5.

MODELLING AND ANALYSIS OF A SLOPE BY SLOPE/W

5.1. GEOMETRY AND SLIP SURFACE DEFINITION

In the present section, an arbitrary slope geometry is modelled in SLOPE/W of GeoStudio

software package and the stability of the slope is analyzed under non-seismic and seismic
conditions. Furthermore, analysis is also carried providing geofabrics and the change in factor of
safety of failure slip circle is marked for comparison.

Fig. 5.1. Geometry of the modelled slope

The slope geometry is composed of two different layers of strata with the following soil properties:

Upper soil layer: Unit weight = 15 kN/m3; Cohesion = 5 kPa; Phi = 200;

Lower soil layer: Unit weight = 18 kN/m3; Cohesion = 10 kPa; Phi = 250;

The slip surface definition is modelled as Entry and Exit type in SLOPE/W, in which the slip
circles in between a region of origin and a region of termination on the slope are considered and
the FOS of the corresponding slip surfaces is computed. The surface giving the lowest value of the
factor of safety is considered as the most critical slip surface.

5.2. NON-SEISMIC ANALYSIS

In this case with the slip surface definition defined as in Fig. 5.1., the most critical slip
circle is found to have a factor of safety of 1.696 under non-seismic condition. The center of the
slip is found to be at x = 26.66, y = 24.004 with a radius of 20.296 m.
 Fig. 5.2. Critical slip circle under non-seismic condition

5.3. SEISMIC ANALYSIS

Now, this slip surface behavior is studied under the seismic condition with different
pseudo-static seismic coefficients (Kh). The factor of safety of the slip circle decreases with
increasing values of pseudo-static seismic coefficients. The results are given in the figure below,

Fig. 5.3. Variation of factor of safety with pseudo-static seismic coefficient

 The Kh value corresponding to FOS = 1 is taken as the occurrence of failure of the slope
due to seismicity, because clearly at this value the driving force equals the resisting force and the
slope is on the verge of failure. This value of Kh is found to be 0.3319 from Fig. 5.3. considering
linear interpolation between values. The factor of safety of the above critical clip circle for this
value of Kh is found out to be 0.998 from SLOPE/W, which is close to 1 and the slope is considered
as failed.

Fig. 5.4. FOS of same slip circle under seismic condition with Kh = 0.3319

5.4. SLOPE PROTECTION BY GEOFABRICS

The slope when protected by geofabrics gives a much higher value of factor of safety for
any slip circle. The factor of safety computed is 1.616 for the same slip circle surface strengthened
with geofabrics under seismic condition with Kh = 0.3319, which otherwise caused failure in an
unprotected slope under same seismic force.
Fig. 5.5. Increased FOS of same slip circle strengthened with geofabrics under seismic condition