Scope & Definitions
Slope Stability
Groundwater & Seepage
Stability of natural/man-made slopes in soil and rock Steady/transient flow; pore-pressure profiles (u, ru, m-values)
Short-term (undrained) vs long-term (drained) conditions Seepage faces, tension cracks; uplift & piping checks
Limit states: ultimate (global failure) and serviceability (deformations) Drainage: toe drains, relief wells, horizontal drains, cutoffs
Ground & Parameters
Develop a geotechnical model: stratigraphy, structures, GWT
Seismic & Cyclic
Pseudostatic with kh (and kv if applicable) per hazard level
Derive c , , su, , k, G0/E; account for anisotropy & variability Newmark displacements; liquefaction triggering & strength loss
Characteristic values with partial factors (per governing code) Cyclic softening in clays; post-seismic residual stability
Failure Mechanisms
Shallow planar, circular/compound, wedge/rock blocks
Design Criteria & Acceptance
Target FS by consequence class; LRFD/partial factors per code
Progressive failure and strain-softening in sensitive clays Serviceability: crest settlement, lateral movements, VLM
Deep-seated failures; base heave; piping/boiling in cuts Observational method: define trigger/action levels
Analysis Methods
Limit-equilibrium (Bishop, Janbu, Morgenstern Price) 2D/3D
Stabilization Measures
Geometry: flattening, berms, buttresses, benches
FE/FE with strength reduction for complex geometry/soil behavior Groundwater control: drainage blankets, trenches, cutoffs
Sensitivity analyses: water levels, shear strength, geometry Reinforcement: soil nails, geogrids, anchors, piles/columns
Surface/near-surface: erosion control, vegetation, facing
Construction staging & preload to reduce driving forces
