Chapter five-Slope Stability (Examples)
1.
2.
Figure below
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Solution
3. Figure below shows a cutting in a homogeneous cohesive soil in which a slip failure has
taken place along the surface ACB, which may be taken as a circular arc. Assuming a unit
weight for the soil of 18kN⁄m3 , undrained cohesion of 32kN⁄m2 and that ϕu = 0.
Determine factor of safety before and after tension crack is created.
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4.
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5. An embankment has a slope of 1 vertical to 2 horizontal. The properties of the slope are
c ′ = 5kpa, ϕ′ = 200 , γ = 18kN⁄m3 and H = 11m. Using Taylor’s charts, determine FS
value for slope.
Solution
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Determine slope angle, β.
1 1
tan 𝛽 = ⇨ 𝛽 = tan−1 ( ) = 26.60
2 2
From chart it is seen that a slope with 𝜙 ′ = 200 and slope angle, 𝛽 = 26.60 , stability number,
𝑐𝑚
𝑁 = 𝛾𝐻 = 0.017. This means that, if the factor of safety for shearing resistance was unity, 𝑐𝑚 ,
the cohesion which must be mobilised would be found from the expression:
𝑐𝑚
= 0.017 ⇨ 𝑐𝑚 = 0.017𝑥18𝑥11 = 3.37𝑘𝑝𝑎.
𝛾𝐻
Factor of safety, with respect to cohesion, 𝐹𝑐′ is
𝑐 5
𝐹𝑐′ = = = 1.48
𝑐𝑚 3.37
This is not the factor of safety used in slope stability, which is:
𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝐶 ′ +𝜎 tan 𝜙′
𝐹𝑆 = i.e. 𝐹𝑆 =
𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝜏
This safety factor applies equally to cohesion and to friction. FS can be found by successive
approximations:
𝑐′ 𝜎 tan 𝜙′
𝐹𝑆 = +
𝐹𝑐′ 𝐹𝜙′
So try 𝐹𝜙′ = 1.1:
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tan 𝜙′ tan 200
= = 0.33 ⇨ 𝜙 ′ = tan−1(0.33) = 18.30
𝐹𝜙′ 1.1
Use this value of 𝜙′ to establish a new N value from the charts:
𝑐
𝑚
𝑁 = 𝛾𝐻 = 0.019 ⇨ 𝑐𝑚 = 0.019𝑥18𝑥11 = 3.76𝑘𝑝𝑎.
𝑐 5
𝐹𝑐′ = = = 1.33 ≠ 𝐹𝜙′ = 1.1
𝑐𝑚 3.76
So try 𝐹𝜙′ = 1.2:
tan 𝜙′ tan 200
= = 0.30 ⇨ 𝜙 ′ = tan−1(0.30) = 16.90
𝐹𝜙′ 1.2
Use this value of 𝜙′ to establish a new N value from the charts:
𝑐
𝑚
𝑁 = 𝛾𝐻 = 0.024 ⇨ 𝑐𝑚 = 0.024𝑥18𝑥11 = 3.75𝑘𝑝𝑎.
𝑐 5
𝐹𝑐′ = = = 1.05 ≠ 𝐹𝜙′ = 1.2
𝑐𝑚 3.76
So try 𝐹𝜙′ = 1.15:
tan 𝜙′ tan 200
= = 0.32 ⇨ 𝜙 ′ = tan−1(0.32) = 17.60
𝐹𝜙′ 1.15
Use this value of 𝜙′ to establish a new N value from the charts:
𝑐
𝑚
𝑁 = 𝛾𝐻 = 0.022 ⇨ 𝑐𝑚 = 0.022𝑥18𝑥11 = 4.36𝑘𝑝𝑎.
𝑐 5
𝐹𝑐′ = = = 1.15 = 𝐹𝜙′ = 1.15
𝑐𝑚 4.36
So factor of safety of slope, FS is;
𝐹𝑆 = 𝐹𝑐′ = 𝐹𝜙′ = 1.15
6. A proposed embankment will have a slope of 1 vertical to 2 horizontal. The properties
of the soil are c′ = 9kPa and ϕ’ = 20°, and the unit weight of the compacted fill will be
γ = 18kN/m3. The height of the embankment will be 10m and the average pore pressure
ratio is anticipated to be 0.2.
Using Bishop and Morgenstern’s charts, determine the factor of safety for the slope.
Solution:
A series of dotted lines labelled rue are plotted on the charts of n values. If the relevant
rue value is less than the actual design ru then the set of charts with the next highest
depth factor should be used. The procedure therefore becomes as follows.
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Calculate c′/γH and, using the chart with D = 1.0, check that ru is less than rue . If it is, then
this is the correct chart to use: if ru is not less than rue select the next chart (D = 1.25). In
the case of c′/γH = 0.05, rue should again be checked and if ru is greater than this value
then the chart for D = 1.5 should be used.
𝑐′ 9
= = 0.05
𝛾𝐻 18𝑥10
Select the chart with D = 1.0
rue = 0.64 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑒) ⇨ this chart is acceptable (since rue > ru )
𝑚 = 1.39 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛 = 1.07. So;
𝐹𝑆 = 𝑚 − 𝑛ru = 1.39 − (0.2𝑥1.07) = 1.18
7. Slope = 1 vertical to 4 horizontal, c′ = 7.5kPa, ϕ’ = 20°, γ = 17.5kN/m3, H = 17m,
ru = 0.35. Find FS.
Solution
𝑐′ 7.5
= = 0.025
𝛾𝐻 17.5𝑥17
Using D = 1.0, rue = 0 (rue < ru )
Therefore use chart for 𝐷 = 1.25:
𝑚 = 1.97 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛 = 1.78. So;
𝐹𝑆 = 𝑚 − 𝑛ru = 1.97 − (0.35𝑥1.78) = 1.35
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