Slope Stability

Slope Stability
• is the resistance of inclined surface to failure by sliding or
collapsing.

• The main objectives of slope stability analysis are finding

endangered areas, investigation of potential failure
mechanisms, determination of the slope sensitivity to
different triggering mechanisms, designing of optimal slopes
with regard to safety, reliability and economics, designing
possible remedial measures, e.g. barriers and stabilization
 Slope Stability

Crozet Tunnel

4281’
Central America??
Solution:
a. The angle of the critical failure plane c. Safe (design) depth of the cut slope

𝛽+ ∅′ 4𝑐′𝑑 sin 𝛽 cos ∅′𝑑

𝜃𝑐𝑟 = 𝐻𝑑 =
2 𝛾 1−cos( 𝛽−∅′𝑑

45+15 𝑐′ 50
𝜃𝑐𝑟 = 𝑐′𝑑 = =
2 𝐹𝑠 ′ 3

𝜃𝑐𝑟 = 30° 𝑡𝑎𝑛∅′

tan ∅𝑑 ′ = = 5.1039
𝐹𝑠
b. Critical depth of the cut slope 4𝑐′𝑑 sin 𝛽 cos ∅′𝑑
𝐻𝑑 =
𝛾 1−cos( 𝛽−∅′𝑑
4𝑐 ′ sin 𝛽 cos ∅′
𝐻𝑐𝑟 =
𝛾 1−cos( 𝛽 −∅′
𝐻𝑑 = 10.084 m
4(50) sin 45 cos 15
𝐻𝑐𝑟 =
20 1−cos( 45 −15 )

𝐻𝑐𝑟 = 50.98 m
Braced Cut
Braced Cut
• the excavations that are laterally supported.
• The vertical side of the excavations are supported by a sheeting and
bracing system. It consists of relatively flexible sheeting placed
against the excavation walls.
• The lateral thrust on the sheeting is resisted by the horizontal
members in compression (struts) is known as bracing system.
Design Components :

 Select appropriate size of wale, struts,

sheet pile or soldier beam
 Basis of selection : Based on the
estimated lateral earth pressure
 Theoretically aspects of lateral
pressure :
Pressure Envelope :
Class A – Firm clay and flexible wall
0.2H

0.2H  = unit weight

H = height of cut

0.3H
Pressure Envelope :
Class B – Stiff to very stiff clay and flexible wall

 = unit weight
H = height of cut

0.3H
Pressure Envelope :
Class C – Coarse soil dry

 = unit weight
H = height of cut

0.2H
 d1 d
1
P1
d2 / 2
d2
d2 / 2
P2 2
d3 / 2
d3
d3 / 2
P3
d4 / 2 3
d4
d4 / 2

 = Apparent pressure
S = Spacing strut c/c
1 = P1 / S (d1 + d2 /2)
• Lateral earth pressure varies with depth. Each
strut being designed for maximum load to which
it is subjected.

• Thus, braced cut being designed using apparent

pressure diagram determined from measured
struts load in the field.
 Design Procedure
• Design procedure to determine strut load :
i. Draw the pressure envelope of the propose
strut levels (soldiers beam are assumed to be
hinged at the strut level, except for the top and
bottom ones)
Design Procedure
ii. Determine the reaction for the two simple
cantilever beam (top and bottom) and all others
are simple beam (A, B1, B2, C1, C2 and D)
Design Procedure
iii. Used the formulae to calculate strut loads
PA = (A) (s)
PB = (B1 + B2) (s)
PC = (C1 + C2) (s)
PD = (D) (s)

iv. Knowing the strut load at each level and the intermediate
bracing, then select the proper section from steel construction
manuals.
EXAMPLE:
• A long trench is excavated in medium dense sand for the foundation of a
multi-storey building. The sides of the trench are supported with sheet pile
walls fixed in place by struts and wales are shown in Fig Ex.6.2. The soil
properties are, γ=17 kN/m3, c=0, ∅ = 35°.
Determine:
i) The pressure distribution on the walls with respect to depth
ii) Strut loads, the struts are placed horizontally at 4m centre to centre
iii)The maximum bending moment for determining the pile wall section.
iv) The maximum bending moments for determining the section of the
wales.
EXAMPLE 1
• Draw the earth pressure envelope and determine
the strut loads. Strut are placed at 3m c/c
6m

1m
= 18kN/m3
c = 35 kN/m2
2m  = 10

2m

1m

1m 3m 3m 3m 3m