BFC34402

CHAPTER 4.0
SLOPE STABILITY
 4.1 TYPES & CAUSES OF SLOPE FAILURE

Slope failures major categories

Topple
Fall
1. Fall. This is the detachment of soil
and/or rock fragments that fall down a
slope.
2. Topple. This is a forward rotation of
soil and/or rock mass about an axis
Slide
below the center of gravity of mass Spread
being displaced.
3. Slide. This is the downward
movement of a soil mass occurring on a
surface of rupture.
4. Spread. This is a form of slide by
translation. It occurs by sudden Flow
movement of water-bearing seams of
sands or silts overlain by clays or
loaded by fills.
5. Flow. This is a downward movement
of soil mass similar to a viscous fluid.
 4.1 TYPES & CAUSES OF SLOPE FAILURE

4.1.1 Types of slope failure

a) Translational slide:

i. Failure along a weak zone of soil.

ii. Sliding mass can travel long distances
before coming to rest.
iii. Common in course-grained soil.
b) Flow slide:

i. Occurs when internal & external

condition force a soil to behave like a
viscous fluid & flow down.
ii. Multiple failure surfaces usually occur
& change continuously as flow
proceeds.
iii. Can occur in wet & dry soils.
4.1 TYPES & CAUSES OF SLOPE FAILURE

4.1.1 Types of slope failure

c) Rotational slide:

i. Common in homogenous fine-grained

soil.
ii. 3 types of rotational slides;
1. Base slide:
By an arch engulfing the whole
slope.
A soft soil resting on stiff layer.
2. Toe slide:
Failure surface passes through
the toe of slope
3. Slope slide:
Failure surface passes through
the slope
4.1 TYPES & CAUSES OF SLOPE FAILURE

4.1.2 Causes of slope failure

1) Erosion (a & b)
2) Rainfall (c)
3) Earthquake (d)
4) Geological features (e)
5) External loading (f)
6) Construction activities
(g)
7) Rapid drawdown (h)
 4.2 STABILITY OF INFINITE SLOPES

4.2.1 Factor of safety

Generall
y:

When Fs is equal to 1, the slope is in a state of impending failure. Generally, a value

of
1.5 for the factor of safety with respect to strength is acceptable for the design of a
4.2 STABILITY OF INFINITE SLOPES

4.2.2 Infinite slope- Without seepage

4.2 STABILITY OF INFINITE SLOPES

4.2.2 Infinite slope- Without seepage

OK
4.2 STABILITY OF INFINITE SLOPES

4.2.2 Infinite slope- With steady seepage

4.2 STABILITY OF INFINITE SLOPES

4.2.2 Infinite slope Examples

4.3 METHOD OF SLICES

4.3.1 Finite slope

What the different between finite and infinite slope?

a) When the value of the critical height of the slope (Hcr) approaches the
height of the slope (H), the slope generally may be considered finite.
b) The surface of potential failure can be considered to be curved or plane
failure surfaces.
4.3 METHOD OF SLICES

4.3.1 Finite slope- Circular Failure Surfaces Analysis

Modes of failure
4.3 METHOD OF SLICES

4.3.1 Finite slope- Circular Failure Surfaces Analysis

Analysis method 1: Mass procedure

For the case of critical circles, the

developed cohesion can be expressed by
the relationship
 4.3 METHOD OF SLICES

4.3.1 Finite slope- Circular Failure Surfaces Analysis

Analysis method 1: Mass procedure-
Examples
A slope is to be cut to construct an embankment
as shown in Figure 1. The mass of W1 and W2 are
294.4 kN and 435.2 kN respectively. The location
of these masses are l1 = 3.5m and l2 = 5.3m . By
using the mass procedure method or Swedish slip
circle method:

(i) Calculate the total moment of the driving force

about point O.
(ii) Determine the factor of safety of the trial circle.
(iii) Comment what happens to the calculated factor Figure 1
of safety if the height and the gradient of the slope
increases.
4.3 METHOD OF SLICES

4.3.1 Finite slope- Circular Failure Surfaces Analysis

Analysis method 2: Method of slices
4.3 METHOD OF SLICES

4.3.1 Finite slope- Circular Failure Surfaces Analysis

Analysis method 2: Method of slices-
Examples 1
4.3 METHOD OF SLICES

4.3.1 Finite slope- Circular Failure Surfaces Analysis

Analysis method 2: Method of slices-
Examples 2
4.4 CUT STABILITY, EMBANKMENT & NATURAL SLOPE

4.4.1 Cut Stability

Cuttings are excavated, whereas embankments are built.

A decrease in total stresses and also a decreasing in pore pressure when
excavation of the removal of soils.
Seepage regime develops in the slope after construction which it depends
on the drainage condition and the permeability of the soil.
Therefore, an increment in pore pressure, constant in total stress but falls
steadily in effective stress.
Besides, effective normal stress decreases too since its a part of
proportional of soil shear strength. So that, the long term stability of a
cutting is therefore more critical than its stability at the end of
construction.
4.4 CUT STABILITY, EMBANKMENT & NATURAL SLOPE

4.4.2 Embankment stability

Built by rolling or otherwise compacting layers of selected soil.

Compaction process squeezes out air, but as the built up height increases, the
lower layers experience an increase in pore pressure. In coarse grained soils, the
excess pore pressures dissipate quickly.

In fine grained soils, the excess pore pressure is slow to dissipate and consolidation
may continue for several years.

The installation of horizontal or vertical drainage blankets is used to speed up this

process.

In the course of time, the pore pressure decreases and the effective stresses
increase, therefore the shear strength increase.

Thus, the most critical stability condition for an embankment occurs at the end of
construction, or sometimes during construction.

4.4 CUT STABILITY, EMBANKMENT & NATURAL SLOPE

Cut in slope designs

4.4 CUT STABILITY, EMBANKMENT & NATURAL SLOPE

Cut in slope designs

4.4 CUT STABILITY, EMBANKMENT & NATURAL SLOPE

Cut in slope designs

4.4 CUT STABILITY, EMBANKMENT & NATURAL SLOPE

Fill in slope designs

4.4 CUT STABILITY, EMBANKMENT & NATURAL SLOPE

Fill in slope designs

4.4 CUT STABILITY, EMBANKMENT & NATURAL SLOPE

Fill in slope designs

4.4 CUT STABILITY, EMBANKMENT & NATURAL SLOPE

Stability of cut and fill in slope designs

4.4 CUT STABILITY, EMBANKMENT & NATURAL SLOPE

Stability of cut and fill in slope designs

4.5 SLOPE STABILIZATION METHOD

4.5.1 Drainage
Drainage is one of the most widely used methods for improving stability.
Clearly surface water must be removed and build-up of water pressures
in tension cracks prevented. Subsurface drainage must be designed to
reduce the water pressures acting on actual or potential slip surfaces; in
this way, the value of the pore pressure, u, is reduced, thereby
producing an increase in the factor of safety.

4.5 SLOPE STABILIZATION METHOD

4.5.1 Drainage

Several methods exist for drainage system, including horizontal drains

and vertical drains.
4.5 SLOPE STABILIZATION METHOD

4.5.1 Drainage
Drainage may also be achieved by the use of electro-osmosis and by
planting suitable vegetation.
4.5 SLOPE STABILIZATION METHOD

4.5.2 Restraining Structure

Restraining structures such as piles, retaining walls and anchors may be

used to improve stability. It must be appreciated that the forces and
moments to which these structures are subjected may be very large and
hence careful design is essential.
4.5 SLOPE STABILIZATION METHOD

4.5.3 Modification of Slope Geometry

Changing the geometry of a slope to improve stability can involve the:
excavation to unload the slope; filling to load the slope; and reducing
the overall height of the slope.
 4.5 SLOPE STABILIZATION METHOD

6.5.4 Replacement

Where the slip surface is not unduly deep, removal of all (or part) of the
slipped material and replacement provides a relatively simple and
straightforward remedial measure. The removed soil may be replaced by
free-draining material (in which case some additional benefit may be
achieved by drainage) or by light structure such as geofoam.
4.5 SLOPE STABILIZATION METHOD

4.5.5 Geotextiles

Geo-textiles can be used for:

Segregation of layers: Rock-fill lay on soft ground to form a road or embankment

base can be prevented from punching into the soil below using a geotextile
underlay.

Tensile strength: Horizontal membranes can be used to provide tensile

reinforcement and reduce settlement.

A drainage layer: Either as a water-conductor or as a filter to reduce the migration

of fine particles into a granular soil drains.

An impermeable barrier: To prevent or control the flow of contaminated

groundwater from or in land-fill sites.
4.5 SLOPE STABILIZATION METHOD
The End