FEB 402
Slope failure
• Slope is a soil mass with its surface inclined to the
horizontal
• Major types: Natural and man-made slopes
• Slope failure
– Occurs when shear stress overcomes shear strength
– Involves downward and outward movement of a portion
of slope – sliding soil
• Natural soil failure – landslide
• Ratio of shear stress to shear strength is important
design parameter = factor of safety
Examples of slope failures
Types of slopes
• Infinite slope – slope of a large extent in which
soil properties are assumed to be identical
with depth
Slip plane
7m
Solution
h = 40.37 kN/m2 Pa = 127.16 kN/m
Retaining wall with wall friction
Solution
cot tan (-25) cos25 + 0.5 tan(-25) P/0.5H2
30 1.732 0.268 0.943 0.4920
35 1.428 0.364 0.981 0.5300
40 1.192 0.466 1.020 0.5451
45 1.000 0.577 1.060 0.5446
50 0.839 0.700 1.103 0.5325
55 0.700 0.839 1.150 0.5108
60 0.577 1.000 1.202 0.48002
65 0.466 1.192 1.261 0.44107
0.5 m
7m
20.5 m
Solution
L
Pa
1/3 b S H
T
1/3H Ratio of moments < 1.5
W2 W1 Inadequate design
A
b
B