Tutorial 2

Slope Stability & Retaining Structures

Total Marks: 200

Q 1. Is the infinite slope given below stable? If not, how much above the rock surface will the
slip occur? Angle of the slope = 200. (15)

A Soil:
A 6m
Su= 30 kN/m2, =19 kN/m3
B
10 m B Soil:
Su= 50 kN/m2  =20 kN/m3

Q 2. An infinite mass of sand has a t of 20 kN/m3 and is just stable at a slope of 300.
(a) If the entire mass is inundated and ends up below the water table, will the slope remain
stable? If not at what inclination will it be stable?
(b) If water flows through the sand down the slope will the slope remain stable? If not, at
what inclination will it be stable? (15)

Q 3. A long natural slope in an over-consolidated soil strata (c’= 10 kN/m2, ’=250, sat =20
kN/m3) is inclined at 100 from the horizontal. The water table is at the surface and the
seepage is parallel to the slope. If a planar slip surface has developed at a depth of 5 m
below the slope surface, determine the factor of safety. Take w =10 kN/m3. (15)

Q 4. A soil mass is resting on an inclined impermeable clay layer, as shown in the figure given
below. Determine the factor of safety against wedge failure along the interface. The soil has
c=6 kN/m2, =200, =17 kN/m3. Use mass movement method (triangular wedge of soil
mass). (15)

2.36 m
Soil mass
2.5 m
Impermeable
Layer
250
5.36 m 1.5 m
450

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Q 5. The cross-section of a cutting in a homogeneous, saturated clayey soil is as shown in figure.
Bulk unit weight of soil is 20kN/m3 and undrained unit cohesion is 40kN/m2 (u=0).
Compute the factor of safety against immediate shear failure along the slip circle using total
stress analysis for the following cases (a) ignoring the tension crack, (b) considering the
presence of tension crack (with no water inside the crack), where the reduction in area due
to crack is 2m2 & modified centroid distance is 4m from O, (c) considering water inside the
tension crack. (15)

15ᵒ
115ᵒ
5m

5m 4m

Area= 130m2

Q 6. Determine the factor of safety against shear failure of a 10m deep cutting having a slope
angle of 30ᵒ for the following soils using Taylor’s stability chart:
a) c =40kN/m2; =0;  = 18 kN/m3 ; A hard layer of granite rock underlies a cohesive layer
at a depth of 15m
b) c =20kN/m2; =20ᵒ;  = 15 kN/m3 ;
c) c =40kN/m2; =0;  = 18 kN/m3 ; D is 50 (15)

Q 7. The soil properties of a 10m high embankment were obtained as; c=30 kN/m2, =10ᵒ,  = 19
kN/m3. The mobilized values of cohesion and friction angle are 20 kN/m2 and 8ᵒ
respectively. Show the plot for different combinations of Fc and F and determine the true
factor of safety. (15)

Q 8. Determine the factor of safety using Ordinary method of slices (Fellenius method) for
slope given below. The width of each slice is 4m. The average ht of slice for the pore water
pressure (pwp) line for each slice are listed in the given table. The properties of soil are

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 c=30 kN/m2, =10ᵒ,  = 20 kN/m3 Note: The picture is NOT to the scale (15)

Slice no. Average height of slice (m) pwp head (m)

1 1.6 1.0
2 4.6 3.0
3 6.8 4.2
4 8.6 5.2
5 9.6 5.0
6 9.0 4.2
7 6.4 1.8
8 2.6 0.0

Q 9. Determine the factor of safety for the slope given below using Bishop simplified.
Note: The picture is NOT to the scale (25)
O
830 R = 26 m
A Soil:
c’= 40 kN/m2, '=200
=19 kN/m3, H= 9m

B Soil:
c’= 0, '=300 6m A Soil
=21 kN/m3, H= 9m
18 m

B Soil

3
30 m
Q 10. A gravity retaining wall is resting on a soil strata with allowable soil pressure 600
kN/m2. Check the stability of given wall using Coulomb’s method for following:
a) Fos against sliding
b) Fos against overturning
c) Fos against bearing capacity failure
d) Check if tension will be generated (30)

Q 11. The figure depicts a cantilever retaining wall which is resting on a soil strata having
allowable soil pressure as 600 kN/m2. Ascertain the applicability of the Rankine’s
theory and determine the following. (Here, =34ᵒ, = 25ᵒ, i=15ᵒ,  = 18 kN/m3)
a) Fos against sliding
b) Fos against overturning
c) Fos against bearing capacity failure (25)