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14 March 2017
Slope stability
Slope Stability: to learn
- slope stability is one of the most important
problems you will face regularly
- understand the costs & risks associated with
slope stability
- some ideas and general understanding of the
problem, understanding how the solutions are
usually made and why they not always work
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Failure types 1 Craig
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Failure types 2 Atkinson
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Progressive or successive failure, Broms
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Effect of mobilization degree
Peak Critical
q strength state
Residual
strength
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Standard calculations / design
Limit analysis solutions
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Questions to answer
Why limit analysis has been used so much?
What is the principle of limit analysis methods for slope
stability. How do they work? Why?
What are the issues with limit analysis method for slope
stability?
What are the issues with the methods using stripes?
General idea about remediation
+ extra materials: Watch the Bolton Seed Lecture
Slope stability computations by S.G. Wright
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_6aOU7msBM
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Standard calculations / design
Limit analysis solutions
A failure line of simple shape (circular, planar,
log-spiral) is assumed
Overall equilibrium is imposed (equilibrium of
wedges)
Stress-strain relationships and compatibility are
disregarded
cu R 2
Wd =cu R 2
SF = SF =
shear resistance moment
Wd overturning moment
Method of Slices
It may be difficult to calculate the weight W of the soil
enclosed within the slip surface and the position of the
centre of gravity.
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Tension crack
Characteristic
2cu
d = zc = values!
Submerged slopes
(c+ tan )l
= (c+ tan ) SF =
W sin 28
Drained analysis
The forces (per unit dimension
into page) acting on a slice are:
The total weight of the slice, W =
bh (use appropriate value of )
The normal force on the base,
N = l
In general, this force has two
components, the effective normal force,
N = l and the boundary water force, U
= ul, where u is the pore water pressure
at the centre of the base and l is the
length of the base of the slice.
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Drained analysis
The forces (per unit dimension
into page) acting on a slice are
(continues):
The shear force on the base,
T = l
The total normal forces on the
sides, E1 and E2
The shear forces on the sides,
X1 and X2
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Drained analysis
Equations Condition
Unknowns Description
D 1 factor of safety
E n normal force at the base of each slice, Pi
F
n location of normal forces at the base of slices
G
H n shear force at the base of each slice, Si
I n-1 interslice horizontal force, Ei
L n-1 interslice vertical force, Ti
n-1 location of interslice forces (line of thrust) hi
6n-2 total number of unknowns
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Drained analysis
In Bishop's simplified method, the resultant
interslice forces are assumed to be horizontal
(recommended in EC7)
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Drained analysis
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Drained analysis
Calculation of FoS with the most complex
methods of slices: a graphical explanation
34
Finite Element Method
-- next course
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Finite Element Method
-- next course
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Finite Element Method
Currently the stripes methods are becoming obsolete
but are integrated into computer codes. Leads to lots
of troubles see Bolton Seed Lecture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_6aOU7msBM
37
Finite Element Method
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Bibliography
Bishop A. W. 1955. The use of the slip circle in the stability analysis of slopes. Gotechnique,
5(1), pp. 7-17.
Bromhead E. N., 1992. The stability of slopes. 2nd edition. By Blackie Academic & Professional.
Chen Z. and Li S. 1998. Evaluation of active earth pressure by the generalized method of slices.
Can. Geotech. J., 35(4), pp. 591-599.
Chen Z. and Morgenstern N. R. 1983. Extensions to the generalized method of slices for stability
analysis. Can. Geotech. J., 20(1), pp. 104-119.
Duncan J. M. 1996. State of the art: limit equilibrium and finite-element analysis of slopes. J.
Geotech. Engrg., ASCE, 122(7), pp. 577-596.
Duncan J. M. and Wright S. G. 1980. The accuracy of equilibrium methods of slope stability
analysis. Engrg. Geol., 16(1), pp. 5-17.
Espinoza R. D., Bourdeau P. L., Muhunthan B., 1992b. General purpose program for
computerized slope stability analysis. Proc. 28th Engrg. Geology and Geotech. Engrg. Symp.,
Boise, Idaho, USA, pp. 323-333.
Espinoza R. D., Bourdeau P. L., Muhunthan B., 1994. Unified formulation for analysis of slopes
with general slip surface. J. Geotech. Engrg., ASCE, 120(7), pp. 1185-1204.
Espinoza R. D., Repetto P. C., Muhunthan B., 1992a. A general framework for slope stability
analysis. Gotechnique, 42(4), pp. 603-615.
Fellenius W. 1936. Calculation of the stability of earth dams. Proc. 2nd Congr. Large Dams,
Washington, USA, 4, pp. 445-462.
Fredlund D. G. and Krahn J., 1977. Comparison of slope stability methods of analysis. Can.
Geotech. J., 14(3), pp. 429-439.
39
Slope stability:
extra slides
Non-isotropic soil (Slunga 1990)
41
Reduction due to anisotropy
42
Effect of mobilization degree
Peak Critical
q strength state
Residual
strength
43
ADP-method
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Reduction methods 1
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Reduction methods 2
Finnish Road Administration 1994
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Reduction based on prevailing stress
47
Bibliography
Janbu N., 1954. Application of composite slip surfaces for stability analyses. Proc., European
Conf. on Stability of Earth Slopes, Stockholm, Sweden, 3, pp. 43-49.
Janbu N., 1957. Earth pressures and bearing capacity calculations by generalized procedure of
slices. Proc. 4th Int. Conf. on Soil Mech. and Found. Engng., 2, pp. 207-212.
Krahn J., 2003. The 2001 R.M. Hardy lecture: the limits of limit equilibrium analyses. Can.
Geotech. J., 40(3), pp. 643-660.
Lowe J. and Karafiath L., 1960. Stability of earth dams upon drawdown. Proc., 1st Pan-Am. Conf.
On Soil Mech. and Found. Engrg., Mexico City, Mexico, 2, pp. 537-552.
Morgenstern N. R. and Price V. E., 1965. The analysis of the stability of general slip surfaces.
Gotechnique, 15(1), pp. 79-93.
Morgenstern N. R. and Price V. E., 1967. A numerical method for solving the equations of
stability of general slip surfaces. Computer J., 9, pp. 388-393.
Nash D., 1987. A comparative review of limit equilibrium methods of stability analysis. In: Slope
stability: geotechnical engineering and geomorphology (Chapter 2). M. G. Anderson and K. S.
Richards eds., Wiley edition.
Sarma S. K. and Bhave M. V., 1974. Critical acceleration versus static factor of safety in stability
analysis of earth dams and embankments. Gotechnique, 24(4), pp. 661-665.
Sarma S. K., 1973. Stability analysis of embankments and slopes. Gotechnique, 23(3), pp. 423-
433.
Sarma S. K., 1979. Stability analysis of embankments and slopes. J. Geotech. Engrg. Div.,
ASCE, 105(12), pp. 1511-1524.
Seed H. B. and Sultan A., 1967. Stability analyses for a sloping core embankment. J. Soil Mech.48
and Found. Div., ASCE, 93(SM4), pp. 69-83.
Bibliography
Slope/w, 2002. Slope/w for slope stability analysis. Version 5. Users guide. Geo-slope Office. By
Geo-slope Int. Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Spencer E., 1978. Earth slope subjected to lateral acceleration. J. Geotech. Engng. Div., ASCE,
104(GT12), pp. 1489-1500.
Spencer E., 1967. A method of analysis of the stability of embankments assuming parallel
interslice forces. Gotechnique, 17(1), pp. 11-26.
Whitman R. V. and Bailey W. A., 1967. Use of computers for slope stability analysis. J. Soil
Mech. and Found. Div., ASCE, 93(4), pp. 475-498.
Zhu D. Y., Lee C. F., Jiang H. D., 2003. Generalised framework of limit equilibrium methods for
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The Process of Slope Engineering
Purpose of the
proposed works ?
Establish Ground
Verification Conditions
Care and
competency at Establish Potential
Construction Failure modes
each stage
Design Analysis
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Standard calculations -
remediation
Ground model
Details of ground conditions at the site
Physical characteristics of the site
Topography
Hydrology
Details of any history of movement
Back analysis
Monitoring
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Establish failure
modes
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Establish failure
modes
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Establish failure
modes
Scar/tension
crack
Uneven ground
surface
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Establish failure
modes
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Establish failure
modes
Uneven
ground
surface
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Establish failure
modes
Gabion baskets to
contain an previous
Lined crest drain failure
No evidence of
a crest drain
Previous remedial
measures (sleepers)
Wet areas
on slope
face
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Establish failure
modes
Leaning
stanchio Thick
n layer of
ballast
Scar/tension
crack at
slope crest
Bulging at
slope toe
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Remediation
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Remediation
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Remediation
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Remediation
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Remediation
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Remediation
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Remediation
Gabion baskets to
contain a previous
Lined crest drain failure
No evidence of
a crest drain
Previous remedial
measures (sleepers)
Wet areas
on slope
face
70
Remediation
71
Remediation
72
Remediation
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Remediation
74
Thank you