CHAPTER FIVE

SLOPE STABILITY

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 5.1. Introduction
• Slope refers to any natural or man-made earth mass, whose surface
forms an angle with the horizontal.

• Earth slopes are formed for;

Railway formation
Highway embankments
Earth dams
Canal banks

• The slope of earth are of two types

1. Natural slopes: are those that exist in nature and are formed by natural
causes.
e.g. Hills and mountains, river banks, etc. 2
2. Man made slopes: are the artificial slopes formed
by man.

e.g. fills such as embankments, earth dams, levees;

or

cuts such as highway and railway cuts, canal

banks, foundations excavations and trenches.

• Natural forces (wind, rain, earthquake, etc.)

change the natural topography often creating
unstable slopes.

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Artificial/man made slopes

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• In assessing the stability of slopes, geotechnical engineers have
to pay particular attention to geology, drainage, groundwater,
and the shear strength of the soils.

Definitions of Key Terms

• Slip plane or failure plane or slip surface or failure surface: is
the surface of sliding.

• Sliding mass: is the mass of soil within the slip plane and the
ground surface.

• Slope angle (or simply slope): is the angle of inclination of a

slope to the horizontal.

• is usually referred to as a ratio, for example, 2:1 (horizontal:

vertical) 6
 Infinite & Finite Slopes
 The slopes whether natural or artificial may be;

a) Infinite slopes: They have dimensions that extend

over great distances/ a constant slope of infinite
extent.
e.g. The long slope of the face of a mountain

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b). Finite slopes: is one with a base and top
surface, the height being limited/a slope of limited
in extent.
e.g. slopes of embankments, earth dams and channels

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 Long and Short-term stability analysis
 The method of analysis depends on whether the
factor of safety required is for the short term or
the long-term stability of an earth structure.

a). Long-term slope stability analysis

 are relevant to safety after the dissipation of excess

pore pressure (𝒕 = ∞).
 i.e. is after the completion of consolidation.
 Failure is assumed to occur after this period.
 This condition is simulated in CU triaxial test with
pore pressure measurement 9
 Analysis is then carried out in terms of effective
stresses i.e. using effective shear strength
parameters 𝒄′and 𝝓′.

b). Short-term slope stability analysis

 are relevant to safety at the end of construction (time

𝑡 = 0), when no appreciable dissipation of excess pore
pressure is assumed.
 condition is simulated in the unconsolidated undrained
(UU) triaxial test
 analysis is carried out in terms of total stresses,
often referred to as 𝝓𝒖 = 𝟎 analysis.
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 Two-Dimensional Slope Stability Analysis

Planar Slope Failures

 Soils such as gravel and sand are collectively referred

to as granular soils and normally exhibit only a

frictional component of strength.

 A potential slip surface in a slope of granular

material will be planar and the analysis of the slope

is relatively simple.
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 Figure below illustrates an embankment of granular

material with an angle of shearing resistance, 𝜙′ and

with its surface sloping at angle β to the horizontal.

Forces involved in a slope of granular material

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  Consider an element of the embankment of
weight W:
 Force parallel to slope i.e. Tangential force,
T = W sinβ
 Force perpendicular to slope i.e. Normal
force,
N = W cosβ
Then;

Then;
𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 τf
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 = =
𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝝉
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 For stability, in planar slope failure;

𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔

𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒚, 𝑭𝑺 =
𝑺𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔

𝑾 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜷 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝝓′
𝑭𝑺 =
𝑾 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜷

𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝝓′
→ 𝑭𝑺 =
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜷

 For limiting equilibrium, FS = 1 and

𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜷 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝝓′ 𝒊. 𝒆. 𝜷 = 𝝓′
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 Seepage forces

 In Fig. (a) the level of the river has dropped suddenly due to
tidal effects.

 The permeability of the soil in the slope is such that the

water in it cannot follow the water level changes as rapidly
as the river,

 b/c seepage occurs from the high water level in the slope
to the lower water level of the river.

 A flow net can be drawn for this condition and the excess
hydrostatic head for any point within the slope can be
determined
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 Seepage due to rapid drawdown

 Let the excess pore water pressure induced by

seepage be u at the midpoint of the base of the
element

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( 𝜸 = the average unit weight of the whole slice, it is
usually taken that the whole slice is saturated).

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 For flow parallel to the surface and at the surface,
the flow net for these special conditions is illustrated
in Fig. below

Flow net when flow is

parallel and at the
surface

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 If we consider the same element as before, the excess
pore water head, at the centre of the base of the
element, is ℎ𝑤 .
AB = z cosβ
So, ℎ𝑤 = 𝐴𝐵 cos 𝛽 ⇨ 𝒉𝒘 = 𝒛𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷
𝛾𝑤 ℎ𝑤 tan 𝜙′
𝐹𝑆 = 1 −
𝛾𝑧𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛽 tan 𝛽

𝛾𝑤 tan 𝜙′
= 1−
𝛾 tan 𝛽

𝜸′ 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝝓′
⇨ 𝑭𝑺 =
𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜷
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 Planar Translational Slips
 Quite often the surface of an existing slope is
underlain by a plane of weakness lying parallel to it.
 Failure of a slope along a weak zone of soil is called
a translational slide w/c is common in coarse-grained
soils
 This potential failure surface (often caused by
downstream creep under alternating winter-summer
conditions)
 factor of safety of the slope against slip can be
determined from the analysis of a wedge or slice of
the material, as for the granular slope. 20
 Consider Figure below with;
weight of slice, 𝑾 = 𝜸𝒛𝒃/unit width.

Planar translational slip

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 Excess hydrostatic head at midpoint of base of slice;

𝒉𝒘 = 𝒏𝒛𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷

⇨ 𝒖 = 𝜸𝒘 𝒉𝒘 → 𝒖 = 𝜸𝒘 𝒏𝒛𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷

 The shear strength of the soil is governed by the

Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion (Chapter 2).

𝝉𝒇 = 𝒄′ + 𝝈′ 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝝓′

𝛾𝑧𝑏𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛽
But, 𝜎′ =𝜎−𝑢 = = 𝛾𝑧 − 𝛾𝑤 𝑛𝑧 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛽
𝑏

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 𝝉𝐟 𝒄′ + 𝜸𝒛 − 𝜸𝒘 𝒏𝒛 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜷 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝝓′
𝑭𝑺 = =
𝝉 𝜸𝒛 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜷 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜷

𝒄′ 𝜸 − 𝜸𝒘 𝒏 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝝓′
𝐅𝐒 = + 𝒙
𝜸𝒛 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜷 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜷 𝜸 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜷

 When c′ = 0 and n = 1.0, we obtain the same expression

as derived for a granular slope:

𝜸′ 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝝓′
𝑭𝑺 = 𝒙
𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜷

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 Rotational Slope Failures

 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
 Contemporary methods of investigating the stability of such
slopes are based on
 assuming a slip surface and a centre about which it
rotates,
 studying the equilibrium of the forces acting on this
surface, and
 repeating the process until the worst slip surface is
found
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Example of two possible slip surfaces

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 Regardless of the approach, the critical slip circle is

found by considering several trial circles, each

differing by the location of their centre, and

identifying the one that returns the lowest measure

of safety.

 This is achieved nowadays by using specific slope

stability software that can perform repeated analyses

in seconds and rapidly find the location of the centre of

the critical slip circle 26

(if the angle of slope exceeds 53°)

Types of slip failures

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 Total stress analysis

 also referred to as an undrained analysis, is intended to

give the stability of an embankment or cutting
immediately after its construction
 The simplest circular analysis is based on the
assumption that a rigid, cylindrical block will fail by
rotation about its center and that the shear
strength along the failure surface is defined by the
undrained strength 𝒄𝒖 .

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Restoring (Resisting) Moment, 𝑴𝑹 = 𝒄𝒖 𝑳𝑹 = 𝒄𝒖 𝑹𝟐 𝜽
Disturbing Moment, 𝑴𝑫 = 𝑾𝒙𝒅 = 𝑾𝒅

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝑴𝑹
𝑭𝑺 =
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝑴𝑫

𝒄𝒖 𝑹𝟐 𝜽𝟎 𝝅
𝑭𝑺 = 𝒙
𝑾𝒅 𝟏𝟖𝟎𝟎 29
 Effect of tension cracks

 With a slip in a cohesive soil there will be a tension

crack at the top of the slope, along which no shear
resistance can develop.
 In the undrained state the depth of the crack, ℎ𝑐 , is
𝟐𝒄𝒖
given by; 𝒉𝒄 =
𝜸
 full weight, W of the
sector is still used in
order to compensate for
any water pressures that
may be exerted if the
crack fills with
rainwater. 30
 The Swedish method of slices analysis

 In this method the sliding section is divided into a

suitable number of vertical slices, the stability of one

such slice being considered

 By analyzing the equilibrium of each slice and then adding

up the totals for all slices, we can establish the factor of

safety of the slope.

 The solution is solved graphically using a scale drawing
or, more commonly, analytically using computer
software. 31
 Total stress analysis
 The FS is established by considering the moment
equilibrium about the centre of rotation, O:

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 Effective stress analysis

 As time passes after the construction of an embankment

or cutting, the slope will no longer be in the undrained

state.

 So, slope stability analysis must be done considering;

 drained strength parameters c′ and 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝝓′

 the pore pressure, u acting along the slip surface.

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 Generally, pore water pressure;
 Decreases restoring moment and
 Increases Disturbing Moment

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Slice Area, (𝒎𝟐 ) Weight, W(kN) Normal component, (kN) Tangential Component,
No. N(KN)
1. 𝑨𝟏 = 𝒃𝒉 𝑾𝟏 =  ∗ 𝑨𝟏 *1m 𝑵𝟏 = 𝑾𝟏 𝐜𝐨𝐬  𝑻𝟏 = 𝑾𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧 
2. 𝑨𝟏 = 𝒃𝒉 𝑾𝟐 =  ∗ 𝑨𝟏 ∗ 𝟏𝒎 𝑵𝟐 = 𝑾𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬  𝑻𝟐 = 𝑾𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 
. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . .
𝒊=𝒏 𝒊=𝒏

𝑵=⋯ 𝑻=⋯
𝒊=𝟏 𝒊=𝟏

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 Slope stability design charts

 Design charts offer a means of rapidly determining an

approximate factor of safety of a homogeneous, regular

slope.

 These slopes rarely exist in reality but nonetheless many

embankments and cuttings can be considered as being of

this form, if only to offer a simple and rapid, yet very

approximate solution to assessing their stability.

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 a) Taylor’s charts
b) Bishop and Morgenstern’s charts

a) Taylor’s charts: rapid determination of FS for a

homogeneous, regular slope

 It can be shown that for two similar slopes made from

two different soils, the ratio 𝒄𝒎 𝜸𝑯 is the same for
each slope provided that the two soils have the same
angle of shearing resistance.

𝒄𝒎 𝜸𝑯 = 𝑵 is known as the stability number

𝒄𝒎 = mobilised cohesion
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 𝜸 = unit weight of soil, and
H = vertical height of slope

 Taylor (1948) prepared two set of curves that relate

the stability number to the angle of the slope

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Taylor’s curves for rapid assessment of FS (for the
general case of a 𝒄′ − 𝝓′ soil, a slope angle of less than
53° ) 40
Effect of depth
limitation on Taylor’s
curves (for a soil with
ϕ = 0°, a slope angle
of less than 53° )

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 for a soil with ϕ = 0°, a slope angle of less than 53° and

with a layer of stiff material or rock at a depth DH below

the top of the embankment 2nd chart is used.

 D is the depth factor and, depending upon its value, the

slip circle will either emerge at a distance nH in front of

the toe or pass through the toe (using the dashed lines

the value of n can be obtained from the curves).

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 b). Bishop and Morgenstern’s charts: homogeneous
slope with a constant pore pressure ratio

 If on a trial slip circle the value of FS is

determined for various values of 𝒓𝒖 and the results
plotted, a linear relationship is found between FS
and 𝒓𝒖 .

𝑭𝑺 = 𝒎 − 𝒏𝒓𝒖

 m and n are known as stability coefficients and were

evolved by Bishop and Morgenstern (1960)

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 m and n depend upon

 𝒄′ 𝜸𝑯 (the stability number),

 cotβ (the cotangent of the slope angle) and

 𝝓′ (the effective angle of shearing resistance)

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 Determination of an average value for 𝐫𝐮

 Generally 𝒓𝒖 will not be constant over the cross-

section of an embankment

 average pore pressure ratio on the centre line of a

particular slice is;

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Determination of average 𝒓𝒖 value

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 Average 𝒓𝒖 for whole cross-section

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 Wedge Failure

 When the potential sliding mass of the soil is

bounded by two or three straight lines we have a
wedge failure.
 Wedge failures can be brought about by a variety of
geological conditions.
 Form of construction within an earth structure can
also dictate that any stability failure will be of a
wedge type.

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Sliding block or wedge failure
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