Stability Assessment of Slopes Using Different Factoring Strategies

Abstract

Traditional slope stability analysis delivers the factor of safety with respect to shear strength, which is the factor by which tan phi' and c' must be reduced to bring a slope to the point of failure. In the present paper, alternative strategies are considered to include the factors by which destabilizing parameters, such as pore pressures and gravitational loads, must be increased to bring a slope to the point of failure. The approach described gives a more comprehensive insight into the stability of slopes and the sensitivity of failure to different input parameters. Finally, the practical use of the alternative factoring strategies is illustrated through two application examples referring to a slope under different loading combinations ( pore-pressure ratio and horizontal seismic coefficient).