Limit equilibrium technique

Limiting equilibrium methods are the most common analysis technique used for the solution of rock
slope stability problems. At limiting equilibrium, by definition, all point along the potential failure
surface are on the verge of failure. At this point in time, the driving force (or stresses, moment), and
the factor of safety equal unity. Where the resisting force of a slope are greater than the driving
force, the factor of safety is greater than unity and the slope has a higher probability of remaining
stable; when the resisting force are less than the driving force, the slope is unstable. Failure modes
that can by analyzed by limit equilibrium technique includes plane shear (planar failure, wedge
failure), rotational shear, and toppling failure.

The stability of rock slopes that can be modeled by plane shear at limiting equilibrium depends of
the shear strength generate along the sliding surface. For shear-type failure, the rock can be
assumed to be a morh-coulumb material in which shear strength is expressed in terms of cohesion,
c, and friction, by the equation.

𝑆 = 𝑐 + 𝜎 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛
Where

S = shear strength along the failure plane

C = cohesion generated along the failure plane

σ = normal stress across the failure plane

ø = angle of friction for the rock surface

limit equilibrium analysis can apply to a wide range of conditions and can incorporate additional
forces such as surcharge (ws), horizontal water pressure (v), normal or uplift water pressure (u),
vibratory force (kh x w, where kh is horizontal seismic coefficient), and rock bolt forces (t) applied
at some angle inclined upward from horizontal (+θ)

figure shows a slope containing a throughgoing discontinuity with area, a, and dip, β, and vertical
tension crack. The slope is partially saturated such that the tension crack is half-filled with water,
and the water table daylights in the slope face at the same place as the failure surface. No surcharge
weight is to be added to the slope and vibratory forces will be neglected. A tension rock bolt force
(active case), inclined at angle +θ and anchored below the failure plane, will be added to the slope.

Figure shows the free-body diagram of the rock wedge with the driving force and resisting forces
resolved. If the resisting forces are equated to the driving forces at limiting equilibrium (FS=1), the
following equation for factor of safety (FS) can be developed:
𝑐 𝑥 𝐴 (𝑊 cos 𝛽−𝑈−𝑉 sin 𝛽+𝑇 sin(𝜃+𝛽)) tan Ф+𝑇 cos(𝜃+𝛽)
𝐹𝑆 = 𝑊 sin 𝛽+𝑉 cos 𝛽

Where

C= cohesion

A= surface area of the failure plane

W= weight of the sliding mass

Β= inclination (dip) of the throughgoing discontinuity

U= uplift water force on the sliding plane

V= horizontal water force on the tension crack

Hw= height of water in the tension crack

T= rock bolt force

θ = angle of inclination of rock bolt force

φ = angle of friction along the throughgoing discontinuity

for the active rock bolt case , the assumption is that the component of T parrarel to the failure plane
tends to increase the resisting forces along the potential failure plane; whereas, for the passive rock
bolt case, the componente of t acting parallel to the failure plane will be movilized as the failure
mass moves and, therefore, the horizontal force t will tend to decrease the driving forces.

This analysis is valid for the model of block sliding on an inclined plane at limiting equilibrium. If, on
to other hand