SLOPE STABILITY

ANALYSIS
CE 522

Stability of Finite Slopes with Plane

Failure Surfaces (Culmann’s Method)

- Failure of a slope occurs along a plane

- Failure occurs if average shearing stress is higher than the
shear strength of the soil

1
Stability of Finite Slopes with Plane
Failure Surfaces (Culmann’s Method)
1
W = γVol = γ BCH 1
2
For BC:
BC = Hcotθ − Hcotβ = H(cotθ − cotβ)
Thus:
1
W = γ H H(cotθ − cotβ)
2
1 sin β − θ
W = γH
2 sinβsinθ

Stability of Finite Slopes with Plane

Failure Surfaces (Culmann’s Method)
Force Perpendicular to AC:
N = Wcosθ
1 sin β − θ
= γH cosθ
2 sinβsinθ
Force Parallel to AC:
T = Wsinθ
1 sin β − θ
= γH sinθ
2 sinβsinθ
- the force that causes the slip
along the plane

2
Stability of Finite Slopes with Plane
Failure Surfaces (Culmann’s Method)
Effective Normal Stress at AC:
N N
σ = =
AC(1) H
sinθ
1 sin β − θ
= γH cosθsinθ
2 sinβsinθ
Shear Stress at AC:
T T
τ= =
AC(1) H
sinθ
1 sin β − θ
= γH sin θ
2 sinβsinθ

Stability of Finite Slopes with Plane

Failure Surfaces (Culmann’s Method)
For the developed stress:
τ = c + σ tanϕ
substitute σ, and τ
1 sin β − θ
γH sin θ
2 sinβsinθ
1 sin β − θ
= c + γH cosθsinθtanϕ
2 sinβsinθ
Then,
1 sin(β − θ)(sinθ − cosθtanϕ )
c = γH
2 sinβ

3
Stability of Finite Slopes with Plane
Failure Surfaces (Culmann’s Method)
Stability Number, m:
c 1 − cos(β − ϕ )
m= =
γH 4sinβcosϕ
With respect to Fs:
tanϕ = ; and c =
Critical Equilibrium:
- Maximum height, Hcr
- Occurs when c = c, and ϕ = ϕ
4c′ sinβcosϕ′
H =
γ 1 − cos(β − ϕ )

Example
.
For the finite slope shown in the figure,
assume that the slope failure would occur
along a plane (Culmann’s assumption).
Find the height of the slope for critical
equilibrium. Given: β= 58°, γ=16.5 kN/m3,
φ’ = 14°, and c = 28 kN/m2.
.
Refer to the figure. Using the soil
parameters given in Problem 15.7, find
the height of the slope, H, that will have a
factor of safety of 2.5 against sliding.
Assume that the critical sliding surface is
a plane.

4
 Practice Problem
.
A slope is shown in the figure. If AC represents a trial failure plane,
determine the factor of safety against sliding for the wedge ABC.
Given: γ = 18 kN/m3, φ’ = 25°, and c’ = 19.1 kN/m2.