible for most slope failures.
2. The common modes of slope failure in soils are by translation, rotation, flow, and block
movements.

E. Factor of Safety
τf
Fs =
τd
Where:
Fs = factor of safety with respect to strength
𝜏f = average shear strength of the soil
𝜏d = average shear stress developed along the potential failure surface

C + σtan∅
Fs =
Cd + σtan∅d
Where:
C = cohesion
∅ = angle of friction
σ = normal stress on the potential failure surface

1. Factor of safety with respect to cohesion

C
Fc =
Cd
Where:
Fc = factor of safety with cohesion
C = cohesion
Cd = cohesion that develop along the potential failure surface
∅d = angle of friction that develop along the potential failure surface

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2. Factor of safety with respect to friction
tan∅
F∅ =
tan∅d

Where: Fs = Fc = F∅

F. Stability of Infinite Slopes without Seepage for Clay

H { Øc
γ

Ro c k
β

C tan ∅
Fs = +
s Hcos2 tan tan 

Where:
β = angle the soil makes with the horizontal
μ = coefficient of friction between rock and soil
c = cohesion of soil
γs = unit weight of soil
Ø = angle of internal friction
Maximum height of the slope for which critical equilibrium occurs
C
Hcr =
cos2 (tan − tan∅)

G. Stability of Infinite Slopes with Seepage for Clay

H { Øc
γ

Ro c k
β

C ′ tan∅
Fs = +
sat Hcos2 tan sat tan

Where:
γsat = saturated unit weight of soil
’ = effective unit weight of soil

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H. Stability of Infinite Slopes without Seepage for Sand

H { Øc
γ

Ro c k
β

tan∅
FS =
tanβ

I. Stability of Infinite Slopes when there is partial Seepage for Sand

H { Øc
γ h
Ro c k
β

hγw tan∅
FS = [1 − ]
γsat H tanβ

J. Stability of Infinite Slopes when Subjected to Full Seepage for Sand

H { Øc
γ

Ro c k
β

𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − γw tan∅
FS = [ ]
γsat tanβ

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K. Analysis of Finite Soil With Plane Failure Surfaces (Culmann’s Method)

Maximum height of the slope for which critical equilibrium occurs

H 1 − cos( − ∅d )
Cd = [ ]
4 sincos∅d

4C sincos∅
Hcr = [ ]
 1 − cos( − ∅)
L. Modes of Failure of Finite Slope

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1. Slope failure

When the failure occurs in such a way that the surface of sliding intersects the slope at or
above its toe, it is called a slope failure and the failure circle is referred to as a toe circle if it passes
thru the toe of the slope.

2. Slope circle

The failure circle is called a slope circle

a. Shallow slope failure
b. Base failure

When failure occurs in such a way that the surface of sliding passes at some distance
below the toe of the slope, it is called a base failure and the failure circle is called a midpoint.

3. Stability Number

C
m = γ dH
s

where: m = stability number

1 γ H
m
= Cs (stability factor)
d

4. Critical Height of Slope

When: Fs =1, Cd = Cu
Cu
Hcr = γ
sm

Where: Cu = undrained shear strength

γs = unit weight of soil
5. For Critical Equilibrium

Fc = FØ = Fs
Cd = C, H = Hcr
C
Hcr = γs m

C
Fc = Cd
(factor of safety with respect to cohesion)

tanØ
FØ = tanØd
(factor of safety with respect to friction)

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 Problems
1. An infinite slope in shown. The shear strength parameters at the interface of soil and rock are as
follows:  = 1, 900 kg/m3, C = 18 kN/m2 and ∅ = 25o.
a. If H = 8 m and  = 20o, find the factor of safety against sliding on the rock surface.
b. If  = 30o, find the height, H, for which Fs = 1. (Assume no pore water pressure to be zero)

H {Ø
c
γ

Ro c k
β

2. Refer to problem 1.If there were seepage through the soil, and the ground water table coincided
with the ground surface, what would be the value of Fs? Use H = 8 m, sat = 1, 900 kg/m3 and 
= 20o.

H {Ø
c
γ

Ro c k
β

3. A cut is to be made in a soil that has  = 105 lb/ft3, C = 600 lb/ft2 and ∅ = 15o. The side of the cut
slope will make an angle of 45o with the horizontal. What should be the depth of the cut slope
that will have a factor of safety, Fs, of 3?

γ = 105 lb/ft3
H =?
C = 600 lb/ft2
=
∅ = 15o, Fs = 3
45o

4. A finite slope is shown in the figure. Assuming that the slope failure would occur along a plane.
Angle of friction is 20o, cohesion of soil is 25 kPa, unit weight of the soil is 18 kN/m3 and the angle
of slope is 45o.

a. Compute the height of the slope for critical Ø = 20o

equilibrium. Hcr C = 25 kPa
b. Compute the stability number for a factor of
safety of 1. γs = 18 kN/m3
c. Compute the stability factor. β = 45o

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5. A finite slope is shown in the figure. The unit weight of soil is 17. 3 kN/m 3 with a cohesion of 12
kPa and an angle of friction of 10o. The slope makes an angle of 50o with the horizontal. Assuming
the slope failure would occur along AC. B C

a. Compute the height of the slope for critical

equilibrium.
Hcr failure plane
b. Compute the stability number.
d. If BC is 4.8 m, compute the factor of safety ϴ
against sliding A β = 50o

References:
1. Images google.com
2. Geotechnical Engineering (Revised Third Edition) by C. Venkatramaiah, 2012
3. Principles of Geotechnical Engineering (Seventh Edition) by Braja M. Das, 2010
4. Soil Mechanics and Foundations (Third Edition) by Muni Budhu, 2011
5. Soil Mechanics 7th Edition, R.F. Craig, 2004
6. Basic Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering by Venancio L. Besavilla Jr., 1998
7. Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering by Diego Inocencio T. Gillesania, 2006

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