Concepedia

Abstract

Computerized solution of the factor of safety for slope stability via limiting equilibrium analysis and the method of slices is extremely common. However, computerized failure surface generation and analysis has been limited to simple regular geometric shapes, viz., the circle. If more complex surfaces need to be examined, they are manually generated prior to computerized analysis. Computer program ST ABL (1,5), used routinely by the Indiana State Highway Commission for 5 yr, has unique searching routines which permit any failure surface shape and position to be generated and analyzed by the computer.