Geosynthetics Guide

Slope Stability Analysis
Geotechnical Engineering II
CIV3042/2013
Dr. Denis Kalumba

Department of Civil Engineering
University of Cape Town
Denis.Kalumba@uct.ac.za
Introduction
Geotechnical Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering 2
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
South East Asia

Introduction
South East Asia

Source: Charles Baraka, 2011, Living of the edge – Mathare Valley disaster, Kenya
Introduction
Mathare along the high rock cliff

where disaster struck (taken before the
disaster)
Introduction
Mathare Valley after the disaster
Source: http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/files/2012/04/MATHARE-
LANDSLIDE.jpg
UCT, Sept 2012
Cape Times, 1 Oct 2012

South Africa
Cape Times, 1 Oct 2012
University of Cape Town South Africa
Introduction
Predicted economic
losses from geologic
hazards in California
from 1970 to 2000
16
Introduction
The stability of any slope made of soil material depends on
the shear strength of the soil.
The shear strength, in turn, is a function of friction and
cohesion of the soil.
  c + tan
In Geotechnical Engineering, the topic stability of slopes is
dealt with from two engineering viewpoints, namely:
1. The design of slope of cuts and fills in advance of new
earthwork construction
2. The study of stability of:
a) Existing slopes of earthworks, or
b) Natural slopes
Introduction
This section presents methods of analysing stability of
natural slopes, excavations and safety of embankments.
Key Points:
• Overstressing of a slope, or reduction in shear strength of
the soil may cause rapid or progressive displacements.
• The stability of slopes may be evaluated by comparison of
the forces resisting failure with those tending to cause
rupture along the assumed slip surface.
• The ratio of these forces is the factor of safety.
Introduction
Stabilising force
 = slip surface inclination (degrees)

Introduction
Modes of Slope Failure
Principal modes of failure in soil or rock are:
• Rotation on a curved slip surface approximated by a

circular arc,
• Translation on a planar surface whose length is large
compared to depth below ground, and
• Displacement of a wedge-shaped mass along one or
more planes of weakness.
• Other modes of failure include toppling of rock slopes,
falls, block slides, lateral spreading, earth and mud flow
in clayey and silty soils, and debris flows in coarse-grained
soils.
Modes of Slope Failure
Factors that Cause Increases in Shear
Stresses in Slopes
• Removal of support
– Erosion
• By streams and rivers
• By glaciers
• By action of waves or marine currents
• By successive wetting and drying (e.g., winds, freezing)
– Natural slope movements (e.g., falls, slides,

settlements)
– Human activity
• Cuts and excavations
• Removal of retaining walls or sheet piles
• Drawdown of bodies of water (e.g., lakes, lagoons)
• Overloading
– By natural causes
• Weight of precipitation (e.g., rains, snow)
• Accumulation of materials because of past landslides
– By human activity
• Construction of fill
• Buildings and other overloads at the crest
• Water leakage in culverts, water pipes, and sewers
• Transitory effects (e.g., earthquakes)
• Removal of underlying materials that provided
support
– By rivers or seas
– By weathering
– By underground erosion due to seepage (piping), solvent
agents, etc.
– By human activity (excavation or mining)
– By loss of strength of the underlying material
• Increase in lateral pressure

– By water in cracks and fissures
– By freezing of the water in the cracks
– By expansion of clays
Factors that Cause Reduced Shear

Strength in Slopes
• Factors inherent in the nature of the materials
a) Composition
b) Structure
c) Secondary or inherited structures
d) Stratification
• Changes caused by weathering and physiochemical
activity
a) Wetting and drying processes
b) Removal of cementing agents
• Effect of pore pressures
• Changes in structure
a) Stress release
b) Structural degradation
Factors that Cause Instability
Analysis Requirements
• All phases of construction
• The end of construction
• The long-term condition
• Natural disturbances such as flooding and earthquakes
• Rapid drawdown (for water-retaining structures like earth

dams)
Limit Equilibrium and Factor
of Safety
Slope Stability
• A common mode of slope failure is a rotational

slip along an approximately circular failure
surface
Shallow failure
Deep-seated failure
Slope Stability - Undrained u = 0
At failure   cu  tanu  cu
cu
Before failure m
F

x
R
W  = cu/F
L
Equating moments about O:

x
cu L R
Wx = R 
F
 = cu/F
W
cu L R
Therefore: F = L
Wx
where L, is the length of slip surface = R  
R θ cu
2
Resisting Moment
F = =
Wx Disturbing Moment
• The factor of safety of the slope is determined by

considering a range of failure surfaces (slip circles) with
different centers and radii to find the slip circle that gives
the minimum value of F
• To obtain the minimum value of F computer methods are

generally required. Charted solutions are available for
simple geometries and homogeneous soil.
• The analysis can be easily modified for non-homogeneous

soil deposits (layers of different cu).
• Tension cracks must be considered, and the possibility that

these cracks may fill with water
tension crack

R x
U
W
• Water in a the tension crack will significantly reduce F

Method of Slices
• In this method, the soil mass above a trial failure surface is
divided by vertical planes into a series of slices.
• The base of each slice is assumed to be a straight line.
• It is the basis of all numerical analysis programs
• Applicable to undrained and effective stress analysis

R
Wi
Ti
University of Cape Town Ni
rsini
x
i

r
l
x
Applied Boundary force
Q 
Pore pressures U
Shear interslice force
Body Weight
Si+1 RR Resultant interslice force
W
Uii+1
Uii E
i
E
i
+1
Horizontal interslice force
RL Si
Ti Mobilized shear Resistance
l Ni
Ui
Method of Slices Total stress
n
Overturning moment = R  W i sin i
i =1 Effective str
n
Restoring moment = R  Ti
i =1
n
ci Δ li  tanφi 
Effective stress = R
analysis
[
i =1 F
+ Ni 
 F 
]
Resisting Moment  [ci Δli  Ni tanφi ]

F  i 1 n
 W sin
Overturning Moment
i i
i 1
Method of Slices
Total stress analysis:
Effective stress analysis:
Example 1
A slope has an height of 30 ft (9.1 m) and the slope face is
inclined at a 2:1 (H:V) ratio. Assume a wedge type analysis
where the slip surface is planar through the toe of the slope
and is inclined at a 3:1 (H:V) ratio. The total unit weight of
the slope material,  = 19.8 kN/m3. Using the undrained
shear strength parameters of c = 3.4 kPa and  = 29°,
calculate the factor of safety.
Solution
Solution
Example 2
A highway slope is to be cut through a stable sand dune with
a factor of safety of 1.2 against slipping. The sand is
predominately quartz having an angle of internal friction of
25°. What is the design slope angle assuming no influence
from water?
Hint:
F=
Solution
Example 3
A 45° slope is excavated to a depth of 8m in a deep layer of
saturated clay of unit weight 19 kN/m3: the relevant shear
strength parameters are cu = 65 kN/m2 and u = 0.
Determine the:
a) factor of safety for the trial failure surface specified in
the figure below.
b) minimum factor of safety of this slope
Solution
Solution
Taylor’s Method
Stability coefficients;
48
Method of Slices
n
Restoring moment = R  Ti
i =1
n
c Δ  tanφ ui 
Undrained analysis = R   ui li + N i  
i =1  F  F 
The unknown interslice forces cancel when determining

moment equilibrium. However, these forces are required to
determine N which is needed when  is non-zero.
The situation is statically indeterminate and thus to

determine N an assumption is required
Swedish Method of Slices

Assumption: For each slice - The resultant of the inter-slice
forces acts perpendicular to the normal force N.
Si
Ei1
R=0
U ii U ii 1
Ei
Wi Si+1 Wi
Ti Ti
N i N i
The solution involves
resolving the forces on each
slice normal to the base U
Ui Ui i
N i = Ni + U i = Wi cos  i
Swedish Method of Slices
For effective stress analysis :

n
 [ c Δl
i =1
i i + (Wi cos  i - U i ) tan φi ]
F = n
 W sin
i =1
i i
For total stress (undrained) analysis :

n
[ c
i =1
ui Δli + Wi cos  i tan φ ui ]
F = n
 W sin
i =1
i i
Example 4 – Swedish method

Determine the short term stability of the slope shown below,
given that the slope was initially submerged with water and
that the water level has now been drawn down to the level of
the top of the sand.
Clay
u = 0
cu = 25 kN/m2
sat = 15 kN/m3
Sand
' = 30o
c' = 0
sat = 20 kN/m3
Solution
Initially the centre and radius of the failure plane must be assumed.
The calculations presented below are for one such assumption.
However, to find the
factor of safety of the
slope, a number of
centres and radii will
need to be considered
R = 5.83 m
to find the
combination that
gives the minimum
factor of safety.

R = 5.83 m
1m
8 Clay
7
6 u = 0
cu = 25 kN/m2
sat = 15 kN/m3
1 2 3 4 5 Sand
' = 30o
c' = 0
sat = 20 kN/m3
Short term stability analysis
Undrained (total stress) approach in clay
Effective stress (drained) approach in sand
Calculations for slice 6 :
1. Measure ∆l from the figure
1m
Geotechnical Engineering ∆l = 1.11 m

2. Measure x from the figure

x = 2.5 m

R = 5.83 m
1m
6 7
4 5
3. Calculate or measure . The radius R must be specified 56

4. Determine the self-weight of slice 6
1m
6
2m Clay
0.268 m
 = 25.4 1.11 m Sand
W = A   = 1 x 2 x 15 + 1 x 0.268 x 20 = 35.36 kN/m
5. Use assumption N = W cos 

Department of Civil Engineering = 35.36 cos (25.4) = 31.94 kN/m 57
6. U = w z ∆l = 9.81 x 0.268 x 1.11 = 2.92 kN/m

1m
6
2m Clay
0.268 m
1.11 m Sand
7. N´ = N - U = 29.02 kN/m
8. W sin  = 35.36 sin (25.4) = 15.17 kN/m
9. T = C´ + N´ tan ´ = 0 + 29.02 tan (30) = 16.75 kN/m 58
 ∆l u U W N N´ C WSin T
(o) (m) (kPa) (kN/m) (kN/m) (kN/m) (kN/m) (kN/m) (kN/m) (kN/m)
1 -25.4 1.107 2.628 2.910 5.357 4.84 1.93 - -2.30 1.115
2 -14.9 1.035 6.227 6.646 12.70 12.27 5.822 - -3.77 3.362
3 -4.93 1.004 7.942 7.974 23.69 23.60 15.63 - -2.03 9.024
4 4.93 1.004 7.942 7.974 38.69 38.54 30.57 - 3.317 17.65
5 14.89 1.035 6.227 6.646 42.70 41.26 34.81 - 10.98 20.10
6 25.4 1.11 2.628 2.92 35.36 31.94 29.02 - 15.17 16.75
7 36.87 1.250 - - 24.96 19.96 - 31.25 14.98 31.25
8 50.53 1.572 - - 10.62 6.755 - 39.30 8.20 39.30

R = 5.83 m
1m
8 Clay
7
6 u = 0
cu = 25 kN/m2
sat = 15 kN/m3
1 2 3 4 5 Sand
' = 30o
c' = 0
sat = 20 kN/m3
For the clay
C = cu l
T = C + N tan u = C (u = 0)
F
Resisting Moment

T
DisturbingMoment  Wsin
138.56

44.54
 3.11
Applying a load on top of slice 6 affects only that slice. Both

the weight and the resistance to sliding increase.
100 kN/m
8
6 7
1 2 3 4 5
W = 35.36 + 100  1 = 135.36 Slice is 1 m wide
N = W Cos  = 122.47
N´ = N - U = 119.36
W Sin  = 58.06
T = N´ tan  = 68.9
F
T
190.7

 Wsin 87.44
 2.18
Bishop’s Simplified Method

Assumption: The vertical inter-slice forces are equal and opposite.
The resultant thus acts perpendicular to W
Si
Ei1
U ii U ii 1
Ei R
Wi Si+1 Wi
Ti Ti
N i N i
U
Ui Ui i
Wi = Ti sin θ i + Ni cos  i + u i Δx i

Bishop’s simplified method
Wi = Ti sin  i + Ni cos  i + u i Δx i
ci Δli Ni tan φi

now Ti = +
F F
Wi - u i Δx i - (1/F) ci Δx i tan  i

hence Ni =
 tanφi tan  i 
cos  i  1 + 
 F

Substitution of the expression for N’ into the equation for the
factor of safety :
n
Resisting Moment  [ci Δli  Ni tanφi ]

F  i 1 n
 W sin
Overturning Moment
i i
i 1
Leads to :
n
 1 
 ( c x + ( Wi - u i x i ) tan i )  
 M i () 
i i
i =1
F = n
 W sin 
i =1
i i
M i () =
66
• Note that in the Bishop's simplified method the factor of

safety appears in both sides of the equation,
• Thus to obtain a solution an iterative approach is needed.
• Calculations are similar to the Swedish method, but a

value for F must be assumed to evaluate the summations.
• The calculated value of F can be used in the next

iteration. It is found that the factor of safety converges
rapidly.
Example 5 – Bishop’s simplified method
Using the Bishop routine method of slices, determine the

factor of safety in terms of effective stress for the slope
detailed in the figure for the specified failure surface. The
value of ru is 0.20 and the unit weight of the soil is 20 kN/m3.
Characteristic values of the shear strength parameters are c =
0 and  = 33.
Solution
Solution
70
Solution
71
Infinite Slopes
Infinite Slopes
For long slopes another potential failure mechanism is a failure
plane, usually at relatively small depths, parallel to the soil
surface.
b
Water Table
W
d dw
T
N
Department of Civil Engineering U 73
Infinite Slopes
 From equilibrium
N = W cos  =  bd cos 
T = W sin  =  b d sin 
 The normal and shear stresses on the assumed failure

plane are thus given by
N
    d cos2 
b
cos 
T
    d sin  cos 
b
cos 
Factor of Safety
s
F

F
 sdl
 dl
Effective stress analysis

• Effective stress analysis is dependent on the
groundwater conditions.
– Requires knowledge of the pore water pressure
f = s = c + n tan 
Total Stress Analysis

• Used when we cannot compute pore water pressures
f = s = c + n tan 
Critical Failure Surface
• Must do computations on an assumed failure surface
• The critical failure surface is that surface where the factor

of safety, F, is the lowest.
• Requires a trial and error approach
Infinite Slopes with Pore water Pressures

b
Soil Surface
Water Table
W
Assumed
d dw failure surface
dwcos 2  T
N
dwcos 
U
 78
Infinite Slopes
dw
dwcos2
dwcos 
u =  w d w cos2 
U u 
 b cos   w bd w cos
 
79
Infinite Slopes
On the failure plane  = c +   tan  
Defining the factor of Safety, F, by
f shear stress required for failure

F = =
 actual shear stress
c + (  d -  w d w ) cos2  tan  
F =
 d sin  cos 
Infinite Slopes
If c = 0
  wdw  tancs

F = 
 1  d 
 tan
 
If soil is dry, dw = 0
tancs
F =
tan
At failure, F = 1 and
 cs

cs
Infinite Slopes
If c = 0
  d  tancs

F =  1 w w 
 d  tan
If the water is at the soil surface, d = dw and when F = 1

  
tan   1 w tancs

  
For typical values it is found that  is about 0.5
Water reduces the stable angle of the slope by 50%

Example 6 – Infinite Slopes
Source: Sutton (1993)

Solution
The forces P acting on the vertical faces will be in equilibrium, and hence, cancel out
84
Solution
Solution
a) Dry slope.
In this case, u = 0
A dry slope will therefore fail when F = 1, in which case
tan  = tan 
b) Saturated slope over a drainage blanket.

A flow net representing this situation is shown in Fig. (b). In this case, since
the pore water pressure u = 0 throughout, the factor of safety is the same as
for dry soil, i.e.
tan  = tan 
Solution
c) Waterlogged slope with flow parallel to the slope.
A flow net representing this situation is shown in Fig. (c).
Here, making h = z cos2 results into
87
Mitigation
Methods
• Reduce Driving Forces
• Increase Resisting Forces
• Both
Methods of Stabilizing Slopes
Source: Soil mechanics design manual
90
Methods of Stabilizing Slopes – cont.
Geotechnical Engineering Source: Soil mechanics design manual

Piles/Piers
Drainage
Vegetation and Tree planting
Further reading
Soil Mechanics by Craig, (2004)

Chapter 9, Stability of slopes
• Examples 9.1 to 9.3
• Problems at the end of the chapter
Solving Problems in Soil Mechanics by Sutton, (1993)

Chapter 6, The Stability of slopes
END

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Slope Stability Analysis

Dr. Denis Kalumba

South East Asia

South East Asia

Mathare along the high rock cliff

Cape Times, 1 Oct 2012

 = slip surface inclination (degrees)

• Rotation on a curved slip surface approximated by a

Modes of Slope Failure

– Natural slope movements (e.g., falls, slides,

• Transitory effects (e.g., earthquakes)

• Increase in lateral pressure

Factors that Cause Reduced Shear

• All phases of construction

• The end of construction

• The long-term condition

• Natural disturbances such as flooding and earthquakes

• Rapid drawdown (for water-retaining structures like earth

• A common mode of slope failure is a rotational

Slope Stability - Undrained u = 0

Equating moments about O:

where L, is the length of slip surface = R  

• The factor of safety of the slope is determined by

• To obtain the minimum value of F computer methods are

• The analysis can be easily modified for non-homogeneous

Slope Stability - Undrained u = 0

• Tension cracks must be considered, and the possibility that

• Water in a the tension crack will significantly reduce F

Method of Slices Total stress

Resisting Moment  [ci Δli  Ni tanφi ]

Total stress analysis:

Effective stress analysis:

The unknown interslice forces cancel when determining

The situation is statically indeterminate and thus to

Swedish Method of Slices

For effective stress analysis :

For total stress (undrained) analysis :

Example 4 – Swedish method

Geotechnical Engineering ∆l = 1.11 m

2. Measure x from the figure

3. Calculate or measure . The radius R must be specified 56

 = 25.4 1.11 m Sand

W = A   = 1 x 2 x 15 + 1 x 0.268 x 20 = 35.36 kN/m

5. Use assumption N = W cos 

6. U = w z ∆l = 9.81 x 0.268 x 1.11 = 2.92 kN/m

1 -25.4 1.107 2.628 2.910 5.357 4.84 1.93 - -2.30 1.115

2 -14.9 1.035 6.227 6.646 12.70 12.27 5.822 - -3.77 3.362

3 -4.93 1.004 7.942 7.974 23.69 23.60 15.63 - -2.03 9.024

4 4.93 1.004 7.942 7.974 38.69 38.54 30.57 - 3.317 17.65

5 14.89 1.035 6.227 6.646 42.70 41.26 34.81 - 10.98 20.10

6 25.4 1.11 2.628 2.92 35.36 31.94 29.02 - 15.17 16.75

7 36.87 1.250 - - 24.96 19.96 - 31.25 14.98 31.25

8 50.53 1.572 - - 10.62 6.755 - 39.30 8.20 39.30

Applying a load on top of slice 6 affects only that slice. Both

Bishop’s Simplified Method

Wi = Ti sin θ i + Ni cos  i + u i Δx i

Wi = Ti sin  i + Ni cos  i + u i Δx i

ci Δli Ni tan φi

Wi - u i Δx i - (1/F) ci Δx i tan  i

Bishop’s simplified method

Resisting Moment  [ci Δli  Ni tanφi ]

• Note that in the Bishop's simplified method the factor of

• Thus to obtain a solution an iterative approach is needed.