CE 5326: P.W.

Jayawickrama

CE 5326: ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF EARTH STRUCTURES

Lecture Outline: Stability Analysis of Infinite Slopes
1. Infinite Slopes in Cohesionless Soils
1.1. Dry cohesionless soil slopes
1.2. Cohesionless soil slope under submergence
1.3. Cohesionless soil slope under the influence of seepage
1.3.1. Horizontal seepage
1.3.2. Seepage parallel to the slope
1.4. Cohesionless soil slope under the influence of seismic forces
2. Infinite Slopes in Cohesive Soils
2.1. Total stress analysis for short-term stability
2.2. Effective Stress analysis for long-term stability
References:
1. Soil Mechanics by T.W. Lambe and R.V. Whitman, John-Wiley and Sons, New
York, NY, 1969, Chapter 13: Earth Retaining Structures and Slopes: pp.191-194.
2. Soil Mechanics by T.W. Lambe and R.V. Whitman, John-Wiley and Sons, New
York, NY, 1969, Chapter 24: Earth Slopes with Drained Conditions: pp.352-356.

CE 5326: ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF EARTH STRUCTURES

STABILITY OF INFINITE SLOPES
I. Cohesionless Soils

N
En+1
W

En
h

T
W = weight of soil element
N = normal force at the base
T = Shearing force

1.1 Dry Cohesionless Soils

For infinite slopes, En= En+1
Considering equilibrium of the soil element shown; N= W cos and T = W sin
If the slope is at limiting equilibrium; T = S (where S = Shear Strength x Base Area)
T = N tan
Therefore, N.tan=W.sinl
N tan =

N
. sin l
cos l

Therefore, tan =tan l OR

= l

Note: Above analysis assumes plane strain conditions

Considers unit thickness
If the above soil slope was not at limiting equilibrium then, < l

Estimation of Factor of Safety (F)

Using the definition of FOS limiting conditions will be created by using {tan /F) in
place of (tan).
tan
T = N

N
tan
N
. sin
= W sin =
cos
F
tan

= tan
F

Factor of Safety, F =

tan
tan

Some observations:
1

Height of the slope is not a factor in determining the maximum slope angle.

Depth to the sliding plane does not enter into the analysis

The difference in the submerged soil (with no seepage) vs. un-submerged soil is only
in the unit weight. In the above analysis, unit weight does not play any role.
Therefore, the FOS of a submerged, cohesionless soil slope will be the same as that
for a dry slope.
Limiting value of loose = loose

Results of Triaxial Vs. Tilting Box data

Material
Sand
Glass Beads
Crushed Coke(from limestone)

triaxial (loose)
360
230
410

l (loose)
340
230
420

1.2 Slopes with Steady State Seepage

D = point at which vertical line
through a meets slope surface
B = point at which equipotential line
through A meets slope surface

D
C

A
Flow lines

Equipotential
lines

AD = Z ;
Consider A and B,

AC = h;

HA = HB (i.e. same total heads)

hA + ZA = hB + ZB
where hi = pressure head

Therefore hA = ZB - ZA = AC =h
b
b

hh
T
T
N

Lateral Soil pressures , Water Pressures Balance each other.

For equilibrium
W sin = T
W cos = N

If the slope is at limiting equilibrium,

T=

N tan
F

W sin = ( N h w l )

tan
where l= length of base; l cos = b
F

b
W sin = W cos h w .
cos

cos hb w
1
F =

.
sin cos bZ sin

tan

tan ..Note: W = b Z

h
1 tan

F = 1 w
Z cos 2 tan

Let ru =

Then,

pore pressure
h w
=
h
vertical soil overburden pressure

ru tan

F = 1
2
cos tan

Special cases:
1. Horizontal seepage
BC D

Therefore h = Z , ru =
2. Seepage Parallel to the Slope:

wh w
=
0 .5
Z

D
B
C

wh w cos 2
ru =
=
Z

Infinite Slopes in Cohesive Soils:

First for simplicity consider a total stress analysis situation for short-term stability.

En+1

En
T

Pore water pressure doesn't enter into this analysis

N
Wcos
T = W sin; N= W

By the definition of F.O.S.,

T=

cb sec + N tan
F

W sin =

F=

cb sec + W cos tan

F

cb sec tan
+
W sin tan

Depth to the failure surface was arbitrarily selected.

tan
c
Therefore Actual F.O.S. =
+
Z sin cos tan

min

Effective Stress Analysis for Long term Stability:

b
b

hh
T
T
N
W

For equilibrium, T = W sin; N= W cos

Using the definition of F.O.S,
T=

c b sec + N tan
F

c b sec + N tan
F
c b sec + (W cos ub sec ) tan
W sin =
F
c b sec + (W cos ub sec ) tan
F=
W sin
T=

F=

ru tan

+ 1
Z sin cos cos 2 tan
c

Let us simplify the expression for the special case where seepage is parallel to the slope.
Then
ru =

w
cos 2

F=

tan
+ 1 w
Z sin cos
tan
c

Note: F = f(Z) and F decreases as Z increases, provided c, remain constant with depth.

Weathered soil
Strength profile
Unweathered soil
Depth

F.O.S

C and increasing
with depth
C and constant