Method of Slices(分割法）

LA, SLM can be applied only to limited conditions,

e.g., uniform or simple ground formation and simple ground
water conditions, but they can be hardly applied for multiple
layered soils and complicated ground water conditions.
Method of slices (one of LEMs) is one of the most commonly
used methods for evaluating the stability of geotechnical
structures with complicated conditions, especially for slope
stability, from which factor of safety (Fs) is estimated.
Procedure of method of slices
1. Assuming trial slip surface
2. Dividing slipping block into vertical slices
3. Force and moment equilibrium for each slice
and overall moment and force equilibrium
4. Factor of safety on shear strength of the trial slip surface
5. Finding minimum factor of safety
2007/11/15 Stability Analysis in Geotech. Eng. 1
by J.Takemura

Various methods have been proposed in this type of stability

analysis.

•Swedish (Fellenius’) method

•Bishop’s method
•Jambu’s method
•Spencer’s method
•Mogenstern and Price’s method

Difference of these methods:

•shape of slip surface (circular or non-circular)
•assumption on interslice force （スライス間力の仮定）

to determine the normal force

Why this assumption is needed?
on slip surface of each slice.

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 center of gravity
of soil block
fu=0 method x
trial slip surface
Soil properties: cu,g (circular arc)
Length of arc: L=Rq
t : average shear stress along L
T =tL (1)
W: weight of soil block
two unknowns
two equations
Moment about O: overturning moment Md=Wx (2)
resisting moment Mr=TR (3)
Failure criteria: tf=cu (4) statically
Mobilized shear strength t= tf /Fs (Fs: Factor of safety) (5) determinate
In equilibrium Wx=TR (6)
from eqs. (1) ,(4) ,(5) and (6) This method can be adopted to the conditions:
c LR varying shear strength,
Fs = u (7) presence of surcharge and water at the toe.
Wx
2007/11/15 Stability Analysis in Geotech. Eng. 3
by J.Takemura

Ordinary method of slices: Swedish or Fellenius’ method

In fu=0 analysis, undrained shear strength on slip surfaces can be
assumed to be independent of the stress level. In effective stress
analysis (or f>0 material), the shear strength on the slip surface is
function of the (effective) normal stress (by Mohr-Coulomb failure
criteria) and thus the normal stress along the failure surface must
be determined or taken into account in the analysis*). This may be
achieved by dividing the failure mass into a number of slices.
The Swedish (Fellenius’) method is the simplest method of slices.
In this method the normal force on the base of each slice is
determined by considering the equilibrium of forces normal to the
base. To make the problem determinate, the assumption is made
that the resultant to the interslice forces acting on any slice is
parallel to its base.
*) Beside method of slices, friction circle method can be applied to uniform
soil conditions (c,f,g:const) but not to the soil with varying properties.
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 x=
Swedish (Fellenius’) method Rsina
number of slices:n
Soil properties: c’,f’,g trial slip surface
•For a slice at its base with (circular arc)
normal stress s, b
shear stress t and
pore pressure u
-Failure criteria: tf=c’+(s-u)tanf’ (1)
-Mobilized shear strength t= tf /Fs
a
since P=sl, T=tl,
2n unknowns Force polygon
1
T = (c ' l + ( P - ul ) tan f ' ) (2) +1(F )
Fs s
  
-Assuming Q( = Z L - Z R ) is parallel to the base of
 
T Q
slice and solving equilibrium normal to the base,
P=Wcosa (3) 2n equations +1 (eq.(4)
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•Overall Moment equilibrium:

Note: interslice forces are internal and
åW R sin a = å T R (4)
i i i
their net moment is zero.
1
from eq.(2) å W sin a = å (c' l i i i + ( Pi - ui li ) tan f ' ) (5)
F s
Neglecting
hence Fsm =
å (c' l i + ( Pi - uili ) tan f ' )
(6) interslice force
åW sin ai i +
factor of safety satisfying overall moment equilibrium
l=b/cosa

using eq.(3) Fsm = å (c' li + (Wi cos a i - uli ) tan f ' ) (7) overestimating
åW sin a
i i
the effect of
pore pressure,
liner equation about FS :easy to be solved underestimating
effective stress.
This assumption implicitly makes the problem
statically determinate. Wi ' cos a i large error
Fsm =
å (c' li + W 'i cos a i tan f ' )
(8)
åW sin a i i
Modified Fellenius’ Method
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 Equations and Unknowns in MS forces on typical slice
For sliding mass divided into n slices
X
•Equations available: total 3n L
ER
EL
(V, H, M equilibrium)
•Unknowns: 1 : Fs relating shear forces T *) XR
to normal forces P
n : Normal total forces P on base of slice
(pore water forces UB are known) Z and q can be replaced by
n : Positions a of forces P horizontal and vertical
n-1 : Interslice total forces Z components: X and E.
(pore water forces UL, UR are known)
n-1 : Inclinations q of interslice forces
n-1 : Height h of inter slice forces
total 5n-2 2n-2: statically *)failure criteria and T can be considered
indeterminate as given equation and unknowns
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General Formulation on Limit Equilibrium on MS

- Equations and Unknowns in MS -
force on typical slice
Indeterminate problem is better to be
solved using compatibility. But due to the
assumption of rigid body, it is difficult to
introduce the compatibility conditions.
Hence 2n-2 assumptions must be made for
the problem to be statically determinate.
Several classes of assumption which may be made:
1. Assumptions about the distribution of normal
stress along the slip surface.
2. Assumptions about the position of the line of thrust of the
interslice forces.
3. Assumptions about the inclination of the interslice forces.
difference of various methods of slices  difference of the assumption
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 Assumptions in method of slices
In most methods, P is assumed to act at the center of the base of each
slice (Class 1.). This assumption is reasonable providing the slices are
thin, and reduces the number of required assumption to n-2.
In many methods, an assumption is made about the inclinations of the
interslice forces (Class 3.). But this gives another n-1 assumptions
making the problem over-specified. This analysis may then be carried
out either satisfying overall moment equilibrium or horizontal force
equilibrium, yielding two factors of safety, Fsm and Fsf , which are
generally different with this condition.
Fredlund and Krahn (1977) have shown the general equations of
equilibrium. The formulation is the same for circular and no-circular
slip surface, although for the latter a frictional center of rotation is
adopted. difference of the methods

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General Formulation on Limit Equilibrium on MS

Failure is assumed to occur by sliding of d
a block on a non-circular (or circular) slip
surface.

Soil properties: c’,f’,g

•For a slice at its base with
normal stress s,
shear stress t and
pore pressure u
-Failure criteria: tf=c’+(s-u)tanf’ (1)
-Mobilized shear strength t= tf /Fs
1
since P=sl, T=tl, T = (c ' l + ( P - ul ) tan f ' ) (2)
Fs
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 -Vertical equilibrium condition:
P cosa + T sin a = W - ( X R - X L ) (3)
By substituting eqs.(2) into eq. (3) and rearranging,
é 1 ù
P = êW - ( X R - X L ) - (c' l sin a - ul tan f ' sin a )ú / ma (4)
ë Fs û
æ tan f ' ö
where ma = cos a çç1 + tan a ÷
è Fs ÷ø

-Horizontal equilibrium condition:

T cos a - P sin a + E R - EL = 0 (5)
By substituting eqs.(2) into eq. (5),
1
ER - EL = P sin a - [(c' l + ( P - ul ) tan f ']cosa (6)
Fs
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•Overall Moment equilibrium (about O):(土塊全体のモーメントの釣合)

åW d = å T R + å P f
i i i i i i (7)

By substituting eqs.(2) and (4) into eq.(7) and rearranging,

Fsm =
å [c' l + ( P - u l ) tan f ']R
i i i i i
(8)
å (W d - P f ) i i i i
factor of safety satisfying overall moment equilibrium
For circular slip surfaces f=0, d=Rsina and R=cosnt, so

Fsm =
å [c' l + ( P - u l ) tan f ']
i i i i
(9)
åW sin a i

Eqs. (8) and (9) are nonliner equations about Fsm,

because P includes Fs. See eq.(4).
Their solutions necessitate an iterative procedure.
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 •Overall Force equilibrium: (土塊全体の力の釣合)
In the absence of surface loading,
å (E Ri - ELi ) = 0
(10)
å(X Ri - X Li ) = 0

from eq.(6)
1
åE Ri - ELi = å Pi sin a i - å [(c' li + ( Pi - ui li ) tan f ']cosa i = 0 (11)
Fsf

Fsf =
å [(c' l + ( P - u l ) tan f ']cosa
i i i i i
(12)
å P sin a i i

factor of safety satisfying overall horizontal force equilibrium

In order to solve for Fsm and Fsf, P must be evaluated, which requires
evaluation of XR, XL, the interslice shear forces, included in eq.(4).
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Common assumptions on interslice shear forces

XR - XL = 0 :Bishop (1955) +neglecting Fsf

Jambu’s simplified(1956) +
neglecting Fsm with non-circular slip surface
X
= tan q = const . :Spencer (1967) + q satisfying Fsm=Fsf
E
X
= lf (x ) :Mogenstern and Price (1965) +
E
for given f(x) the scaling factor l is found
satisfying Fsm=Fsf .

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 x=
Bishop simplified method of slices Rsina

•For a slice at its base number of slices:n

with s, t and u
-Failure criteria: trial slip surface
(circular arc)
tf=c’+(s-u)tanf’ (1)
-Mobilized shear strength
t= tf /Fs since P=sl, T=tl,
1
T = (c ' l + ( P - ul ) tan f ' ) (2)
Fs Soil properties:
-Vertical equilibrium condition: c’,f’,g
P cosa + T sin a = W - ( X R - X L ) (3)
Assuming X R - X L= 0 (i.e., interslice forces act only horizontally)
é 1 ù æ tan f ' ö
P = êW - (c' l sin a - ul tan f ' sin a )ú / ma , ma = cos a çç1 + tan a ÷ (4)
ë Fs û è Fs ÷ø

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neglecting overall force equilibrium

•Overall Moment equilibrium (about O):
åW R sin a = å T R
i i i (5)
1
from eq.(2) åW sin a = å F (c' l + ( P - u l ) tan f ' )
i i i i i i (5)
s

hence Fsm =
å (c' l + ( P - u l ) tan f ' ) (6)
i i i i

åW sin a i i

substituting eq.(4) into eq.(6) and using b=licosai

å [(W - ub ) tan f ' ) + cb ]/ ma æ

mai = cos a i çç1 + tan a i
tan f ' ö
÷
Fs ÷ø (7)
i i i i
Fsm = ,
åW sin a i i
è

In Bishop method, overall horizontal equilibrium is not satisfied. Bishop

discussed that Fs is not particularly sensitive to the interslice shear force
providing overall equilibrium moment is satisfied. But it is not true for the
case with large rotation of principal stress along the slip plane.
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 Relationship between factor ma and inclination of slice base
Anderson & Richards Slope Stability, Willy (1986)

æ tan f ' ö
mai = cos a i çç1 + tan a i ÷
è Fs ÷ø

a<0

Extremely small ma value may give unrealistic

Fs in the case with negative base a angle .
( ex: tanf’=30o, Fs=1.5 and a=-69o, mai ~ 0)
If there is a slice with small ma (for example,
less than 0.5), it better neglect the slice in the
calculation.
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by J.Takemura

Jambu’s simplified method

Failure is assumed to occur by
sliding of a block on a non-
circular slip surface. Soil properties:
c’,f’,g
•For a slice at its base
trial slip surface
with s, t and u
(non-circular)
-Failure criteria:
tf=c’+(s-u)tanf’ (1)
-Mobilized shear strength
1
t= tf /Fs since P=sl, T=tl, T = (c ' l + ( P - ul ) tan f ' ) (2)
Fs
-Vertical equilibrium condition:
P cosa + T sin a = W - ( X R - X L ) (3)
Assuming X R - X L= 0 (i.e., interslice forces act only horizontally)
é 1 ù æ tan f ' ö
P = êW - (c' l sin a - ul tan f ' sin a ) ú / ma , ma = cos a çç1 + tan a ÷
ë F s û F ÷ (4)
è s ø
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 -Equilibrium condition parallel to base of slice:
T + ( ER - EL ) cosa = (W - ( X R - X L )) sin a (5)
From the assumptionX R - X L= 0 and eq.(1),
1
ER - EL = W tan a - [(c' l + ( P - ul ) tan f ']seca (6)
Fs
•Overall Force equilibrium: neglecting overall moment equilibrium
In the absence of surface loading, å (E Ri - ELi ) = 0 (7)
Hence from eq.(6),
1
åE Ri - ELi = å Wi tan a i - å [(c' li + ( Pi - ui li ) tan f ']cosa i = 0 (8)
Fs 0
Fs 0 =
å [(c' li + (Pi - ui li ) tan f ']seca i (9)
åW tan a
i i

Eq.(9) is different from eq.(12) for general formulation, which comes

from the neglect of interslice shear force.
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To take account of the interslice shear forces, Jambu et al. applied correction
factor f0 and gave the factor of safety Fsf by the following equation.
Fsf = f 0 Fs 0 (10)
The correction factor f0 was obtained by calibrating this analysis with
Jambu’s rigorous method*). The f0 may be obtained from the figure below,
depending on geometry of the problem as well as the soil conditions.

L
d

*) In Jambu’s rigorous method (1954), moment

about the center of the base of each slice is taken
into account, so that overall moment (implicitly)
and force equilibrium are satisfied. For this, it is
necessary to assume a position of the line of
Anderson & Richards Slope Stability, Willy (1986) thrust of the interslice forces.

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 Minimization of Fs
The equations on Fs given above are for one arbitrary trial slip surface.
As adopted in normal UBA and LEM, the slip surface which gives
minimum Fs is detected in a design. This is the factor of safety that
should be used in the design with the given conditions.
For circular slip surfaces:
min. Fs 1.Find the circle giving min. Fsi
about the node,i, of the mesh
2.Draw contours of min. Fsi .
3.Determine Fs and critical slip surface

For non-circular slip surfaces:

Systematic procedure cannot be applied
like circular surfaces, but try and error
method should be used. For this reasons,
no-circular slip line method is suitable
for the condition where the possible slip
critical slip surface plane has already been detected.
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Example of calculation of Fs

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Example of calculation of Fs by Swedish method

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Example of calculation of Fs by Bishop’s method

first approximation of Fs
Slice
No.

1st trial
2nd trial
3rd trial convergence in iteration is quite good.
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 Modeling of water in the analysis.
Water mass is considered as part of the slice

Three methods give

the same results.

extend slip surface in the water: tf=0, g=gw

Appling water pressure
at the ground surface

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Accuracy of LEM (MS)

•Comparing the solution of LEM with the solution of other

methods.
•Comparing the solutions of LEM (MS) each other.

Accuracy depends
-assumptions used in the analysis
-given conditions
(soil properties, geometry, boundary conditions)

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 Application of MS to stability problems
•From overall Moment equilibrium (about O):

p1Br1 - p2 Hr2 + R å Wi sin a i = R å Ti

R
=
Fsm
åt l
f i

Not only the Factor of safety in the

slope stability problem:
•Bearing capacity can be obtained by
solving the above equation about p1 with
Fsm=1:
•Active earth pressure can be obtained
by solving the equation about p2 with
Fsm=1.
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log spiral
failure surface

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Comparison of Fs for the example problem

Fsm Fsf

5 % dif.
Underestimate:
conservative Less than 0.4% difference
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 Influence of interslice forces on Factors of Safety

Fsf Fsm is insensitive to inter-

slice shear force than Fsf.
Fsf
Fsm

Fsm

X/E=lf(x)
Most commonly used Simplified Bishop Method can
provide reliable answers similar to more rigorous ones.
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by J.Takemura

Comparison of Nq obtained from various methods

Bearing capacity problem
Nq for a soil with f’=30o, g=0
rigorous solution

s1
s1
Large rotation of s1

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 Comparison of Nq obtained from various methods

Underestimate

Overestimate
If the slip surface is steeply inclined at the toe, a method
should be chosen which gives a sensitive distribution of
interslice forces.
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by J.Takemura

Friction Circle Method

Applicable to uniform c-f materials,
neither layered soil nor slope with seepage .
Taylor’s Stability Chart was made by FCM.

Rsinfm fm: mobilized friction angle

Ff=tanf/tanfm

Friction circle
R
Circular slip surface

fm

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 Forces in stability analyses by Friction Circle Method
Taylor (1948)

Moment arm of C

Quantity；
Direction； a=
R
Line of action:
known
U: Pore pressure

W: Self weight
(a) Actuating forces (b) Cohesion
Rsinfm KRsinfm

Rsinfm

D
(c) Boundary inter granular forces (d) Force triangle
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La: length of arc AB, Lc:length of chord AB

  c
Total force vector of cohesion: C // AB, C = Lc Quantity；
Fc Direction；
La Line of action:
From moment equilibrium: cLa R = cLc a Þ a = R known
Lc
Total force vector of friction forces P should
be tangent to the circle with r=KRsinfm and
pass the point D.
As K ~1 (right figure), Rsinfm can be used in in
frictional circle method.
Uniform
distribution
In the use of Taylor’s stability chart , the Semi sine
distribution
factor of safety of the slope is given by trail
satisfying the following conditions.
t f c + s tan f c tan f
t= = = +s Þ Fc = Ff = Fs
Fs Fs Fc Ff
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