: General Theory of Stability of Slopes a= ‘Tuesday morning, 21 September, 1954 RESER Neste Sesion 1/1 THE USE OF THE SLIP CIRCLE IN THE STABILITY ALYSIS OF SLOPES by ALAS W. Bisuor, MA, PRD., AMLLCE, INTRODUCTION .Hivoremay be intended nto thc estimate of abit ot only bythe we of approximate | sbeihods of stability analysis, but also by the use of Sampling and testing metlods which do | fot Feproduce sufficiently accurately the soil conditions and stato of stress in the natural ! fqound o compacted fill under consideration. Unless equal attention is paid to each factor, Selaborate mathematical treatment may lead to a fictitious impression of accuracy. However, in a number of eases the uniformity’ of the soil conditions or the importance of the problem will justify a more accurate analysis, particularly if this is.coupled with field foesrarements of pore pressure, which is the factor most dificult to assess from laboratory’ {ata alone, Two classes of problem of particular note inthis respect are = (@) The design of water-retaining structures, such as earth dams and embankments, ‘where failure could have catastrophic results, but where an over-conscrvative design may be very costly. (i) The examination of the long-term stability of euts and natural slopes where large seale earth movements may involve engineering works and buildings. ‘THE USE OF LAUT DESIGN METHODS Ithas been shown elsewhere by a relaxation analysis ofa typical earth dum (Bishop, 1952) that, even assuming idealized clastic properties for the soil, local overstress will occur when the factor of safety (by'a Slip éirele method) lies below a value of about 1-8. As the majority ‘of Stability problems occur in slopes and damis having lower factors of safety than this, a state of plastic equilibrium must be considered to exist throughout at least part of the slope. "Under these conditfons a quantitative estimate of the factor of safety can be obtained by examining the conditions of equilibrium when incipient failure is postulated, and comparing the strength necessary to maintain limiting equilibrium with the available strength of the sil. The factor of safety (F) is thus defined 2s the fatio of the available shear strength of ‘esol to that required to maistain equilibrium. The shear strength mobilized is, therefore, equal tos, where : fete—atng }. fee wD wi ate et ng eae, fi ms of fectvestes game un ot ees pie eo8 SW. BISHOP Failure along a continuous rupture surface is usually assumed, but, as the shape and position of this surface is influenced by the distribution of pore pressure and the variation of the shear parameters within the slope, a generalized analytical solution is not possible and numerical solution is required in each individual case. The rigorous determmation of the shape of the most critical surface presents some difficulty (see, for example, Coenen, 1948), and in practice a simplified shape, usually a circular are, is adopted, and the problem is assumed to be one of plane strain. MECHANICS OF THE CIRCULAR ARC ANALYSIS In order to examine the equilibrium of the mass of soil above the slip surface it follows from equation (1) that it is necessary to know the value of the normal stress at each point on this surface, as well as the magnitude of the pore pressure. It is possible to estimate the Value of the normal stress by following the method developed by Fellenius (1927, 1996). in which the conditions for the statical equilibrium of the slice of soil lying vertically above each, clement of the sliding surface are uly satiated A complete graphical analysis of this type is most laborious, and this may result in the ‘examination of an insufficient number of trial surfaces to locate the most critical one, Several simplifcd procedures have been developed using the friction circle method (Taylor, 1937. 1948; Frolilich, 1951), in which an assumption is made about the distribution of normal stress, but their usc is limited to cases in which g is constant over the whole of the failure surface. | More generally the slices ” method is used, with a simplfving assumption about the effect of the forces between the sik she i Senilieance of this assumption mav be examined by considering the equilibrium of the mass of soil (of unit thickness) bounded by the circular arc ABCD, of radius & and centre at © (Fig. 1(a)). In the case where no external forces act on the surface of the slope, Forces ia the slices method‘Me USE OF THE SLIP CLUCLE IN THE STAMILITY ANALYSIS UF sLoFES 9 of the spin mst x ec he ig ‘Let E,, En;i denote the Fesultants of the total horizontal forces on the sections m and» + 1 the total normal force acting on its base, i ad the length BC, ae ‘The total normal stress is o,, where ee eG) Hence, from equation (1), the magnitude of the shear strength mobilized to satisfy the conditions of limiting equilibrium is s where : F 5 F{e+(F-#) ens}. Pe 8) fn the base of the slice is equal to sf, and thus, equating the moment about O of the weight of soil within ABCD with the moment of the external forces ating on the sliding surface, we obtain ive Esk Eh, | a) It follows, therefore, from equation (3) that :) F [+e -w sng] rn) From the equilibrium of the soil in the slice above BC, we obtain P, by resolving in a (/ - ézection normal to the slip surface P= (W +Xq Naas) cose — (Ey — Enat) sine -@ __ The expression for F thus becomes ei I Z ul) + re gh, afer ng. 00 se 1 4 tang! {en Xngs) 605 a =: (Ex — Eng) sina}] fee Since there are no external forces on the face of the slope it follows that ee Oe ee ee) 2, BEa a East) = Boos (8) jtowever, except in the case where ¢" is constant along the slip surface and a is also constant {G, a plane slip surface), the terms in equation (7) containing Xq and E, do not disappear. ~“Fsimplified form of analysis, suggested by Krey (1926) and Terzaghi (1928) and also presented ty May (1996) as a graphical method, implies that the sum of these terms F Stang’ {ee — Nags) cosa — (Ey — Ena) soa} aay be neglected without serious loss in accuracy. This is the method at present used, for ample, by the U.S, Bureau of Reclamation (Dachn and Hilf, 1951). *10 ALAN W. BISHOP Putting x = R sina, the simplified form may be written : Simp Had» cthed melted” cath dam design the construction pore press ae often expressed as a function of the total weight of the column of soil above the point considered, Le. +-8(7). Lae rn) « where B isa sil parameter based cither on field data or laboratory tests:* | “nth case, putting = b icc, the expression for factor of safety can be further simplified 2[e1+ tng eons] a) to Singh fA : Fea gh. fet +tang. nefhed SWaina This expression permits the rapid and dircet computation of the value of F which is necessary if sufficient trial circles are to be used to locate the most critical surface. However, as can be seen from the examples quoted later, the values of F are, in general, found to be ‘conservative, and tay Iead to unceonomical, design, marl + ditions permit deep slip circles round wh ‘in eis large. a To derive a method of analysis which largely avoids this €rror if is convenient to return to equation (5). If we denote the effective normal force (P — ul) by P” (see Fig. 1(0)), and resolve the forces on the slice vertically, then we obtain, on re-arranging : (cosa —B se a)] fe aD Wot Xa Kaas —U(ucona + § sine P= ae (ia) Substituting in equation (5) and putting ! = 6 sec and x = Rina, an expression for. the factor of safety is obtained ae Ee] a) The values of (Xq — X41) used in this expression are found by successive approximation, and must satisfy the conditions given in equations (8). In addition, the positions of the lines of thrust between the slices should be reasonable, and no unbalanced moment should be ‘implied in any slice. The factor of safety against sliding on the ve is also ‘be satisfactory. though sine the ip surface assumed is only-an approximation tothe actual ‘one, overstress may be implied in the adjacent soil. : The condition 2(Xy— X43) = 0 in equation (8a) can be satisied directly by selecting appropriate values of X,, etc. "The corresponding sum Z(E, — Eqq,) can be readily computed {in terms of the expression used in equation (13). Resolving the forces on a slice tangentially, ‘we obtain the expression : es Fespas te tang’. (W(t —B) + (Ny (W +Xy— Kegs) sina + (Ex — Eng) cosa = S . or (Ex —Engs) =Sseca—(W+Xq—Xaytana . (14) + 10 practice the value of Bill vary along the si surface, though for preliminary design puspotes it fs conveniont to use a constant average valve throughout the impervious tone, ms‘THE USE OF THE SLIP CIKCLE IN THE STABILITY ANALYSIS OF SLOPES 11 Now, if equation (13) is written : nT) (cen Be ag adhence — 2tEn— Enya) = [Baton — (+ Xe wdtana] . . a ‘The X values must, therefore, also satisfy the condition that Oo... . . 0g In practice, an initial value of F is obtained by solving equation (13) on the assumption that (Xe — Xess) =0 throughout. By suitably tabulating the variables a solution ean be obtained after using two or three trial values of F. The use of (2, — Xna,) = O satisfies ‘equation (8a), but not equation (18). Values of (Xq — Xn) are then introduced in order to satisfy equation (18) also. These values can then be finaly adjusted, either graphically or analytically, until the equilibrium conditions are fully satisfied for each slice. From the practical point of view itis of interest to note that, although there are a number of difierent distributions of (X» — Xwaa) which satisfy equation (18), the corresponding varia- tions in the value of ound to be insignificant (less than 1% in a typical case). Tt should al be aoted that-since the evar the simplified method gwen in eqpations (9) and (I1) varies with the central angle of the arc, it will lead to a different location for the tnost critical circle than that given by the more rigorous method. It will, therefore, generally 'be necessary to examine a number of trial circles by this latter method, . sa[fece a= (W+X,— Xe) tang] PARTIALLY SUBMERGED SLOPES ‘The total disturbing moment is now that of the soil above ABCD, less the moment about O sf the water pressure acting on DLM (Fig. 2(a)). If we imagine a section of water bounded ty a free surface at BIN and outlined by NDLM, and similarly take moments about O, the sormal forces on the are ND all pass through O and the moment of the water pressure on DLM (C therefore equal to she moment of the mass of water NDLM about O. . 1/~ (Since The weight of a mass of safurated soil less the weight of water occupying the same | ohne is equal to its submerged weight, the resultant disturbing moment due to the mass of | sil above ABCD and to the water pressure on DLM is given by using the bulk density of the | above the evel of he external ree water face and te submerged density blow) | It should be noted that the boundary MN implics nothing about the magnitude of the |, pts pressures inside the slope and is only used to obtain the statically L montent. ©The disturbing moment is therefore ZW: + Wale. ee (19) where W, denotes full weight of the soil in the slice above MN, Wa submerged weight of soil in the part of the slice below 31N. It is also convenient to obtain the expression for the effective normal force P” in terms of Wy and Wz. Tt can be seen from Fig. 2 (8) and (c) that, resolving vertically as before, it flows that : Wt Wat Xa Kaas =I cosa + Fsina) -——<—<$$aae2 ALAN W. BISHOP Fig. 2, Partially Submerged Slopes where 1, is the pote pressure expressed as an excess over the hydrostatic pressure corre- sponding to the water level outside the slope; that is where y, denotes the density of water, and 2 1 thedepth of slice below MN. (If no part of the slice is submerged, u, = w.) Tt follows, therefore, that for partial submergence the expression for factor of safety: © becomes : Poacringae (Orme emi ey TE} seca | Xue) pian gan FF ‘The forces between the slices now have to satisfy the conditions : ot Be Xa =O eS yy FE. Exe dint. (a treatment ofthe simplifed method leads to the expresion P= + Wyse [e+ tn 6 OFM cone ~ wd ce] = (2p i treatment of the pore pre (Bishop, 1982), ae © Weads to consistent results throughout the full range of submergenceTWe USE OF THE SLIP CIKCLE IN THE STAUILITY ANALYSIS UF SLOPES 13 = where dis the depth of water at the toe ofthe slip, which causes a horizontal watér thrust on tn vertical section with which the slip terminates, To obtain an expression for Z{E, — Ey), we resolve tangentially as before : (7, + We + bay, + Xn ~ nga) sit 2 + (Eq ~ Enya) co = S or (Eq ~ Engi) =S seca (Wy + e+ Xq—Xog:) tana —yecbtana . (24) ‘Writing equation (22) as: 1 P= TV Wyane' 2 eC - fod dc doc dao toe) Hence BEa — Faas) = [seo — (Wy + Ws + Xy ~ Noy tan ] - 2frasttan 4] + @% Now ofr ang] wo ee ‘Thus equation (236) is satisfied when ‘ arenas + +Xq~ Kau) tana] oO... . Oy It can be scen, therefore, that for partially submerged slopes an analogous method is obtained by using submerged densities for those parts of the slices which lie below the level ‘of the external free water surface, and by expressing the pore pressures there as an excess above the hydrostatic pressure corresponding to this water level }_ PRACTICAL APPLICATION Only a limited numberfof stability analyses have so far been carried out in which both the simplified and the mre rigorous methods have been used. From these it appears, however, that the major part of the gain in accuracy can be obtained by proceeding with the salution ‘of equations (13) or (22) only as far as the starting value of F given by taking (%n—Xas1) =O. This avoids the more time-consuming stages of the solution, and provides a convenient routine method in which the time required for the analysis of cach tral circle is from one to two hours or about twice that required using the simplified methods. This may be illustrated by the two following cases. (0) Pore pressures set up in a boulder clay il during construction.—The cross-section of the dam and the soil properties used in the analysis are given in Fig 3 (a). From laboratory tests and other data it is considered that an average pore pressure equal to 40% of the weight of the overlying soil might be expected, ie. B = 04. For this condition the simplified method indicates a factor of safety of 1:88. The value sven by equation (13), with ( 111) = 0, 13 153, ‘The two methods do not lead to the same critical circle. The circle having a factor of safety of 1:38 by: the simplified method gives a value of 1-59 using equation (13) with (% —Xnss) = 0. The introduction of trial values of (X — Nyy) makes only a small further change in the factor of safety, a value of 1-60 or 1-61 being obtained depending on the assumed Gistribution of Xy. The form of tabulation used for the routine solution with (Xy, — yy) = 0 is given in Table 1. PE eats stom the design pont of view to know the influence of posible variations in struction pore pressure on the factor of safety, and for this purpose the factor of safety may be plotted directly against average pore pressure ratio as in Fig. 3 (6).4 ALAN W. BISHOP Pore pressures set up in a rae 5 moraine fil during a partial “pid Material | ibfeu. fe | thisq. | ‘ draedown.—The cross-section of the = dam and the soil properties used in cra] | Lae] Seetieeienno ess The basis of the method by which the draw-down pore pressures are calculated has been described by theauthor elsewhere (Bishop, 1952), vase ‘and their values are indicated by alline representing stand-pipe levels abave diferent points on the sip BeaRee sear surface. © Using the average values of the soil properties (Case 1), the simpli- fied method (equation (222)) gives a factor of safety of 1°50, and the ‘more rigorous solution (equation (22), with (Xa — Xanga) =0) gives Ya value of 184° As before, the ‘twomethods lead todifferent critical metros circles. Theinclusionof tral values of (Xp — Xa43) raises the value from 1-84 to 1-82, the value by the simplified method for this particular circle being 1°53. About 80% of yameamu tare ‘the gain in accuracy in this case is . thus achieved without introducing the Xq terms. ‘The form of tabulation for the routine solution in the case of partial submergence is given in Table 2. 20] os 036 720 ° Gohs) coxcLusion encase; relationship bet Errors may be introduced into PHS: a clorol aalaty and pore pessoa wee" an estimate of stability by both ‘the sampling and testing pro- cedure, and in_many_cases_an imate method of stability is may be consi =. Where, however, siderable cae fevered af cach sags ‘and, in particular, where field measurement 2 pore presurs ie belng aed, the implied dies method of analysis raat sulcetly accurate. 7 ——e This is illustrated by the two examples given above. The error is likely to be of particular ‘importance where deep slip circles are involved. This is illustrated by Fig. 5 in which the collected results of the two stability analyses are plotted in terms of the value ofthe central angle ofthe arc. It wil be seen that the value ofthe factor of safety given by the simplified pees Soe meme ott Tore Horoas method [using ‘Xugx) =O], drops rapidly as the central. angle-of the-arc increases. This efit is larly for the higher values of exgess. pore pressure. * For Case Ifthe corresponding Vales are 1-44 and 148,THE USE OF THE SLIP CINCLE IN THE STAMILITY ANALYSIS OF SLOPES 15 vensiyainen a |__ Caer cent eit | Mucral | ape [owe] tia. | & | mye | # ‘Moraine 2 | | #0 [ar] o fw meee pe ete pe woter Level. a1 Ft stand Level in Moraine Fill otter Ropid Orawdown Stondpipe Level in Rock Fill atter Rapie Orowdown oor. ; Ai 1 ce ts \ GO) weicas sao ona HN CASES \ Caaie grenintgad Gna panier) Fig. 5. Influence of contral angle of are on accuracy of conventional method, Fis factor of safety by conventional method. Fris factor of safety by more rigorous method on sane siding surfaceALAN W, BISHOP 16 Circle No. 4 ® (oxo 82.5 Pa o1x- at Fata Fate | Faia Fale 3 g 0912 bio 1097 g B..8 Ce 35.9 | Ee BRB [wee 38-8 0 1200 Po 7 162 160 : [ll ©) elTHE USE OF THE SLIP CIUCLE IN THE STAMILITY ANALYSIS OF SLOPES 17 Ia these cases the use of the modified analysis outlined above is to be recommended, which, if carried only as far as the (Xq — Xnqa) = 0 stage, can readily be used for routine work. Little feld evidence is yet” available for checking the overall accuracy of the stability calculation except in those cases where the “'¢ = 0 analysis has been applicable, and this emphasizes the need for failure records complete with pore-pressure data for both natural slopes and trial embankments, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The second example is included with the kind approval of the North of Scotland Hydro- Electric Board and their consulting engineers, Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners. The Author is also indebted to Mr D. W. Lamb for carrying out a number of the other calculations. REFERENCES Bisuor, A, W., 1982. The Stability of Earth Dams. Unie. of London. PA.D. Thesis Comnrs. P. A., 1948, "Fundamental Equations in the Theary of Limit Lquiliorium. Proc. 2nd Int “Conf. Sit 'Mech, 7:13. Darin, WW. W., and Hing, J. W,, 1951. Implications of Pore Pressure in Design and Construction of Rolled Earth Dams. Trans. Uh Cong. Large Dantt 1 259. Feutsius, W, 1927. Erdstatsche Berechaungen mit Reibung und Kohaesion, Erast, Berlin. Feuentvs, W., 1996. Calculation of the Stability of Earth Dams. Trans, 2nd Cong. Large Dams. 4: 485, Frowiiex, 0. K., 1951, On the Danger of Siding of the Upstream Embankment of at Earth Dam. Trane, ‘ih Cong. Large Dams, 1 399. Kacy, H. 1926, “Erddruck, Erdwiderstand und Tragfaehighet des Baugrandes, Ernst, Berlin. My, D. R. and Branrz, J-H. A, 1908, Proposed Methous of Calculating the Stability of Earth Dares, ‘Trans. Znd Cong. Large Dams” 4539, Tartan. W.1GSe” Sey ot Barth Slopes. J, Bovon Soc. Civ. Eng. 24: 197 Tavton, DW. 1948: Fundamentals of Soll Mechanics, Join Wiley, New York, ‘Thezacin, .."1929." The Mechanics of Shear Failures oa Chay Slopes and Creep of Retaining Walls, ‘Pub. RES, 10: 177. 1 A discussion of the pore pressutes Set up in earth dams has since been published in Géotechnique, aes