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Stability
of
Slopes
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Group Members
• Hassan khan • Muhammad Arabi
Roll No : 119 Roll No: 144
Reg No : Reg No: 22pwciv5962
22pwciv5820 • Ahmad shaheer
• Muhammad Umar Roll No: 102
Roll No: 124 Reg No: 22pwciv5974
Reg No :
22pwciv5960
• Zarrar khan
Roll No: 118
Reg No:
22pwciv5925
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what is slope stability?
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DEFINITION
Slope stability is the
ability of a slope to
resist sliding or Slope stability means
collapsing. It depends how safe and steady a
on things like: slope is — like a
The type of soil or rock hillside, mountain, or
man-made slope (such
The steepness of the
as a road
slope
embankment or dam).
Water pressure in the It tells us whether the
soil (especially after slope will stay in place
rain) or slide down (fail)
External loads (like due to gravity, water,
buildings or traffic) or other forces.
Earthquakes
Understanding Slope Stability 5
Concepts
Imagine a pile of sand. If
the pile is small and flat,
it stays in place. But if
you make it too steep,
the sand starts to slide
down. That’s because
gravity pulls everything
down, and if the slope
becomes too steep or
weak, it can’t hold itself
— it fails.
The main goal of slope
stability is to check if a
slope is strong enough to
stand safely, or if there's
a risk of landslides or
collapse.
Types of failure 6
Fall
Detachment of soil or rock fragments that
free‐fall down a slope
Topple
A forward rotation of a soil or rock mass
around a pivot below its center of gravity
Flow:
The mass movement of soil that behaves like a
viscous fluid.
•Spread:
A type of slide by translation, triggered by the sudden
movement of water-saturated seams.
•Slide:
The downward movement of a soil mass along a distinct
rupture surface
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Events like heavy
Factors Affecting Slope Stabilitye
The inherent strength
rainfall,
earthquakes,
of the soil or rock adding loads to the
material, the slope, removing
presence of weak Hydrogeological support from the
Geometrical layers, and the Factors toe, changes in
Factors orientation of vegetation, and
geological features weathering can all
like joints and faults affect slope
are crucial. stability.
The presence and
The slope's angle movement of water
and height within the slope,
significantly impact particularly pore External
stability; steeper and Geological water pressure and Factors
taller slopes are Factors seepage forces, can
generally less stable significantly reduce
soil strength and
increase instability.
Common Methods for Slope Stability Analysis
Limit
Limit
Equilibrium Observational Numerical
Analysis
Methods Methods Methods
These are the most These involve using
These involve
traditional and widely computer programs to
used methods. They monitoring the
model the slope and
involve
These analyzing
methods usethe behavior of analyze its behavior
forces acting
plasticity theoryon to a actual slopes under different
determine
potential thefailure
collapse over time using conditions.
load or(like
surface a lower/upper
those we instruments to
bound on the factor of
discussed - circular,
safety detect
planar, etc.) to movement or 9
Numerical Methods
Discrete Finite
Finite
Element Difference
Element
Method (DEM) Method (FDM)
Method
(FEM)
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Overview of Shear Strength Concepts
Shear strength is the maximum shear
stress that a material can withstand
DEFINITI before it fails in shear. In the context
of slopes, this is the resistance along a
potential failure surface that prevents
ON the overlying material from sliding
downwards.
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Overview of Shear Strength Concepts
Mohr- It's governed by the Mohr-Coulomb criterion:
τf=c′+σ′tan(ϕ′).
Coulomb This means shear strength depends on
effective cohesion (c′) (particle bonding)
and effective normal stress (σ′)
criterion multiplied by the tangent of the effective
angle of internal friction (ϕ′) (frictional
resistance).
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Overview of Shear Strength Concepts
Effective • Effective stress is total stress
minus pore water pressure (σ
stress ′=σ−u); thus, increased water
pressure reduces effective stress
and lowers shear strength, making
slopes less stable.
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Overview of Shear Strength Concepts
Cohesion (c) • Cohesion (c) is the soil's
"stickiness" or bonding, resisting
and Angle of shear even with no weight on it
(higher in clays).
Internal • The Angle of Internal Friction (ϕ) is
Friction (ϕ) the resistance from particles
rubbing against each other, like
friction (higher in sands/gravels).
Together, they define the soil's
shear strength.
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Overview of Shear Strength Concepts
Drained
• Drained Strength is the shear
Strength strength when water can escape
vs the soil during shearing, relevant
for long-term stability. Undrained
Undrained Strength is when water is
trapped, relevant for short-term
Strength stability, especially in clays.
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Seepage
Analysis and • seepage (water flow) within a slope
Its Impact increases pore water pressure.
• This reduces the effective stress in the
Conditions of soil or rock, which in turn lowers the
Equilibrium material's shear strength (resistance to
sliding).
in Slope • A lower shear strength means reduced
Stability resisting forces, upsetting the balance
of forces (equilibrium) and increasing
the risk of slope failure.
• Seepage analysis helps predict this
impact. 1
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•Foundations: •Land Development:
Ensuring stability near structures. Safe building on slopes.
•Transportation: •Hazard Assessment:
Safe roads, railways, airports. Identifying and fixing landslide
•Dams/Levees:
risks.
Preventing breaches. •Utilities:
Practical •Mining/Excavations:
Designing safe pits and cuts.
Protecting pipelines and power
lines on slopes.
Applications
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Software
Geo5 (slope stability analysis)
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Thanks
