HEGEEE Analysis of Finite Slopes with Plane Failure Surfaces (Culmann’s Method) Culmann’s analysis is based on the assumption that the failure of a slope occurs along a plane when the average shearing stress tending to cause the slip is more than the shear rength of the soil. Also, the most critical plane is the one that has a minimum ratio of the average shearing stress that tends to cause failure to the shear strength of soil. Figure 15.10 shows a slope of height H. The slope rises at an angle 8 with the hori- zontal. AC is atrial failure plane. If we consider a unit length perpendicular to the section of the slope, we find that the weight of the wedge ABC is equal to W = 2()(BC)(1)(7) = HUH cot ~ H cot B)y 8) ‘sin Bsin@ as.18) ‘The normal and tangential components of W with respect to the plane AC are as follows. W cos 8 normal component ie =9) sin Bsind fe asin 1, = tangential component = W sing = Lyi?) MB) Nong 5.20 r, = tangential component = 3! Sapaae (13.20) B c 7 ay x T, w ie “ = g Figure 15.10 Pee Finite slope Unit weight of soil = analysis— Culmann’s method‘The average effective normal stress and the average shear stress on the plane AC are, respectively, 8) = jr PE? hos osina (15.21) (ACj(1) H (Ss) 1 sin(B-6))_ in in? @ (15.22) The average resistive shearing stress developed along the plane AC also may be expressed as rg = cy +o" tandy sin(B — =e) +5 Syl [RE sa sina cn oy (05.23) Now, from Eqs. (15.22) and (15.23), 4 | 2e—9 in? @ = cy + pH Sa cose sind ano 15.24) 37 Ga pana a + SY Ys) (15.24) or 1 [sini ~ 8)(sine cost) Ca py eee (15.25) The expression in Eq. (15.25) is derived for the tial failure plane AC. In an effort to determine the critical failure plane, we must use the principle of maxima and minima (for a given value of 4) to find the angle @ where the developed cohesion would be max- imum. Thus, the first derivative of c, with respect to @ is set equal to zero, or ace, p79 (15.26) Because y, H, and are constants in Eq. (15.25), we have = [sin(8 — 6)(sin — cos @tan #))) = 0 (15.27)Solving Eq. (15.27) gives the critical value of #, or B+ oy 6, = A (15.28) Substitution of the value of @ = @,, into Eq. (15.25) yields ~ 28 I= ets — Sees EST ROE: (15.29) ‘The preceding equation also can be written as ? 1 = cos(B — i gyre ENB) (15.30) yH ~~ “Asin B cos 6} where m = stability number. The maximum height of the slope for which critical equilibrium occurs can be obtained by substituting c’; = c’ and di; = &' into Eq, (15.29). Thus, He, = 4c'[ sin Bos b! | 15.31 Eee aD (8d y L1 = cosip = 6" Example 15.2 A cutis to be made in a soil having y = 105 Ib/ft, c’ = 600 lb/ft’, and 6’ = 15°. The side of the cut slope will make an angle of 45° with the horizontal. What should be the depth of the cut slope that will have a factor of safety (F,) of 3? Solution Given: 6’ = 15°; c' = 600 lb/ft. If F, = , then F and Fy, should both be equal to 3. Font a or cc _ 60 = = = = 2001b? ory FS Similarly, tané’ tand’ _ tan 1S tan db!) = TE FL 3