Stability of Infinite Slopes

(No Seepage)

Factor of Safety, FS:

c′ tanϕ′
Fs = 2
+
γHcos βtanβ tanβ

Critical Height, Hcr:

Fs = 1, and H = Hcr

c′ 1
Hcr =
γ cos β(tanβ − tanϕ′ )
2

Problem 15.1/638: Refer to the infinite slope shown in the

figure. Given: β = 25°, γ = 17.8 kN/m 3, φ’ = 28°, and c’ =
31kN/m2. Find the height, H, such that a factor of safety, Fs,
of 2.75 is maintained against sliding along the soil–rock
interface.

Given:
β = 25°
γ = 17.8 kN/m3
φ’ = 28°
c’ = 31kN/m2
Fs = 2.75

Required:
H

Solution:
Method 1: Using Equation
c′ tanϕ′
Fs = +
γHcos 2 βtanβ tanβ
kN
c′ 31
H= = m2 = 2.825 m.
tanϕ′ kN tan28
γcos 2 βtanβ (Fs − ) (17.8 ) (cos 2 25)(tan25) (2.75 − )
tanβ m3 tan25

Method 2: Using Charts

tanϕ′ c′
Fs = A +B
tanβ γH
Bc′
H=
tanϕ′
γ (Fs − A )
tanβ
Determine parameters A and B:
ru = 0 (no seepage)
1 1
slope ratio, b: b = cot β = = = 2.14
tanβ tan25
Notes:
- For ru in between identified curves, apply interpolation of notable values, or assume location of that
sample point
- Accuracy of result is based on the precision of reading

2.65

2.14 2.14

Parameter A = 1.0 Parameter B ≈ 2.65

kN
Bc′ (2.65) (31 2 )
H= = m = 2.867 m.
tanϕ′ kN tan28
γ (Fs − A ) (17.8 3 ) [2.75 − (1.0) ( )]
tanβ m tan25

Problem 15.2/639: For the slope shown in the figure,

determine the height, H, for critical equilibrium. Given: β=30°,
γ = 18.05 kN/m3, φ’ = 21°, and c’=14.3kN/m 2.

Given:
β = 30°
γ = 18.05 kN/m3
φ’ = 21°
c’ = 14.3 kN/m2

Required:
Hcr = maximum height
Solution:
For critical equilibrium: Fs = 1

Method 1: Using Original equation:

c′ tanϕ′
Fs = 1 = 2
+
γHcrcos βtanβ tanβ
c′ c′ c′
Hcr = ′ = ′ =
tanϕ tanβ – tanϕ γcos β(tanβ – tanϕ′ )
2
γcos 2 βtanβ (1 − ) γcos 2 βtanβ ( )
tanβ tanβ
kN
14.3 2
Hcr = m = 5.459 m.
kN 2
(18.05 3 ) (cos 30)(tan30 − tan21)
m
Method 2: Using Hcr equation:
kN
c′ 14.3 2
Hcr = = m = 5.459 m.
γcos 2 β(tanβ – tanϕ′ ) (18.05 kN ) (cos 2 30)(tan30 − tan21)
m3

Method 3: Using Charts

tanϕ′ c′
Fs = A +B
tanβ γH
Bc′
H=
tanϕ′
γ (Fs − A )
tanβ
Determine parameters A and B:
ru = 0 (no seepage)
1 1
slope ratio, b: b = cot β = = = 1.73
tanβ tan30

2.3

1.73 1.73

Parameter A = 1.0 Parameter B ≈ 2.3

kN
Bc′ (2.3) (14.3 2 )
H= = m = 5.437 m.
tanϕ′ kN tan21
γ (Fs − A ) (18.05 3 ) [1 − (1.0) ( )]
tanβ m tan30
 Stability of Infinite Slopes
(Steady-State Seepage)

Factor of Safety, FS:

𝑐′ 𝛾′ 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜙′
𝐹𝑠 = +
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 𝐻𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛽𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛽 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛽

Problem 15.3/639: Determine the factor of safety, Fs, for the

infinite slope shown in the figure, where seepage is occurring
through the soil and the groundwater table coincides with the
ground surface. Given: H = 11 m, β = 18°, γsat = 19.2 kN/m3,
φ’ = 22°, and c’= 46 kN/m2.

Given:
H = 11 m
β = 18°
γsat = 19.2 kN/m3
φ’ = 22°
c’ = 46 kN/m2

Required:
Fs

Solution:
Method 1: Using Equation
kN kN kN
γ′ = γsat − γw = 19.2 − 9.81 = 9.39
m3 m3 m3
kN kN
c′ γ′ tanϕ′ 46 2 9.39 3 (tan22)
Fs = + = m + m
γsat Hcos 2 βtanβ γsat tanβ kN kN (tan18)
(19.2 3 ) (11 m)cos 2 18tan18 19.2 3
m m
Fs = 1.349 > 1.0 (critical factor of safety) ∴ safe
< 1.5 (conservative factor of safety against sliding)

Method 2: Using Charts

tanϕ′ c′
Fs = A +B
tanβ γ𝑠𝑎𝑡 H
Determine parameters A and B:
Seepage parallel to slope:
X=T
kN
𝑋 γw 9.81 3
𝑟𝑢 = 2
cos β = (1) m cos 2 18 = 0.46
T γsat kN
19.2 3
m
 1 1
slope ratio, b: b = cot β = = = 3.08
tanβ tan18

Assume
Point
0.49

3.4

3.08 3.08

Parameter A = 0.49 Parameter B ≈ 3.4

kN
tanϕ′ c′ tan22 46 2
Fs = A +B = (0.49) + (3.4) m
tanβ γ𝑠𝑎𝑡 H tan18 kN
19.2 3 (11m)
m
Fs = 1.350 > 1.0 (critical factor of safety) ∴ safe
< 1.5 (conservative factor of safety against sliding)

Problem 15.5/639: An infinite slope is shown in the figure.

The shear strength parameters at the interface of soil and rock
are φ’ = 26°, and c’ = 21 kN/m 2. Given: ρsat =1950kg/m3.
a. If H = 5 m and β = 18°, find the factor of safety against
sliding on the rock surface.
b. If β = 27°, find the height, H, for which Fs = 1.75.

Given:
ρsat = 1950 kg/m3
φ’ = 26°
c’ = 21 kN/m2

a. H = 5 m
β = 18°
b. β = 27°
Fs = 1.75

Required:
a. Fs
b. H

Solution:
kN m 1 kN kN
γsat = ρsat g = (1950 ) (9.81 2 ) × ( ) = 19.1295
m3 s 1000 N m3
kN kN kN
γ′ = γsat − γw = 19.1295 − 9.81 = 9.3195
m3 m3 m3
 Case a:
Method 1: Using Equation
kN kN
c′ γ′ tanϕ′ 21 2 9.3195 3 (tan26)
Fs = + = m + m
γsat Hcos 2 βtanβ γsat tanβ kN kN (tan18)
(19.1295 3 ) (5 m)cos 2 18tan18 19.1295 3
m m
Fs = 1.478 > 1.0 (critical factor of safety) ∴ safe
< 1.5 (conservative factor of safety against sliding)

Method 2: Using Charts

tanϕ′ c′
Fs = A +B
tanβ γ𝑠𝑎𝑡 H
Determine parameters A and B:
Seepage parallel to slope:
X=T
kN
𝑋 γw 9.81 3
𝑟𝑢 = 2
cos β = (1) m cos 2 18 = 0.46
T γsat kN
19.1295 3
m
1 1
slope ratio, b: b = cot β = = = 3.08
tanβ tan18

Assume
Point
0.49

3.4

3.08 3.08

Parameter A = 0.49 Parameter B ≈ 3.4

kN
tanϕ′ c′ tan26 21 2
Fs = A +B = (0.49) + (3.4) m
tanβ γ𝑠𝑎𝑡 H tan18 kN
19.1295 3 (5 m)
m
Fs = 1.482 > 1.0 (critical factor of safety) ∴ safe
< 1.5 (conservative factor of safety against sliding)

Case b:
Method 1: Using Equation
c′ γ′ tanϕ′
Fs = 2
+
γsat Hcos βtanβ γsat tanβ
kN
c′ 21
𝐻= = m2
γ′ tanϕ′ kN
γsat cos 2 βtanβ (Fs − ) kN 9.3195 3 tan26
γsat tanβ 2
(19.1295 3 ) cos 27tan27 (1.75 − m )
m kN tan27
19.1295 3
m
H = 2.114 m.
 Method 2: Using Charts
tanϕ′ c′
Fs = A +B
tanβ γ𝑠𝑎𝑡 H
Bc′
H=
tanϕ′
γ (Fs − A )
tanβ
Determine parameters A and B:
Seepage parallel to slope:
X=T
kN
𝑋 γw 9.81 3
𝑟𝑢 = 2
cos β = (1) m cos 2 27 = 0.41
T γsat kN
19.1295 3
m
1 1
slope ratio, b: b = cot β = = = 1.96
tanβ tan27

Assume
Point
0.47

2.5

1.96 1.96

Parameter A = 0.47 Parameter B ≈ 2.5

kN
Bc′ (2.5) (21 2 )
H= = m = 2.111 m.
tanϕ′ kN tan26
γ (Fs − A ) (19.1295 3 ) [1.75 − (0.47) ( )]
tanβ m tan27