STABILITY ANALYSIS OF SLOPE

Limit equilibrium Method (LEM)

Advantage of LEM
Limitation of LEM
Numerical modeling
Advantage
Limitation
Software based on Limit equilibrium Method

SLIDE (rocscience group)

GALENA
GEO-SLOPE
GEO5
GGU
SOILVISION
Software based on Numerical modeling

PHASES2
PLAXIS
FLAC-SLOPE / UDEC / PPF
ANSYS
FEFLOW
GEOSLOPE/SIGMA
SOIL-VISION
Required input properties

Young modulus
Poisson ratio
Density
Failure criterion:
M-C H-B
Cohesion UCS
Friction angle m&s
Numerical modeling

Type of failure mechanism

Physico-mechanical behaviour of slope material
Types of analysis
Numerical modeling

Continuum modelling
FEM, BEM and FDM

Discontinuum modelling
DEM, UDEC

Hybrid modelling
PPF,
What are the conditions of slope in the field

Simple slope with single, two or three joints

Large number of joint sets present in the slope
Heavily jointed rock slope
Waste dump / very weak rock / soil
 Simple slope with single, two Properties of each Joints
or three joints strength

large number of joint sets Properties of each joint set or

present in the slope combined properties

Heavily jointed rock Properties of jointed rock mass

Waste dump / very weak rock Properties of waste rock

/ soil
 Continuum modelling

Continuum modeling is best suited for the analysis of slopes that are comprised of massive, intact
rock, weak rocks, and soil-like or heavily jointed rock masses. Discontinuum modeling is
appropriate for slopes controlled by discontinuity behaviour.

Critical Parameters: shear strength of material, constitutive criteria, water

condition, insitu stress state

Advantages: Allows for material deformation and failure, model complex

behaviour, pore pressures, creep deformation and/or dynamic
loading can be simulated

Limitations: inability to model effects of highly jointed rock

Continuum modelling

Typical Input required

Moduls of Elasticity
Poision ratio
Density
Shear strength
(cohesion and friction angle)
Model Behavior
Continuum modelling
Typical Input required
Moduls of Elasticity for rock
and joints
Poision ratio for rock and joints
Density
Shear strength for rock and
joints
Joint behaviour
Water pressure
 Continuum modelling (water simulation)

Pore water pressure

Ground water table
Infiltration of rain water
 Discontinuum modelling

Discontinuum modeling is appropriate for slopes controlled by discontinuity behaviour

Critical Parameters: discontinuity stiffness and shear strength; groundwater

characteristics; in situ stress state.

Advantages: Allows for block deformation and movement of blocks relative to each
other, can modeled with combined material and discontinuity behaviour
coupled with hydro - mechanical and dynamic analysis

Limitations: need to simulate representative discontinuity geometry (spacing,

persistence, etc.); limited data on joint properties available
Discontinuum modelling
Discontinuum modelling
cohesion joint
dilation joint
friction joint
joint normal stiffness
joint shear stiffness
 Hybrid modelling

Hybrid codes involve the coupling of these two techniques (i.e. continuum and
discontinuum) to maximize their key advantages.

Critical Parameters: Combination of input parameters

Advantages: Coupled finite-/distinctelement models able to simulate intact

fracture propagation and fragmentation of jointed and bedded rock.
Limitations: high memory capacity;
Important considerations
 Two-dimensional analysis versus three-dimensional
analysis

2D Simulation by Geoslope
software based on Finite element 3D Simulation by Ansys software based
method on Finite element method
 Continuum versus discontinum models

2D simulation of bench 3D simulation of slope 3DEC

slope by FLAC based on software based on discontinum
finite difference method modeling
Selecting appropriate zone size

Different view discritized view of internal dump slope

 Boundary conditions

Typical recommendations for locations of artificial far-field boundaries in slope stability analyses.
Water pressure

Simulation of rain water infiltration and generation of water table

Excavation sequence

Show the sequential excavation

 Stability / failure indicators

Factor of safety
Displacement ( x and Y)
Shear Strain
Yield Points
Plastic Points
unbalance force/ convergence of solution
Velocity
Stability / failure indicators
Factor of safety

1
C trial
trial
C
F

arctan tan
1
trial
trial
F
Stability / failure indicators
Displacement ( x and Y)
Stability / failure indicators
Shear Strain
Stability / failure indicators
Yield Points
Stability / failure indicators
Velocity Vector
Stability / failure indicators
unbalance force/ convergence of solution