Geotechnical Engineering

DHARM

STABILITY OF EARTH SLOPES 343

= 50 × 16.5^2 × (93/180) × π × 1(3040 × 5)
= 1.45.
(Note: Here, W and e are obtained by dividing the sliding mass into six slices as shown in Fig.
9.28 and by taking moments of the weights of these about the centre of rotation).
Example 9.3: An embankment 10 m high is inclined at an angle of 36° to the horizontal. A
stability analysis by the method of slices gives the following forces per running meter:

Σ Shearing forces = 450 kN
Σ Normal forces = 900 kN
Σ Neutral forces = 216 kN
The length of the failure arc is 27 m. Laboratory tests on the soil indicate the effective
values c′ and φ′ as 20 kN/m^2 and 18° respectively.

Determine the factor of safety of the slope with respect to (a) shearing strength and (b)

cohesion.

(a) Factor of safety with respect to shearing strength

Fs =

cr N U

T

′+{(Σ −)}tan′θφ

Σ

=

20 27 900 216 18

450

×+ −()tan°

= 1.70

(b) Factor of safety with respect to cohesion

Fc =

cr

T

′θ

Σ

=

20 27

450

×

= 1.20.

Example 9.4: An embankment is inclined at an angle of 35° and its height is 15 m. The angle

of shearing resistance is 15° and the cohesion intercept is 200 kN/m^2. The unit weight of soil is

18.0 kN/m^3. If Taylor’s stability number is 0.06, find the factor of safety with respect to cohe-

sion. (S.V.U.—B.Tech. (Part-time)—Apr., 1982)

β = 35°

H = 15 m

φ = 15°

c = 200 kN/m^2

γ = 18.0 kN/m^3

Taylor’s stability Number N = 0.06

Since N =

c

H

m

γ

∴ 0.06 =

cm

18 15×

∴ Mobilised cohesion,

cm = 0.06 × 18 × 15 kN/m^2

= 16.2 kN/m^2