Stability against translational failure of non-cohesive embankments founded on natural slopes

Abstract

A translational failure of a road sidehill fill may occur either in the form of overall instability or in the form of local instability of slope toe. The stability analysis of the first form is based on the assumption that the whole cross-section of the fill will slide along the inclined base, whilst the second form on the assumption of an active Rankine state in the region of the slope toe. In this paper three well documented case studies of road sidehill fills that have failed locally are presented. The failures occurred as a consequence of development of excessive pore water pressures. The way in which the pluvial water affected the stability of fills is described. Furthermore, the safety factor is provided for both cases of local and overall instability, whilst, a discussion upon the location of the Rankine’s failure plane inside the fills is attempted.