Stability analysis and charts for slopes susceptible to translational failure

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to develop two- and three-dimensional stability charts for slopes susceptible to translational failure. An extensive parametric study was conducted using a slope model that is designed to simulate field conditions with respect to configurations of the sliding mass, and unit weight and shear strength of the involved materials. Slopes subjected to different conditions of pore-water pressures and seismic forces were considered in the study. The study shows the special importance and difficulties of considering the end effects in the analysis of translational slope failures and suggests a method for quantifying and incorporating them. Charts presented in this paper do not require an iterative procedure in determining factor of safety. They give the practicing geotechnical engineer a fast and reliable method to estimate the two and three-dimensional factors of safety for slopes susceptible to translational mode of failure and to back-calculate the mobilized shear strength of materials involved in slope failures following such mode. Numerical examples are given to illustrate different uses of these charts.Key words: slope stability analysis, translational failure, two-dimensional analysis, three-dimensional analysis, seismic forces.