[STABILITY ANALYSIS OF INFINITE SLOPE]

2016-2017

1. ABSTRACT
We present a generalized framework for the stability of infinite slopes under steady unsaturated

seepage conditions. Slope stability analyses with hypothetical sandy and silty soils are

conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of the framework. This paper presents a derivation of

expression for factor safety of infinite granular soil slope including the effect Moreover, the

safety factor at very high value of suction is close to that at very low matric suction of matric

suction. These analyses indicate that for hill slopes of both sandy and silty soils, failure can

occur above the water table under steady infiltration conditions, which is consistent with some

field observations that cannot be predicted by the classical infinite slope theory. The disastrous

slope failure occurred at the Kethikal hill, in the out skirts of Mangalore city in NH 13, India,

during the month of June 1998 soon after the heavy and continuous monsoon rains. Many

closely built dwelling houses at the top of hill are damaged and the traffic along the road is also

diverted for some duration.

1.

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2. INTRODUCTION
The slope stability analysis is essential in geotechnical analysis and design of earth structures

particularly for constructions of dam, road and other types of embankment Terzaghis
effective

stress is not capable of accounting for the skeleton stress under partially saturated conditions.

However, the slope stability analysis is based on the classical soil mechanics assumption, in

which fully saturated and completely dry conditions are assumed for soils below and above

ground water level, respectively. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to derive the

expression for safety factor of infinite slope of granular soils including effect of matric suction.

Simulations of factor safety for various values of matric suction and thickness of soil layer

are performed.

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CHAPTER 1

3. THE AIM OF SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS ARE

To understand the development and form of natural slopes and the processes responsible
for different natural features.

To assess the stability of slopes under short-term (often during construction) and long-
term conditions.

To assess the possibility of landslides involving natural or existing engineered slopes.

To analyze landslides and to understand failure mechanisms and the influence of

environmental factors.

To enable the redesign of failed slopes and the planning and design of preventive and
remedial measures, where necessary.

To study the effect of seismic loadings on slopes and embankments.

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CHAPTER 2
4. SLOPES OF EARTH ARE OF TWO TYPES
1. Natural slopes
2. Man made slopes
Natural slopes are those that exist in nature and are formed by natural causes. Such slopes
exist in hilly areas. The sides of cuttings, the slopes of embankments constructed for roads,
railway lines, canals etc. and the slopes of earth dams constructed for storing water are examples
of man made slopes. The slopes whether natural or artificial may be
1. Infinite slopes
2. Finite slopes

The term infinite slope is used to designate a constant slope of infinite extent. The long slope
of the face of a mountain is an example of this type, whereas finite slopes are limited in extent.
The slopes of embankments and earth dams are examples of finite slopes. The slope length
depends on the height of the dam or embankment.
Slope Stability: Slope stability is an extremely important consideration in the design and
construction of earth dams. The stability of a natural slope is also important. The results of a
slope failure can often be catastrophic, involving the loss of considerable property and many
lives.
Causes of Failure of Slopes: The important factors that cause instability in a slope and lead to
failure are
1. Gravitational force
2. Force due to seepage water
3. Erosion of the surface of slopes due to flowing water .4 The sudden lowering of water adjacent
to a slope 5. Forces due to earthquakes

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CHAPTER 3

5. CIRCULAR SURFACES OF FAILURE

5.1 Slope failure

5.2 Toe failure

5.3 Base failure

Slope failure

Toe failure

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Base failure

CHAPTER 4

6. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS IN

THE ANALYSIS

6.1 Testing of samples to determine the cohesion and angle of

internal friction
If the analysis is for a natural slope, it is essential that the sample be undisturbed. In such
important respects as rate of shear application and state of initial consolidation, the condition of
testing must represent as closely as possible the most unfavorable conditions ever likely to occur
in the actual slope.

6.2 The study of items which are known to enter but which cannot
be accounted for in the computations
The most important of such items is progressive cracking which will start at the top of the slope
where the soil is in tension, and aided by water pressure, may progress to considerable depth. In
addition, there are the effects of the non-homogeneous nature of the typical soil and other
variations from the ideal conditions which must be assumed.

6.3 Computation
If a slope is to fail along a surface, all the shearing strength must be overcome along that surface
which then becomes a surface of rupture. Any one such as ABC in Fig. 10.1 (b) represents one of
an infinite number of possible traces on which failure might occur.
1. Factor of safety with respect to shearing strength.

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2. Factor of safety with respect to cohesion.

This is termed the factor of safety with respect to height.

The factor of safety with respect to shearing strength, Fs, may be written as

The shearing strength mobilized at each point on a failure surface may be written as

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CHAPTER 5
7. STABILITY ANALYSIS OF INFINITE SLOPE IN SAND

The slice is in equilibrium, the weight and reaction are equal in magnitude and opposite
in direction.
They have a common line of action which passe through the centre of the base AB. The
lateral forces must be equal and opposite and their line of action must be parallel to
the sloped surface. The normal and shear stresses on plane AB are

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If full resistance is mobilized on plane AB, the shear strength, s, of the soil per Coulomb's
law is

The factor of safety of infinite slopes in sand may be written as

7.1 STABILITY ANALYSIS OF INFINITE SLOPES IN CLAY

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The depth at which the

shearing stress and shearing
strength are equal is called
the critical depth.

CHAPTER 6

8. Expression for the

Stability of an Infinite
Slope of Clay of Depth H

the developed shearing stress as

Under conditions of no seepage and no pore pressure, the stress components on a plane at
depth H and parallel to the surface of the slope are

Substituting these stress expressions in the equation above and simplifying, we have

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CHAPTER 7

9. ANALYSIS OF INFINITE SLOPE WITH SEEPAGE FLOW

THROUGH THE ENTIRE MASS

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if the factor of safety with respect to friction is unity, the stability number which represents
the cohesion may be written as

CHAPTER 8

10. ANALYSIS OF INFINITE SLOPE WITH

COMPLETELY SUBMERGED SLOPE

If the slope is completely submerged, and if there is no seepage as in Fig. then

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where b = submerged unit weight of the soil.

CHAPTER 9

11. METHODS OF STABILITY ANALYSIS OF SLOPES

OF INFINITE SLOPE
FRICTION-CIRCLE METHOD
TAYLOR'S STABILITY NUMBER
BISHOP'S SIMPLIFIED METHOD OF SLICES

TAYLOR'S STABILITY NUMBER

If the slope angle , height of embankment H, the effective unit weight of material , angle
of internal friction ', and unit cohesion c' are known, the factor of safety may be
determined.
Taylor (1937) conceived the idea of analyzing the stability of a large number of slopes
through a wide range of slope angles and angles of internal friction, and then representing
the results by an abstract number which he called the "stability number". This number is
designated as Ns.

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CHAPTER 10

12. CASE STUDY OF LANDSLIDE IN NH 13 AT

KETHIKAL NEAR MANGALORE INDIA.

The landslide being discussed in this report occurred on the Mangalore

Hospet Road

(NH-13) at Kethikal near Vamanjoor about 20Kms from Mangalore. There

was a

major distress associated with the landslide involving more than 60000 m3
of earth

during rainy season of June 1998. The location is in a cutting portion of the
steep

hill rock rising to a height of more than50 m. The road is in North-South

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direction(Mangalore towards south) and hillock to the west of the road. The
investigation

revealed that the failure had a history ever since 1998. It is also noted that a
heavy

rainfall for 2 3 days continuously of intensity more than 1000 mm triggered

the

landslide.

The detailed observations revealed that near the northern side of the road in
the

Affected portion, the hill slope underwent a vertical slump of about 5 m

followed by a

lateral mudflow, which pushed the road and the supporting soil by almost 6
m laterally.

The most severe damage took place near the location of culvert 1, where the
road sunk by about 6 m. Further the mudslide had resulted in to a heaved
southern side of slope

CHAPTER 11

13. DEVELOPMENT OF CRACKS WITH RAINFALL DATA.

13.1

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Dates and year Cumulative rain Average rain fall Length of crack Vertical
fall up to dates in during the dates (mm) movement of
Col.1from start in col.1(mm/day) failure wedge
of raining season (mm)
(mm)
10-14
July 1410 101 760 600
1997

27 June 1300 85 3100 3100

2 July
1998

10-14 580 63 120 350

June
1999

29 June 120 94 60 305

10 July
2000

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CHAPTER 12

14. INFERENCES FROM THE CASE STUDY OF

KETHIKALLANDSLIDE

The land slide at kethikal was analyzed using the optimization program using

generalized procedure of slices for stratified soil slopes. This slope is taken as
a slope

with berm which houses a road. The road is formed on the top of lithomargic
clay,

which has a tendency to factor of safety in base failure with tension crack.
The obtained

result matches with the field observation .there was an upward movement of
soil

mass at the base of slope. The program gave the length of failure

wedge as 92.17m and the actual length of failure wedge is about 105.m.

The stability analysis used the value of depth of tension crack at top layer
is3.73m

which can be compared with the Kethikal landslide is due to the development
of high

pore pressure in soil. The development of high pore pressure is assisted by

continuous

for 4 to 5 days which resulted in triggering the movement. The presence

abandoned latrite quarries at top of hill which gets filled during the rainy

season is also the additional factor in developing the high pore water
pressure.

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CHAPTER 13

15. SUMMARY
The simulation results show the variation in safety factor of infinite slope of granular soil

with matric suction. We have presented a generalized analytical framework

for assessing the stability of infinite slopes under all degrees of saturation
with an emphasis on

the case in which the slip surface is above the water table Analysis of infinite
slopes with a

range of properties typical of sandy soils under possible rainfall conditions

indicates that soil suction, moisture content, and suction stress all vary
greatly above the water

table Moreover, the safety factor at very high value of suction is close to that at very low

matric suction.

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CHAPTER 14

16. REFERENCE
1. WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH, VOL. 44, W11404, doi:10.1029/2008WR006976, 2008
2. SOIL MECHANICS CHAPTER 10

3.EJE Vol. 17 [2012], Bund. C

4. SOIL MECHANICS Prof. B.V.S.Viswanathan

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