SCHOOL OF

CIVIL

ENGINEERING

INDIANA

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS

JOINT HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROJECT

JHRP-85-17

STABL5..JHE SPENCER METHOD

OF SLICES:

FINAL REPORT

J. R. Carpenter

^>
PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive

in

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Indiana Department of Transportation

http://www.archive.org/details/stabl5spencermet00carp

JOINT HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROJECT

JHRP-85-17

STABL5...THE SPENCER METHOD

FINAL REPORT
OF SLICES:

J. R. Carpenter

FINAL REPORT

STABL5...THE SPENCER METHOD

OF SLICES

by

J R Carpenter
Graduate Instructor in
Research

Joint Highway Research Project

Project No.:

File No.:

C-36-36L
6-14-12

Prepared as Part of an Investigation

Conducted by
Joint Highway Research Project
Engineering Experiment Station
Purdue University
in cooperation with the

Indiana Department of Highways

Purdue University
We s t La f aye 1 1 e Ind iana
August 28, 1985
,

FINAL REPORT
STABL5...THE SPENCER METHOD OF SLICES

August 28, 1985

H. L. Michael, Director

TO:

Joint Highway Research Project

File:
C.W. Lovell, Research Engineer
Joint Highway Research Project

FROM:

6-14-12

Project:

C-36-36L

The attached report is the final one for the JHRP project entitled
"Incorporating Spencer's Method of Slices in Program STABL." The work
was performed by J. R. Carpenter under the direction of Professor C. W.
Lovell.

The Spencer version of STABL will be designated as either STABL5

(mainframe) or PC STABL5 (micro-computer). The Spencer version of STABL
is more rigorous than that previously available in STABL4 , and accordingly requires more running time.
The IDOH is encouraged to test the new program against STABL4
before adopting it for routine use.

Respectfully submitted.

C. W. Lovell
Research Engineer

CWL:kr

cc;

A.G.
J.M.
W.F.
W.L.
R.L.
J.D.

Altschae ffl
Bell
Chen
Dolch
Eskew
Fricker

M.A. Hunter
J. P. Isenbarger
J.R. McLaughlin
R.D. Miles
P.L. Owens
B.K. Partridge
G.T. Satterly

C.F Scholer
K.Co Sinha
JoRa Skinner

Venable
L o Ao
LoE Woods

IV

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

HIGHLIGHT SUMMARY

STABL5 AND PCSTABL5

Stability Equations
STABL Method of Solution
Method
Line of Thrust
Spencer Options in STABL

2
-

Linear Approximation

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary and Conclusions

Recommendations
LIST OF REFERENCES

References Cited

11

17

20
23
23
2A
25
25

STABL5 AND PCSTABL5

order

In

increase

to

Spencer's

method

program.

Spencer's

of

slices

been

has

method

complete equilibrium of

versatility

the

was

chosen

implemented
since

sliding mass;

the

Simplified

horizontal

method

Janbu

equilibrium

force

satisfies
and

not

and

force

equilibrium.

equilibrium

moment

overall

force

In contrast,

These

only

methods

are

vertical

moment

but

equilibrium

i.e.

and

equilibrium,
only vertical

satisfies

Simplified Bishop method

while the

the

in

satisfies

it

with respect to moment and force equilibrium.

the

STABL,

of

not

easily

horizontal
solved

and

typically give conservative values for the FOS when compared

the more

to

accurate methods of slices satisfying complete

equilibrium such

as

the

Spencer

Morgenstern

or

Price

and

methods (Wright et. al., 1973; Sharma and Lovell, 1983).

method

Spencer's
for

handling

loads

since

of

horizontal
the

method

slices
or

is

especially well

inclined

loads

such

complete

satisfies

as

suited

tieback

equilibrium.

Spencer's method distributes the force from a load such as a

tieback

between

slices

interslice side forces.

a

through

Therefore,

the

interaction

of

the

there is no need to use

technique such as the Load Distribution Method to account

presence of horizontal or

for

the

was

developed

for

use

conjunction

in

loads.

inclined
with

the

The LDM

Simplified

Bishop or Simplified Janbu methods which do no consider the

interaction of the interslice side forces.

Spencer's

method

simplified methods

frequently

as

solution

the

is

Spencer's

simplified methods.

method

more

is

time

also often a

However, for problems with horizontal or

problem.

the

as

requires more computation

it

since convergence of

and also

loads,

since

used

not

is

appropriate

inclined
than

the

Convergence problems have been avoided

using the Linear Approximation Method of solution which will

be described later.

addition

The

method

Spencer's

of

complements

the

Simplified Janbu and Simplified Bishop methods existing

STABL.
to

in

Implementation of this method allows the STABL user

search

for

critical

surfaces

failure

potential

using

either the Simplified Janbu or Simplified Bishop methods and

reanalyze

any

critical

failure

potential

Spencer's method to obtain

surface

with

more accurate value of the FOS.

Stability Equations
Spencer

(1967)

developed

limiting equilibrium method

of slices which satisfies complete equilibrium for

failure surfaces assuming

normal

and

shear

forces.

formation of parallel

circular

constant ratio of the interslice

This

assumption

interslice side

constant angle, 9, on each slice.

forces

Spencer

leads

to

the

inclined at

(1973)

found that

reasonably reliable value

assuming parallel

extended

potential

to

irregular shape

surfaces

later

general

or

derivation

of

of

Spencer, 1973).

1969;

considered

forces

obtained by

be

The method was

forces.

failure

(Wright,

slice

The

interslice

FOS can

the

for

the

in

Spencer's method of slices are shown in Figure

other limiting equilibrium methods,

As with

1.

the factor

of

safety on

each slice is assumed to be the same such that all slices of

the

sliding

the

slices

of

mass

will

sliding mass

simultaneously.

fail

simultaneously,

fail

to

all

For
the

load

from one slice must be transmitted to the next slice through

the interslice side forces.

are

inclined

from

The interslice forces

horizontal

the

at

angle

an

and

Z,

9.

The

interslice forces acting on both sides of each slice can be

replaced

with

interslice

single

force,

statically

acting

QF,

resultant

equivalent

through

midpoint

the

base of the slice and inclined at an angle

the

of

2).

(Figure

Summing the forces normal and tangential to the base of

each slice provides two equations of force equilibrium:

AN'
-

AS
+

AU

QFsin(o-9) + AW(k,sina

AUcos(a-e)
-

QFcos(a-e)

AUaSin(a-0)

AQcos(a-5)
-

AW((l-k

AQsin(a-6)

(1-k

ATsin(a-i)
sina

cosa)
.

(la)

(lb)

k.cosa)

ATcos(oi-i)

fca'-fAN'TANt^'l
"

FIGURE

1,

FS

Slice Forces Considered for Spencer's Method of

Slices

rCa'+AN'TANt^"]
"

FIGURE

2,

FS

Slice Forces Considered in Derivation of

Stability Equations for Spencer's Method
of Slices

The

expression

effective normal

the

for

force

base of each slice may be obtained from equation

AN'

AW((l-k )cosa
+

AQcos(a-6)

k.sina)

QFsin(a-e)

AU

The expression for the mobilized

the

la.

AU cos(a-8)

ATsin(a-i)

on

...

(2

resisting shear force

at the base of a slice is given by:

[C

'

AN'tan*']

AS_ =

FS

where:

FS

Factor of safety: assumed equivalent on all

slices

'

Cohesion force

AN'

Effective normal force acting on the base of

'

slice

Effective angle of shearing resistance

Substituting equation
into

the

c'(dx)/cosa

expression

base of each slice

for

(Eqn.

the
3),

expression into equation

lb

for the effective normal force

resisting

shear

force

at

the

and substituting the resulting

yields

the expression

for

the

resultant of the interslice side forces on each slice:

[Sj^/FS

^^ "

cos(a-9)[l

S^]
+

S3/FS]

^^^

where:
=

S,

c
+

S^

'

tan(J)'
^

[AW( (1-k
'

cosa -k.sina)
h

AU-COS(a-8) + AQcos(a-6)

AU-sin(a-6)
+

'

AW((l-k

AQsin(o-6)

AU

ATsin(a-i)]

sina

k.cosa)

ATcos(a-i)

tan (a-0)

S^

tan<j)

FS

Factor of safety: assumed equivalent on all

'

slices
C

'

Cohesion force

c'*(dx)/coso

If the overall moment produced about an arbitrary point

by all external

forces

is

zero,

then the overall moment of

the internal forces must also be zero, thus:

n
Z
i

QF[Rcos(a-e)

=0

(5

=l

where R

is

the

distance from the center

which moments are summed

circular

potential

to

failure

of

the center

of

surfaces,

the

rotation about

each slice.

value

of

For
R

is

constant and may be taken out of the summation:

n
I
i

[QFcos(a-e)]

=0

(6)

=l

For

surfaces

of

general

shape

where

no

common

axis

exists, moments may be taken about a different axis for each

It is often convenient to take moments about

slice in turn.

the center of the base of each slice for

about

than

rather

an

arbitrary

center

irregular surfaces
of

rotation.

The

approach adopted in obtaining the equilibrium equations does

not affect
1970)

solution to a given problem

final

the

(Spencer,

If

overall

summation of

the

force

equilibrium
forces

internal

directions must be

in

Hence,

zero.

satisfied,

is

two

the

mutually exclusive

force

for

then

equilibrium in

the horizontal and vertical directions:

n
I.

[QFcose]

=0

(7a

[QFsine]

=0

(7b

=l

n
i:

=l

inclination

The

the

of

resultant

side

forces

can

be

expressed as:
e.

where

is

arbitrary

scaling

slice.

for all values of x.

side

Method

angle

inclination

and

f(x)

is

varies

with

the

Parallel side forces occur when f(x)

of

function which defines

position of
1

(8)

f(x)

forces
(1965)

is

9.

The assumption of parallel resultant

equivalent

when

how

an

f(x)

to
1,

the

thus

equivalent to Morgenstern and Price's

Morgenstern
making
X

and

Price

Spencer's

(Spencer, 1973).

tan9

If the slope of

the resultant interslice side forces is

assumed to be parallel;

i.e.,

9.

constant,

equations 24a

and 24b become identical and can be expressed as:

n
[QF]

E
i

Two
and
a

FOS

=0

(9)

=l

factors

of

safety

Equation

are solved assuming a value of 9.

satisfying moment equilibrium

(F

equations

when

obtained

are

yields a FOS satisfying force equilibrium (F^)

both

Equations

force

and

equilibrium

moment

and

solved

are

using

(Figure

values of

There is

unique value of the FOS and corresponding value of

satisfies

yields

while equation

),

which
3b).

until

corresponding to equilibrium of forces and

and F- are equal

moments for the sliding mass.

It should be noted

to

moment

that at

equilibrium

(F

0,

the FOS with respect

corresponds

to

the

Simplified

Bishop FOS, while the FOS with respect to force equilibrium

(F-)

corresponds

seen

from Figure

equilibrium
assumption

equilibrium
the

(F

to
3b
is

the

that

much

(value of 9)
(F^)

Simplified

the

less

FOS

Janbu
with

sensitive

FOS.

respect
to

the

It

can

to

moment

side

be

force

than the FOS with respect to force

From this figure it can also be seen that

Simplified Bishop FOS yields

rather

accurate values of

FOS when compared to complete equilibrium methods.

This is

10

30.00

60.00

90.00

120.00

ISO. 00

AXIS

(ft)

180.00

210.00

240.00

(a)

40

O Fa
35

30

'

25

^>.

20

9
O

IS

in

Ff

u.

y^

^y''^

U.

1.

^y^'^^gr'^^^^

U)

FOS - 1.115

' 10

^^.^^

hi. OS
u

^^t"^

'^

00

<o

<^

95
90

10

IS

20

2S

30

35

40

8 (dag>
(b)

FIGURE

3.

Variation of F

and F^ with
in

11

due to

curve to the assumption

insensitivity of the F

the

of the slope of the interslice forces.

Reasonableness

examining

the

magnitude

of

obtained

position
the

from

individual

the

solution

the

of

interslice

shear

will

topic

This

thrust

and

the

Both

are

equations

for

the

addressed

later

stresses.

be

by

judged

be

of

equilibrium

moment

slices.

line

the

of

can

in

this chapter.

STABL Method of Solution

Linear Approximation Method

Numerous iterative schemes have been used to solve for

the
to

satisfying

FOS

equilibrium.

complete

iterative scheme that

use an

minimizes

number

the

Techniques

solution.

have

important

is

readily converges and also

iterations

of

It

required

included:

produce

to

mathematically

1)

sophisticated analyses such as the Newton-Raphson numerical

technique

(Wright,

Boutrup,

1969;

assuming several values of

values of F
the
3)

and F^, and using

intersection of the F
assuming

value

choosing a new value of

F

and Fc for a given

value of

9,

and FOS,

of

1977);

calculating the corresponding

a

regression analysis to find

and F^ curves
9,

arbitrarily

2)

(Fredlund,

calculating

and

1974);

F,,

and

based on the relative magnitude of

(Fredlund,

1981);

and

calculating F,, setting

4)

assuming

equal

to

F,.,

solving for the new value of 9, and substituting that value

into the F

equation (Spencer, 1973; Maksimovic, 1979).

12

None

complemented
Therefore,

rapidly

convergence.

method

new

The

satisfying

FOS

the

problems

avoiding

while

equilibrium

complete

determines

accurately

and

STABL.

in

iterative method has been developed which

new

present

already

routines

the

above

outlined

schemes

iterative

the

of

called

is

non-

of

Linear

the

Approximation Method (LAM), and utilizes the INTSCT routines

in

which calculate

STABL

method

The

lines.

approximate

the

values

uses

and

intersection

the

F_

curves

equilibrium

complete

approximations
of
'^'^

the F

values of

for several

convergence

curves,

outlined

previously,

and

F,
t

straight

some

obtained

by

and

successive
lines
and F_

often occurs within

and

the

of

LAM

the

to

lines

Due to the shape of the F

rapid

Unlike

iterations.

m,

curves with straight

^

9.

is

with

is

and F,

An accurate value of the FOS

calculates their intersection.

satisfying

of

straight

two

of

is

iterative

easily

three

techniques

comprehended

and

minimizes the number of iterations required for solution.

Equations

estimates of

and

and FOS.

are

first

solved

The initial value of

one half the approximate slope angle, which is

user.

Spencer

interslice

side

(1967)

forces

initial

with
is

taken as

input by the

found that the angle of the resultant

satisfying

less than the slope angle.

complete equilibrium was

Therefore, STABL utilizes

user

input estimate of the slope angle to begin iteration for the

FOS and corresponding angle of the resultant interslice side

13

slope

the

for

solution

The

forces.

angle;

however,

minimize iteration time.

obtained

by

Simplified

or

to

value

the

reasonable

input

estimate

will

The initial estimate of the FOS is

calculating

first

Bishop

sensitive

not

is

Simplified

by

FOS

the

Janbu

either

the

method

depending

on

and FOS,

equations

the type of analysis being performed.

Using the
and

forces

initial estimates of

are

solved

and

their

corresponding

relative magnitude
the moments,

forces

the

and

sum of

the

for

Based

the

on

the sum of

chosen and the sum of

is

recalculated.

are

interslice

the forces and

second value of FOS

moments

resultant

the

moments.

the sum of

of

factor

The

of

safety satisfying force equilibrium for the given value of

is

found by calculating the intersection of the line through

the sum of the forces previously calculated with the ZQF

axis

as

shown

Figure

in

force equilibrium for

the

value

The

4a.

given

of

satisfying

checked by using

is

value of FOS to calculate the sum of the forces.

of F^

is

the

two

LQF

required
0.001.

recalculated using

to

Normally

find

the

sum of

three

value

that

The value

straight line intersection of

previous values of the

axis.

of

the

trials
F^

The value of F_ for a given

^
m

are

within
9

is

forces with
all
a

the

that

are

tolerance

found

in

the

of

same

manner
The calculation of the sum of

forces and

moments

for

given

the resultant

value of

interslice

requires

little

lA

" constant

"FOS

constant

-FOS

FIGURE

4.

Determination of F^ and F for a Given Value of

by the Linear Approximation Method

15

calculation

time.

intersection

of

requires
these

straight

two

facts

leads

to

simple

is

the

of

also

and

The combination

time.

efficient

very

calculation

lines

little computation

very

two

addition,

In

procedure

for

accurately and rapidly determining the values of F^ and

A second

value of

angle.

slope

solved for

equations

moment

and

new values of F_ and F

f

A second value of

value of 0.

taken as three-fourths the input

is

force

The

of

again

are

corresponding
to the new
f

-3

equal to three-fourths the

input slope angle was found to lead to rapid solution of the

and was thus chosen.

FOS by the LAM,

After

iterations,

two

approximated by straight
lines

these
can

approximation
leads

to

Figure

from

seen

be

the

of

and

5a

and

F.

that

the

the

difference

The

FOS.

value of

used

value of

is

F_ corresponding
of F

F^ and 0,

to

0-.

Using

0-,

the

lines

value

and

int

the

of

of

nearest

the

calculated and another

is

0.

int

used along^ with F

is

0.

It

good estimate

rather

the

5a).

straight

the

of

between

selected such that

The value of 0.

by

curves

this case 0_)

(in

Figure
^

intersection

estimate

are

intersection of

mt^);

curves

F,
f

int^,

satisfying complete equilibrium and

of

and

the

((0.

accurate

very

lines

calculated

is

the

int

(0.

int

to calculate F

0~).
2

and

new and previous values

the intersection of the two curves is again

approximated

by

the

representing

the

F^

intersection
and

F^

of

curves

the

straight

(Figure

5b).

lines
This

16

1.40
I

1.3S

FIGURE

5.

Determination of the FOS and 9 Satisfying

Complete Equilibrium Using the Linear
Approximation Method

17

process is repeated until the difference between the current

and

FOS

previous

the

difference between
0.001 radians,
0.001

than

for

correspond

value of

than

less

is

the

of
of

9.

int

that

such

to

complete

satisfying

structured

is

happens

used

being

unnecessary

avoids

new

lies to the left of

9,
1

and 92-

shape

the

to

of

This

will be determined if

or between 9,

Due

value

program

The

equilibrium.

values

9.

value

the

the

to

two

given

when

calculations

last

and

difference between F^ and F m is less

f

the

or

'

the

is

0.001

than

less

FOS

of

the

curves,

convergence

No problems have

three iterations.

and often occurs within

been indicated with respect to non-convergence of

using the LAM.

It

rapid

is

solution

believed that STABL is the only known

is

slope stability program to contain the Linear Approximation

Method.
Line of Thrust
As

mentioned

the position of

action,
forces

on

solution.
of

thrust

the

slices)

to

A satisfactory

passes

through

check

be

paid

to

(location of the line of

application,

of

should

attention

line of thrust

the

points

or

previously,

of

the

the

interslice

reasonableness

of

side
the

solution is one in which the line

the

middle

third

of

the

slices.

Tensile forces are indicated within the slope if the line of

thrust

lies

outside

the

middle

third

of

the

slice.

The

18

location of
6

satisfactory line of thrust

for the example problem shown in Figure

slope of

Once the

line

thrust

of

resultant

may

by

forces,

(Z,,

substituting

the

values

each

the

slice

first

last,

the

to

the

the FOS
the

the

of

slice

are

and

FOS

of

satisfying complete equilibrium into equation

from the

and

values

for

),

determined,

The

calculated.

be

interslice

calculated

been

equilibrium have

complete

satisfying

3a.

forces

interslice

the

shown in Figure

is

Working

4.

points of action of

interslice forces are found by taking moments about the

center of the base of each slice in turn.

Spencer
can

obtained

be

water

exists

depth

of

the

indicated that suitable lines of thrust

(1973)

at

assuming

that

end

upper

the

tension

crack

tension crack
of

may

slip

the

initially be

with

filled

surface.

The

taken

the

as

depth of zero active effective stress:

2c'
^o ~ YFS(l-r^j)

Spencer

^ 1

demonstrated

fin)

sin*'^
that

reliable

factors

of

safety

can be obtained assuming the slope of the interslice forces

are parallel.

However, he recommended that the slope of the

interslice forces should be reduced at the upper end of the

slip surface in order
line

of

thrust.

to

obtain reasonable positions of the

Spencer's method

follows these recommendations.

as

programmed

in

STABL

19

4J
0)

s
u
JC

OO'OSI

00 "021

00 '06

C^i)

00 "09

5IXV

00 "OE

20

Spencer Options in STABL

Spencer

The

command

"SPENCR"

command

SPENCR
and

method

may

and

estimate of

an

the

specification

precedes

solution;

of

be

the

slope

angle.

The

the

surface

type

of

CIRCLE,

SURBIS,

SURFAC,

i.e.,

specifying

by

invoked

option

CIRCL2, RANDOM, BLOCK or BL0CK2.

Spencer's

method

has

implemented

been

program for the primary purpose of obtaining

STABL

the

in

more accurate

value of the FOS and line of thrust for specific surfaces of

surfaces,

critical

For

interest.

method

Spencer

the

of

slices is preferred over the Simplified Janbu or Simplified

Bishop methods
the

since
and

sliding mass

it

complete

satisfies

yields

equilibrium of

slightly more accurate FOS.

Since determination of the FOS by Spencer's method requires

calculation

more

approximately

six

times

intended

that

only

specific

surfaces

analyzed

utilizing

Spencer's

method.

method

may

be

used

for

analysis

time,

either

be

Spencer's

However,

of

will

interest

of

is

it

input

user

specific surfaces, or randomly generated surfaces.

The most efficient use of STABL

realized
failure

if

the

surfaces

user

investigates

using

one

of

'

capabilities will be

number

STABL's

potential

of

random

surface

generation techniques and determines the FOS by either

Simplified
Once

Janbu

critical

or

Simplified

potential

Bishop

failure

method

surfaces

the

slices.

of

have

been

identified, they may be analyzed using the SPENCR option in

21

conjunction
obtain
into

with

either

SURFAC

the

option

SURBIS

or

to

more accurate value of the FOS and to gain insight

the reasonableness of

through examination

the solution

of the line of thrust.

When

user

potential

input

surface

failure

analyzed, the program will output the values of F

and

is
9

calculated during iteration along with the value of FOS and

9

complete equilibrium.

satisfying

information to construct

When analyzing

50b.

the

coordinates

height of
the

the

height

slice

interslice
the

line

user

of

line

forces are all

thrust,

of

above

thrust

slice,

each

for

this

Figure

of

sliding

and

the

the

of

surface

values

to

the

of

information allows

This

output.

ratio

the

the

quickly determine whether

to

that

to

use

input potential failure surface,

a user

the

of

graph similar

may

user

The

not

or

line

the

of

thrust, and hence the solution, is satisfactory.

The

Spencer

may

option

also

be

used

options that generate surfaces randomly.

Spencer

option

is

used

with

STABL

However, when the

conjunction

in

the

randomly

with

generated surfaces, only the FOS and angle of the interslice

satisfying

complete

ten most critical

surfaces.

forces

of

thrust,

calculated

interslice

during

equilibrium are

output

for

the

Information regarding the line

forces

iteration

or
is

values
not

of

output

F^,
f

'

for

and

randomly

generated surfaces; hence the reasonableness of the solution

obtained

for

randomly

generated

surface

will

not

be

22

When

apparent.

the

reasonableness

randomly generated surface

is

of

desired,

the

the

solution

of

surface must be

analyzed using the SPENCR option in conjunction with either

the SURBIS or SURFAC options.

The

further

STABL5/PCSTABL5
describes

the

User

Spencer

restrictions, and error codes.

some

minor

program

Manual

(Carpenter,

options,

input

1985b),
format,

This document also describes

enhancements

problem using the Spencer option.

and

provides

an

example

23

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary and Conclusions

Spencer's method of slices was implemented

in

the programs

STABL5 and PCSTABL5 to provide additional versatility to the

STABL programs.

equilibrium and

Spencer's method of slices satisfies complete

is

capable of transferring the load from one

slice to another through the interaction of the interslice

shear and normal side forces.

Therefore, Spencer's method of

slices is particularly well suited for analysis of slopes and

retaining walls subjected to tieback loads since

the load from

tieback between slices.

it

The development of

Spencer's method was reviewed and its implementation

presented.

distributes

in

STABL

new iterative technique was developed by the author

for determining the factor of safety and angle of the interslice

forces satisfying complete equilibrium of

by Spencer's method.

sliding mass computed

The new iterative technique is called the

Linear Approximation Method.

The Spencer method of slices is preferred for analysis of

tiedback slopes and walls over the simplified methods since it

satisfies complete equilibrium and accounts for the interaction

of the interslice side forces between slices.
by Spencer's method

is

The FOS obtained

typically slightly higher than the FOS

obtained by the less rigorous Simplified Bishop or Simplified

2k

Janbu methods.

Since Spencer's method satisfies complete

equilibrium of the sliding mass,

it

is

especially well suited

Spencer's solution

for analysis of tied back slopes and walls.

is more rigorous

than the simplified methods and requires more

computation time.
The Linear Approximation Method provides

reliable method

for determining the FOS satisfying complete equilibrium.

The

method not only converges readily, it also searches for the FOS

satisfying complete equilibrium, thus minimizing the number of

iterations required to obtain

solution.

It

is

believed that

the LAM is unique to the STABL programs.

Recommend at ions
Since Spencer's method of slices satisfies complete equilibrium,

this method should be used to analyze the stability of

tiedback slopes and retaining structures whenever possible.

Since Spencer's method of slices requires more computer
time to arrive at

solution,

it

is

recommended that Spencer's

method be used to analyze only those critical potential failure

surfaces found by analysis of randomly generated surfaces using

the Simplified Bishop or Simplified Janbu method of slices.

Following this recommendation will lead to the most efficient

utilization of STABL's capabilities and the engineer's time.
It

is

strongly recommended that the new Spencer routines be

thoroughly tested prior to public release of the STABL5 and

PCSTABL5 programs.

LIST OF REFERENCES

25

LIST OF REFERENCES

References Cited
E. (1977), "Computerized Slope Stability Analysis
for Indiana Highways", MSCE Thesis
Purdue University,
West Lafayette, Indiana"^ 1977

Boutrup,

Carpenter, J. R. (19B5b), "STABL5 / PCSTABL5 User Manual",

School of
Joint Highway Research Project No. 85Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette,
Indiana, June, 1985.
,

Fredlund, D. G. (1974), "Slope Stability Analysis User's

Manual", Computer Documentation CD-A, Transportation
and Geotechnical Group, Department of Civil
Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon,
Canada, December, 1974.
Fredlund, D. G. (1981), "SLOPE-II Computer Program", User's
Manual S-10, Geo-Slope Programming Ltd., Calgary,
Canada, 1981.

Maksimovic, M. (1979), "Limit Equilibrium for Nonlinear

Failure Envelope and Arbitrary Slip Surface", Third
International Conference on Numerical Methods in
Geomechanics Aachen, April, 1979, pp. 769-777.
,

Morgenstern, N, R. and Price, V. E. (1965), "The Analysis of

the Stability of General Slip Surfaces", Geo techn ique
Vol. 15, No. 1, March, 1965, pp. 79-93.
Sharma, S. S. and Lovell, C. W. (1983), "Strengths and
Weaknesses of Slope Stability Analysis", Proceedings,
Highway Geology Symposium Atlanta,
34th Annual
Georgia, 1983, pp. 215-232.
,

Spencer, E. (1967), "A Method of Analysis of the Stability

of Embankments Assuming Parallel Inter-Slice Forces",
Geotechnique Vol. 17, No. 1, March, 1967, pp. 11-26.
,

Spencer, E. (1970), "The Analysis of the Stability of

Embankments by the Method of Slices", Ph.D. Thesis,
University of Manchester, 1970.

26

Spencer, E. (1973), "Thrust Line Criterion in Embankment

Stability Analysis", Geotechnique Vol. 23, No. 1,
March, 1973, pp. 85-100.
,

Wright,
ht, s.
S
G. (1969), "A Study of Slope Stability and the
Undrained Shear Strength of Clay Shales", Ph.D. Thesis
U
University of California, Berkeley, 1969U
Wright, S. G., Kulhawy, F. H., and Duncan, J. M. (1973),
"Accuracy of Equilibrium Slope Stability Analysis",
Jour n al of the Soil Mechanics and Foundation Division
ASCE, Vol. 99, No. SMIO, October, 1973, pp. 783-792.