EXAMPLE 1. A saturated clay embankment has a height of 10 m.

A rock layer located at a

depth of 15m from top of the embankment. The side of embankment make an angle of
35° with the horizontal. Undrained cohesion and unit weight of the soil are 50 kN/m2
and 18.62 kN/m3 respectively.
a) Determine factor of safety against sliding.
b) What is the nature of the critical surface?
SOLUTION 1.
homogenous soil type c>0, ϕ=0

cu c 1
a) Fs = or Fs = u Ns ( = Ns )
 Hm H m

cu = 50kN / m 2 H +H'
D=
 = 18.62kN / m 3 H
10 + 5
H = 10m D= = 1.5
10

D=1.5 and β=35° from the Taylor’s chart; m=0.17

cu 50
Fs = = = 1.58
 Hm (18.62)(10)(0.179)
 b) Midpoint circle failure surface.
c) EXAMPLE 2.
A cut slope is shown in figure
If unconfined compression strength of the soil
is 60kN/m2 and unit weight of the soil is
17kN/m3, find the factor of safety of the slope
against sliding.

SOLUTION 2.
homogenous soil type c>0, ϕ=0

qu = 60kN / m 2
qu
cu = = 30kN / m 2
2
 = 17kN / m 3
H = 3m

β=75° from the Taylor’s chart; m=0.22

cu 30
Fs = = = 2.66
 Hm (17)(3)(0.221)
EXAMPLE 3.

A cut slope was excavated in a saturated clay. Slope failed when cut reached 6.1m depth. Rock is
very depth in the soil profile.
a) Determine undrained cohesion of the clay.
b) Calculate factor of safety of the slope when slope has 5 m depth and 30.

SOLUTION 3:
homogenous soil type c>0, ϕ=0

6.1
40° m

a) If slope failed; FS=1

 = 17.29kN / m3
H = 6.1m
D=

D=  and β=40° from the Taylor’s chart; m=0.18

 cu
Fs =
 Hm
cu
1= = 2.66
(17.29)(6.1)(0.18)
cu = 19kPa

b)
cu = 19kPa
 = 17.29kN / m3
H = 5m
D=

D=  and β=30° from the Taylor’s chart; m=0.18

cu 19
Fs = = = 1.77
 Hm (17.29)(5)(0.18)
 EXAMPLE 4.
A cut slope is shown in figure.
a) Determine critical height of slope
b)If H=10m, calculate factor of safety.

SOLUTION 4.
homogenous soil type c>0, ϕ>0

tan 
a) Fs =
tan d
FS=1 for critical height

tan 
FS =
tan d
tan 20
1= → d = 20
tan d

ϕd=20 ° and β=45° from the Taylor’s chart; m=0.06

 cu
FS =
 Hm
24
1= = 1.77
(18.87)( H cr )(0.06)
H cr = 20.51m

b)
c = 24kPa
 = 20
 = 18.87kN / m3
H = 10m

Trial-error

For FS=1.4
tan 
FS =
tan d
tan 20
1.4 = → d = 14.57
tan d

ϕd=14.57 ° and β=45° from the Taylor’s chart; m=0.09

cu 24
FS = = = 1.4
 Hm (18.87)(10)(0.09)
Both factor of safety is equal each other. Than the FS is 1.4
EXAMPLE 5.

Refer to figure above.

a) For the infinite slope, given γdry =19 kN/m3, c=20 kPa, ϕ=25°. If H=8m and β=20°, what will be the
factor of safety of the slope against sliding?
b) For the infinite slope, given γdry =19 kN/m3, c=20 kPa, ϕ=25°. If β=30° find the height H which
will have a factor of safety of 2.5
c) For the infinite slope with seepage given γsat=20 kN/m3, c’=20 kPa, ϕ’=25°. If β=30° find the
height H which will have a factor of safety of 1.5
d) For the infinite slope, given γdry =19 kN/m3, c=0, ϕ=30°. If H=9.5m and β=28°, what will be the
factor of safety of the slope against sliding?

SOLUTION 5.
a)

W =  LH ( weight of the slice)

W = (19)( L)(8) = 152 L kN / m
Na  LH .cos  152 L cos2 
= = = = 152 cos2  (normal stress at base of the slice)
area L L
cos 
T  LH .sin  152 L sin  cos 
= a = = = 152sin  cos  ( shear stress at base of the slice)
area L L
cos 

 d = cd +  tan d
152sin  cos  = cd + (152 cos 2  ) tan d
c 20
cd = =
FS FS
tan  tan 25
tan d = =
FS FS
20 tan 25
152sin 20cos 20 = + (152 cos 2  )
FS FS
FS = 1.69

or;

c tan 
FS = +
 H cos  tan 
2
tan 
20 tan 25
1.5 = 2
+
(19)( H )(cos 30)(tan 30) tan 30
H = 3.5m

b)

c tan 
FS = +
 H cos  tan 
2
tan 
20 tan 25
1.5 = 2
+
(19)( H )(cos 30)(tan 30) tan 30
H = 3.5m
c)

c'  ' tan  '

FS = + .
 sat H cos  tan   sat tan 
2

20 (20 − 9.81) tan 25

1.5 = 2
+
(20)( H )(cos 30)(tan 30) 20 tan 30
H = 2.1m

d)

c=0
tan 
FS =
tan 
tan 30
FS =
tan 28
H = 1.1m