Slope Stability Tutorial (1)

Question (1):
Infinite Slope has 𝐶𝑢 = 50 𝑘𝑁⁄𝑚2 ,𝛾 = 18 𝑘𝑁⁄𝑚3 . If the slope angle is equal to 22°. What is
the safety factor at a plane of depth 4.0 m?
Solution:
Cohesive soil 𝜑 = 0°
𝑐+𝛾𝑧𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝛽𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜑 50+0
F.S. = = = 1.99
𝛾𝑧𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛽 18×4.0×cos(22)×sin(22)

Question (2):
For the infinite slope shown, check the safety factor against sliding on plane AB in case of no
seepage conditions if the acceptable factor of safety is 3.0.

Solution
𝑐+𝛾𝑧𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝛽𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜑 20+16 ×1.00×𝑐𝑜𝑠2 (26.57°)×tan(15)
F.S. = = = 3.43 > 3 (Safe)
𝛾𝑧𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛽 16×1.00×cos(26.57)×sin(26.57)
Question (3):
Adopting a factor of safety of 1.5, determine the maximum permissible angle for a slope in the
sandy soil with properties 𝜑 ′ = 36°, 𝑐 ′ = 0, 𝛾 = 20 𝑘𝑁⁄𝑚3 , a) when dry, and b) when just
water logged with steady seepage parallel to the surface. c) Then, calculate the factor of safety
of the waterlogged slope against failure along a slip plane parallel to the surface at a depth of 4
m, if at this depth there is a thin layer of cohesive soil with the properties 𝜑 ′ = 24°, 𝑐 ′ =
12 20 𝑘𝑁⁄𝑚2 , 𝛾 = 20 𝑘𝑁⁄𝑚3
Solution
a) When soil is dry and c = 0 ,
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜑 tan 36
F.S. = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛽 = = 1.5
tan 𝛽

tan 36°
∴ tan 𝛽 = = 0.4844
1.5
∴ 𝛽 = 26° (𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 1𝑣: 2ℎ)
b) When soil is saturated and the groundwater level is at the ground surface,
𝛾′𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜑′ (20.0−9.81)𝑡𝑎𝑛36°
F.S. = → tan 𝛽 = = 0.2470
𝛾𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛽 20.0×1.50

∴ 𝛽 = 14° (𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 1𝑣: 4ℎ)

c) When soil is saturated and the groundwater level is at the ground surface, and slope
inclined at 14° and considering a cohesive layer,
𝑐′+𝛾′𝑧𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝛽𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜑′ 12+(20×4−9.81×4)𝑐𝑜𝑠2 14°×𝑡𝑎𝑛24°
F.S. = = = 1.55
𝛾𝑧𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛽 20×4×𝑠𝑖𝑛14°×𝑐𝑜𝑠14°

Question (4):

𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑 = 20 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚3

∅ = 35°

𝛾𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦 = 25 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚3

∅ = 20°

𝐶 = 30 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2
Solution
a) Slip surface at the first layer
𝑇
 𝐹𝑆 = 𝑇𝑟
𝑎

 𝑇𝑟 = 𝐻𝐿 cos 𝛽 (𝛾𝑆𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑤 ) tan 𝜑

 𝑇𝑟 = 2(2) cos 25 (20 − 10) tan 35=25.87 KN

 𝑇𝑎 = 𝛾𝑆𝑎𝑡 𝐻𝐿 sin 𝛽

 𝑇𝑎 = 20 (2)(2) sin 25 = 33.81 KN

25.87
 𝐹𝑆 = 33.81 = 0.77 < 1.25 UNSAFE

b) Slip Surface at the Second Layer

 𝑊 = 𝛾𝑆𝑎𝑡 (𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑) 𝐻𝐿+𝛾𝑆𝑎𝑡 (𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦) 𝐻𝐿
 𝑊 = 20(2)(2) + 25(2)(3) = 230𝐾𝑁
 𝑁𝑎 = 𝑊 cos 𝛽 = 230 cos 25 = 208.45 𝐾𝑁
 𝑇𝑎 = 𝑊 sin 𝛽 = 230 sin 25 = 97.2 𝐾𝑁
 𝐹 =𝑈∗𝑏∗1=
 𝑈 = (𝛾𝑤 ℎ𝑝 ) = 𝛾𝑤 (𝐻(cos 𝛽)2 ) = 10(5) (cos 25)2 =41.07KN
 𝑏 = 𝐿 sec 𝛽 = 2 sec 25 = 2.21𝑚
 𝐹 =41.07*2.21=90.76KN
 𝑁𝑟 = 𝑁𝑎 − 𝐹 = 208.45 −90.76 =117.7 KN
𝑇
 𝐹𝑆 = 𝑇𝑟
𝑎
 𝑇𝑟 = 𝐶 ′ 𝑏 + 𝑁𝑟 tan 𝜑
 𝑇𝑟 = 30(2.21) + 117.7 tan 20 = 109.14 𝐾𝑁
109.14
 𝐹𝑆 = 97.2 = 1.122 < 1.25 UNSAFE