Factors affecting Stability of Slopes (Geotechnical Engg.)

Hi,

• Stability of Slopes A slope is an inclined boundary surface between air and the body of the earthwork e.g. high ways cut or fill, railway cu or fill, earth dams, levees and river training works.
• Stability of slopes can be affected by various reasons.Some of them may result in the increased stress and some may cause reduction in the strength.
  

• Factors causing increased stress: 

1. Increased unit weight of soil by wetting.
2. Added external load (moving loads, buildings etc.)
3. Steep end slopes either by excavation or by erosion.
4. Shock loads

• Factors causing reduction in strength:

1. Vibrations and earthquakes
2. increase in moisture content
3. increase in pore water pressure.
4. loss of cementing material.

Now, to analyse the stability of the slopes, there are few assumptions:

1. The problem is two dimensional.
2. Coulomb's theory can be used to compute shear strength and shear strength is assumed as uniform along the slip surface.
3. The flownet, in case of seepage, can be drawn and seepage force can be evaluated.

Thanks for your visit!.