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CHAPTER 16

SLOPE STABILITY

In stress space { p9( p), q}, the initial total stresses are represented by point A and the initial effective stresses are represented by point A9. The excavation will cause a reduction in sx (i.e., Dsx , 0) but very little change in sz (i.e., Dsz > 0) and sy (i.e., Dsy > 0). The change in mean total stress is then Dp 5 2Dsx /3, and the change in deviatoric stress is Dq = Dsx. The total stress path (TSP) is depicted as AB in Figure 16.3h. Although B is near the failure line, the soil is not about to fail because failure is dictated by effective, not total, stresses. If the soil were a linear, elastic material, the ESP would be A9B0 (recall that for elastic material, Dp9 5 0 under undrained condition). Assuming our soil is elastoplastic, then A9B9 would represent our ESP. The ESP moves away from the failure line. This is because the excess porewater pressure is negative due to the decrease in lateral stress, and consequently the effective stress increases. Therefore, failure is unlikely to occur during the excavation stage. After the excavation, the excess porewater pressure would dissipate with time. Since no further change in q occurs, the ESP must move from B9 to B, that is, toward the failure line. The implication is that slope instability would most likely occur under drained condition (after the excavation). The illustration of the excavation process using stress paths further demonstrates the power of stress paths to provide an understanding of construction events in geotechnical engineering. 16.4.6.2 Fill Slopes Fill slopes are common in embankment construction. Fill (soil) is placed at the site and compacted to speci cations, usually greater than 95% Proctor maximum dry unit weight. The soil is invariably unsaturated, and negative porewater pressures develop. The soil on which the ll is placed, which we will call the foundation soil, may or may not be saturated. If the foundation soil is saturated, then positive porewater pressures will be generated from the weight of the ll and the compaction process. The effective stresses decrease, and consequently the shear strength decreases. With time the positive porewater pressures dissipate, the effective stresses increase, and so does the shear strength of the soil. Thus, slope failures in ll slopes are most likely to occur during or immediately after construction.

16.4.7 Rapid Drawdown

Reservoirs can be subjected to rapid drawdown. In this case the lateral force provided by the water is removed and the excess porewater pressure does not have enough time to dissipate (Figure 16.3i). The net effect is that the slope can fail under undrained condition. If the water level in the reservoir remains at low levels and failure did not occur under undrained condition, seepage of groundwater would occur and the additional seepage forces could provoke failure (Figure 16.3j). T H E ES S E NTI AL P O IN TS A RE : 1. Geological features and environmental conditions (e.g., external loads and natural forces) are responsible for most slope failures. 2. The common modes of slope failure in soils are by translation, rotation, ow, and block movements.
Whats next . . . In the next section, we will study how to analyze a slope of in nite extent. We will make use of the limit equilibrium method of analysis and consider long-term and short-term conditions.

16 .5

INFINIT E SLOPE S

In nite slopes have dimensions that extend over great distances. The assumption of an in nite slope simpli es stability calculations. Let us consider a clean, homogeneous, coarse-grained soil of in nite slope, as. To use the limit equilibrium method, we must rst speculate on a failure or slip mechanism. We will