Slope Stability

y Analysis
y
Procedures
Presentation for AEG/GI Short Course

UC Riverside,
e s de, May
ay 12,, 2012
0
William Kitch, Cal Poly Pomona

William A Kitch 2012

Overview

Objectives
Obj
ti
off stability
t bilit analysis
l i
Measures of stability
Available computational methods
Limit equilibrium methods
Stability analysis process
Conclusions & questions

William A Kitch 2012

Presentation scope

S il or continuous
Soil
ti
rock
k

Translational & rotational modes only

No debris flow or spreading analysis

St ti & pseudo
Static
d static
t ti stability
t bilit

Does not cover rock behavior governed by jointing (topples, key

wedge, etc)

No earthquake deformation analysis

William A Kitch 2012

Objectives of Stability analysis

Determine
D
t
i adequacy
d
off an existing
i ti slope
l
Evaluate effectiveness of proposed slope remediation
Back calculate average shear strength of a slope know
to be in failure
Design
g an engineered
g
slope

William A Kitch 2012

Measures of stability

F t off safety
Factor
f t
s
F

where

note

s shear strength available

equilbrium
ilb i
shear
h stress
t
s

resisting
driving

Definition
f
based on shear strength and shear stress is the only
consistent definition
William A Kitch 2012

Recommended factors of safety

Cornforth (2005)
Minimal Study
Landslide size

Normal Study

Borings

Acceptable F

Borings

Acceptable F

1 or none

1.50

1.50

Small

1.50

1.35

Medium

1.40

1.25

Large

1.30

1.20

Very Large

1.20

1.15

Very Small

Duncan and Wright (2005)

Uncertainty of analysis

Cost of failure
Repair costs y incremental cost of safer design

Small

Large

1.25

1.5

Repair costs >> incremental cost of safer design

1.5

2.0 or more

William A Kitch 2012

Agency requirements
US Army Corps of Engineers (1970)
Required Factor of safety for given condition
Type of slope
Dams, levees,
dikes & other
embankments

End of
construction

Long-term steady
state seepage

Rapid Drawdown

1.3

1.5

1.0 1.2

Typical Southern California Agency Requirements

Static

Static with pseudo static earthquake load

Temporary slopes

1.5

1.1

1.25

William A Kitch 2012

Limitations of Factor of safety

Does nott contain
D
t i information
i f
ti about
b t the
th variability
i bilit or
uncertainty of shear strength or mobilized shear stress
Probability of
failure

Probab
bility Density

Stress

Same factor of safety can have different reliability

Probabilistic methods are available to estimate reliability
of slopes
William A Kitch 2012

Available computational methods

Li it equilibrium
Limit
ilib i
methods
th d

Finite element methods

Most common approach

Requires
q
only
y simple
p Mohr-Coulomb soil model
Cannot model progressive failure
Cannot compute displacements
Must search for critical surface
Do not need to search for critical surface, analysis automatically
finds it
Must have a complete stress-strain model for soil
Can compute
p
displacements
p
Can model progressive failure
William A Kitch 2012

Comparison of limit equilibrium and finite element methods

Limit equilibrium analysis

F = 1.75

10

Finite element analysis

F = 1.74

William A Kitch 2012

L
Locating
ti complex
l failure
f il
surfaces
f
with
ith FE analysis
l i

su1
1.0
su 2

su1
su2

su1
0.6
06
su 2
su1
0.2
su 2
Griffiths & Lane (1999)

11

William A Kitch 2012

Limit Equilibrium Approach

1.

Generall shape
G
h
off ffailure
il
surface
f
(planar,
( l
circle,
i l non-circular)
i l )
assumed

2.
3.

Specific failure surfaced chosen

Some or all of static equilibrium conditions used to compute
eq ilibri m shear stress on failure
equilibrium
fail re ssurface,
rface
1.
2.
3.

4.

12

Driven by geometry and geology of problem

Determines formulation of the analysis

Fx = 0
Fy = 0
M= 0

Available shear strength, s, along failure surface computed using

Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria (c & )

5.

Factor of safety computed, F = s/

6.

Back to step 2, continue until Fmin found

William A Kitch 2012

1 unknown,
1 equation, FA = 0

Simple planar failure example for = 0 conditions

H2
W
2 tan

FA = 0

H 2 cos

T W sin
2
H 2 cos sin

H
2

H sin cos

2
2 su
F
H sin cos

13

H/tan

H/sin

N
weak clay seam with
undrained strength, su
critical surface

William A Kitch 2012

Simple LE methods

Model
M
d l simple
i l b
butt iimportant
t t cases
Statically determinate problems
Can solve directly for F without assumptions about
distribution of stress within failure mass
Most common and useful methods

14

Planar or single wedge

Infinite slope
Swedish slip circle

William A Kitch 2012

Infinite slope analysis

FA = 0

T W sin

ER D

W sin
l

D cos sin

W cos
l

D cos 2

From Mohr-Coulomb
s c tan ' c D cos 2 tan '
s

l
T
N
15

FA = 0
FB = 0

c D cos 2 tan '

F

D cos sin

EL

t
l
cos

FB = 0
N W cos

2 unknowns, F &
2 equations

W tD

For c = 0 2
D cos tan ' tan '

F
D cos sin
tan
For = 0, s = su
F

su
D cos sin

William A Kitch 2012

1 unknown, F
1 equation, MO = 0

Swedish slip circle for = 0 conditions

O
l1

su1 su

W
su2
l

Wa
rl

Shear strength
s su

l2

MO = 0
lr Wa

F
F

su rl
Wa

M
M

resisting
driving

r suili
F
Wa
16

William A Kitch 2012

Summary of simple LE methods

17

Procedure
ocedu e

Assumptions
ssu pt o s

Equations
quat o s
used

Variables
a ab es so
solved
ed for
o

Infinite Slope

Infinitely long slope

slip surface parallel
to surface

F = 0
F = 0

Factor of safety
on failure surface

Swedish slip
circle

=0
MO = 0
Circular slip surface

Factor of safety

William A Kitch 2012

Methods of slices
O

c1, 1

c2, 2

Wh 0
When
s c ' ' tan '
Must determine
Cannot use simply MO = 0
zi

Vi
Wi

Ei

zi+1
Ei+1
Vi+1

Ti
Ni
li
18

William A Kitch 2012

Equation/unknown count
x

Unknowns

Vi
Wi

Ei

1 MO
1,

n, Mi

n, Fx

n, Fz
Total: 3n + 1 equations

zi+1
Ei+1
Vi+1

Ti

Equilibrium equations

19

F, factor of safety
n values of Ni
n1 values of Ei
n1 values of Vi
n1 values of zi
Total: 4n2 unknowns

zi

Ni
li

Must make assumptions to

solve problem
Assumptions made affect
accuracy of solution
William A Kitch 2012

1 unknown, F
1 equation, MO = 0

Ordinary method of slices

Assumptions

Hi

Ignore side
forces

F
Ti

MO = 0

Ni

Solution

c ' l W cos ul tan '

F
W sin

W Hll cos
u pore pressure on base of slice
20

Wi

E
Equations
ti
used
d

Ignore side
forces

Unknown

Circular surface
Ignore all side forces

li

Can directly solve for F

Simple to implement
Generally conservative
Accuracy poor when pore
pressure high

William A Kitch 2012

1+n unknowns, F, Ni
1 equation,
MO = 0
n, Fz

Simplified bishop method

Assumptions

21

Wi

Ei

1, F
n, Ni
MO = 0
n, Fz

Solution

c ' l cos W ul cos tan '

cos sin tan ' / F

F
W sin

zi+1
Ei+1

Ti

Equations used

Unknown

Circular surface
Side forces are horizontal

zi

Ni
li

Requires iterative solution

More accurate the OMS
E il iimplemented
Easily
l
d with
ih
spreadsheet
William A Kitch 2012

Inclusion of external or internal loads

O
zi

r
k Wi

k Wi

Ei

Wi

zi+1
Ei+1

Ri
Ri

22

Ti

Know forces included in

existing equilibrium equations
Does not increase number of
unknowns
Solution method the same

Ni
li

Allows for inclusion of

Pseudo static earthquake loads

Forces from pile stabilization
External equipment or
structural loads
William A Kitch 2012

Uses of non-circular surfaces

Surficial Slide

Weak seam

23

Weak layer

William A Kitch 2012

Non-circular surface methods

Assumption
A
ti off circular
i l surface
f
simplifies
i lifi problem
bl
By using MO = 0 number of unknowns substantially
reduced
Method of slices works for non-circular surfaces

Two broad groups of solutions available

24

More unknowns
More equilibrium equations required
Force equilibrium:
F
ilib i
uses Fx = 0 & Fz = 0
Full equilibrium: satisfies uses Fx = 0, Fz = 0 & M = 0
All still require
q
assumptions
p
about interslice forces

William A Kitch 2012

Force equilibrium methods

A
Assume
di ti interslice
direction
i t li forces
f

Combined with Fx = 0 & Fz = 0 allows for solution for F

Method

Interslice force
assumption

Simplified
p
Janbu ((Janbu et al.1956))

Horizontal

Lowe and Karafiath (1959)

Average of slope of top

and bottom of slice

Corps of Engineers modified Swedish method Parallel to average

(US Army Corps of Engineers, 1970)
slope angle
25

William A Kitch 2012

Force equilibrium solutions sensitive to direction of

interslice force

Figure 6.15 Influence of interslice force inclination on the computed factor of safety for
force equilibrium with parallel interslice forces. (Duncan & Wright, 2005)

26

William A Kitch 2012

Full equilibrium methods

Add momentt equilibrium

ilib i
tto x & y force
f
equilibrium
ilib i
Still requires assumptions
Two most common methods

Spencer (1967)

Assumes all interslice forces are parallel

Solves for F and

Morgenstern and Price (1965)

Assumes V = f (x) E
f (x) is an assumed function
is a scaling constant

27

Solves for F and

f(x)

Morgenstern & Price more general

Spencer
p
easier to implement
p

When using any full equilibrium method F is insensitive to

assumptions about interslice forces
William A Kitch 2012

Comparison of full equilibrium methods

28

P
Procedure
d

A
Assumptions
ti

Equations
E
ti
used

V i bl solved
Variables
l d for
f

Spencers

Interslice forces
parallel

Fx = 0
Fy = 0
M=0

Morgenstern
& Price

Interslice forces related Fx = 0

by V = f (x) E
Fy = 0
Form
F
off f (x)
( )
M=0

Factor of safety
Interslice angle
Interslice force
Location of
interslice force
on failure surface
Factor of safety
Scaling factor
I t li force
Interslice
f
Location of
interslice force
on failure surface

William A Kitch 2012

Data available from full equilibrium method

29

William A Kitch 2012

Summary
y of applicability
pp
y of LE methods

30

Procedure

Application

Infinite Slope

Homogeneous cohesionless slopes and slopes where the

stratigraphy restricts the slip surface to shallow depths and parallel
to the slope face. Very accurate where applicable.

Swedish Circle
=0

Undrained analyses in saturated clays, = 0. Relatively thick zones

of weaker materials where circular surface is appropriate.

Ordinary Method
of Slices

Nonhomogeneous slopes and c soils where circular surface is

appropriate. Convenient for hand calculations. Inaccurate for
effective stress analyses with high pore pressures.

Simplified Bishop
procedure

Nonhomogeneous slopes and c

c soils where circular surface is
appropriate. Better than OMS. Calculations feasible by spreadsheet

Force Equilibrium
procedures

Applicable to virtually all slopes. Less accurate than

p
equilibrium
q
p
procedures and results sensitive to
complete
assumed interslice force angles.

Spencer

Applicable to virtually all slopes. The simplest full equilibrium

procedure for computing the factor of safety.

Morgenstern
and Price

Applicable to virtually all slopes. Rigorous, well-established

complete equilibrium procedure.
From Duncan & Wright (2005)
William A Kitch 2012

Critical details of LE analysis

S
Searching
hi ffor critical
iti l surface
f

Select appropriate shear strength

Progressive failure
P
Pre-existing
i ti shear
h
surfaces
f

Check for invalid solutions

31

Check for multiple minima

Special
p
attention required
q
when using
g non-circular surfaces

Tensile forces near crest

Steep exit slopes
Non-convergence of solutions

William A Kitch 2012

Critical surface search: regional minimum

32

William A Kitch 2012

Critical surface search: local minimum

33

William A Kitch 2012

Critical surface search: multiple modes

34

From Duncan & Wright (2005)

William A Kitch 2012

Progressive failure

35

From Duncan & Wright (2005)

William A Kitch 2012

Validity of solution: Tension crack at crest

36

Al
Always
check
h k liline off th
thrustt

William A Kitch 2012

Validity of solution: Tension crack at crest

37

I
Insert
t ttension
i crack
k att crestt if needed
d d

William A Kitch 2012

Steep exit angle

C cause
Can

Solution

38

Non-convergence of solution
Very
y high
g stresses
Negative (tensile stresss)
Use Si
U
Simplified-Bishop
lifi d Bi h
For exit slope to be more
shallow

From Duncan & Wright (2005)

William A Kitch 2012

Preparing for stability analysis

Determine
D
t
i required
i d scope off analysis
l i
Assess risk of project and select appropriate F
Build subsurface model
Determine drainage conditions which apply

Select appropriate soil strength properties

Id tif expectt failure
Identify
f il
surface
f
geometry
t and
d select
l t
analysis procedure

39

End-of-construction undrained condition

Long-term drained condition (both?)

Circular non-cirucular

Select appropriate analysis procedure

William A Kitch 2012

Performing stability analysis

I
Investigate
ti t potential
t ti l failure
f il
modes
d using
i simple
i l models
d l

Adjust subsurface model and analysis method as needed

Check line of thrust

Sanity check results

40

Search all area with local minimum

Consider risk of each significant failure mode

Thoroughly examine computations for critical modes

Soil properties, geometry, computational method

Thoroughly investigate all potential failure modes with rigorous

search for critical surface

Identify areas where F is low

Similar p
project,
j , hand computation,
p
, other method

William A Kitch 2012

Software (a very short list)

St d l
Standalone
stability
t bilit packages
k

Integrated packages

41

STABL/STED
Oasys
y
UTEXAS4
LimitState
RocScience
GeoStudio
gINT
SoilVision

William A Kitch 2012

Recommended texts

42

Abramson, L
Ab
L. W
W. (2002)
(2002). Slope
Sl
stability
t bilit and
d stabilization
t bili ti
methods. Wiley, New York.
Cornforth D
Cornforth,
D. H
H. (2005)
(2005). Landslides in Practice Investigation, Analysis, and Remedial/Preventative
Options in Soils. John Wiley & Sons.
Duncan, J. M., and Wright, S. G. (2005). Soil Strength
and Slope Stability. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, N.J.

William A Kitch 2012

References

43

Abramson, L.
Abramson
L W.
W (2002).
(2002) Slope stability and stabilization methods
methods. Wiley,
Wiley New York
York.
Cornforth, D. H. (2005). Landslides in Practice - Investigation, Analysis, and
Remedial/Preventative Options in Soils. John Wiley & Sons.
Duncan, J. M., and Wright, S. G. (2005). Soil Strength and Slope Stability. John Wiley & Sons,
Hoboken N
Hoboken,
N.J.
J
Griffiths, D. V., and Lane, P. A. (1999). Slope stability analysis by finite elements.
Geotechnique, 49(3), 387403.
Janbu, N., Bjerrum, L., and Kjrnsli, B. (1956). Veiledning ved Lsning av
Fundamenteringsoppgaver (Soil Mechanics Applied to Some Engineering Problems), Publication
16, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Oslo.
Lowe, J., and Karafiath, L. (1959). Stability of earth dams upon drawdown, Proceedings of the
First PanAmerican Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Mexico City, Vol.
2, pp. 537552.
Morgenstern, N. R., and Price, V. E. (1965). The analysis of the stability of general slip
surfaces, Geotechnique, 15(1), 7993.
Spencer, E. (1967). A method of analysis of the stability of embankments assuming parallel
inter-slice forces, Geotechnique, 17(1), 1126.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1970). Engineering and Design:Stability of Earth and Rock-Fill
Dams, Engineer Manual EM 1110-2-1902, Washington, DC, April.
William A Kitch 2012