Finite Slopes - Idealizations
Slope fails with a finite slip/failure surface
Failure surface is assumed to reach the ground surface above it
Toe failure - when the slip surface meets the toe of the slope
Slope failure - when it meets above the toe and on the slope
Base failure - when it touches the ground surface beyond the slope
Figure 22: Types of slope failure
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Analysis
Draw FBD with Forces
Self weight
Soil reaction along AB
↓
Limiting conditions
↓
Critical slip surface
c
Estimate γH , θcritical
Figure 23: Finite slope with linear failure surface
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Swedish Circle Method (φu = 0)
Arc length = Rθ
Reistance along slip surface = cu Rθ
Resisting Moment
Fs =
Driving Moment
cu R 2 θ
Fs = (3)
W x̄
Figure 24: Swedish circle method
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Friction Circle Method (φu > 0)
Rf = R sin φm
Pf will be tangential to the friction circle
Construct force polygon and solve for
unknown
Apply limiting equilibrium conditions
Figure 25: Friction circle method
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Friction Circle Method (φu > 0)
Steps:
1. Assume FSφ and find φm
2. Draw friction circle
3. Construct force polygon to find Cm
¯
4. Compute FSc = cu AC
Cm
5. Plot FSc vs FSφ
Required Factor of Safety?
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Method of Slices
How do you calculate the weight of soil wedge if the failure surface is neither
linear nor circular ?
Failure domain can be divided into small elements and analysed individually. Finally, the
global stability can be measured.
Method of slices - no. of vertical slices of the same length
Satisfy the equilibrium conditions in each slice to find unknowns.
Solutions obtained from this method is approximate
More slices → better accuracy → more computational power
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Method of Slices
No. of slices - n
Calculate αi , Wi , Ni , Ti
Apply limiting equilibrium conditions
n
(c ΔLi + Wi cos αi tan φ )
i=1
Fs = (4)
n
Wi sin αi
i=1
Figure 26: Method of slices (source: Das and Sobhan, 2014 )
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Method of Slices
Forces acting on the slice:
Uα → pore water
N → mobilized effective normal
force
T → mobilized shear force
zL , zR → interslice forces
External Forces:
Uβ → surface water
(Rainfall/infiltration)
kh , kv → Seismic coefficients
Figure 27: Forces acting on a single slice Q → surcharge
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Steady-state Seepage in slopes
Seepage does not occur parallel to the sloping ground
Add the effect of pore water
pressure
Apply the limiting equilibrium
conditions
N → N
(Wi cos αi − Ui ΔLi ) in Eq.(4)
Figure 28: Steady-state seepage in finite slopes (source: Das and
Sobhan, 2014 )
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Other Methods
Bishop’s method - interslice forces, moment Equilibrium
Janbu’s method - non-circular slip surfaces, force equilibrium
Morgenstern-Price method - rapid drawdown conditions
Taylor’s stability charts - critical height of slopes
Each method has different variations based on the assumptions in the analysis
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Tutorial
Q3.Determine the height of the slope for critical equilibrium. Take β = 58◦ , γ = 17kN/m3 ,
φ = 14◦ , and c = 28kN/m2
Q4.Determine the allowable height of the embankment with Fs = 1.25, a slope angle of
40◦ and the constructed soil has drained cohesion of 30kN/m2 , friction angle of 20◦ and
effective unit weight of 18kN/m3 .
Q5.A 6m high embankment made of cohesive soil with cohesion as 30kN/m2 , and unit weight
of 19kN/m3 . If a circular slip surface with radius of 9m passes through the toe and reaches
the ground surface, making a central angle of 70◦ at the centre of rotation, determine the
factor of safety against sliding. Take the weight of soil wedge as 360kN acting at 5m from the
centre of rotation. (Note: No tension crack is developed in this case).
Try Q3 and Q4 using a circular slip surface and friction circle method.
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Tutorial
Q6.Determine the stability of the given slope.
Slice No. W (in kN/m)
1 22.4
2 294.4
3 43.52
4 435.2
5 390.4
6 268.8
7 66.58
Take R = 19.2m and ∠AOC = 91◦
Figure 29: Method of slices (source: Das and Sobhan, 2014 )
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