COL L APSE

Hi Kingsley.
Critical depth occurs at critical conditions when FS =1.
Shear strength of a soil is given by

f c tan
Where, c = cohesion.

f = angle of internal friction.

= Normal stress on the potential failure surface.
In pure cohesive soil f c
FS=f / d.
from the Free body diagram of slice in infinite slope of pure
cohesive soil.
W= Z b cosB.
d=T/b=W SinB/b=Z b cosB SinB/b=Z cosB SinB=Z Sin2B.
FS=f / d=cu/Z Sin2B.
FS=1 then Zcritical can be determined from Zcritical Sin2B=cu.
Zcritical =cu/Sin2B=2cu/ cosB SinB.