Influence of Slope Curvature on Stability 1-1

1 Influence of Slope Curvature on Stability

1.1 Problem Statement

Actual slopes are not infinitely long and straight: usually, they are curved in both plan and elevation.
The effect of slope curvature can really only be analyzed with a three-dimensional model.
Hoek and Bray (1981) observed that the lateral restraint provided by material on either side of a
potential slope failure will increase as the slope becomes more concave. They recommend that
when the radius of curvature of the slope is less than the height of the slope, the allowed slope angle
can be 10◦ steeper than the angle suggested by conventional two-dimensional stability analyses.
Further, for radii of curvature greater than twice the slope height, the maximum slope angle given
by a two-dimensional analysis should be used.
The model shown in Figure 1.1 represents a quarter-section of an open pit. The height of the slope
is 25 m, and the slope angle is 2 vertical to 1 horizontal (approximately 63◦ ). It is expected that
plane-strain conditions will prevail along the plane y = −30 (see Figure 1.2), while axisymmetric
conditions will be predominant at the plane x = 0 (see Figure 1.3).
The free water surface imposed in this problem is shown in Figure 1.4. This surface intersects
the top of the model 50 m behind the toe of the slope, and there is seepage on the bottom half
of the slope face. This water table, under steady-state conditions, will lead to the pore-pressure
distribution shown in Figure 1.5.

A f f  f  f f f ff f 

0©20f fm  fE  tfi

 f©
Sy0.y0©20f09019©GfM

m  9f f
O

 fm  fE  tfi

  tfffM

Figure 1.1 “Bathtub” model to evaluate slope curvature

FLAC 3D Version 5.01

1-2 Example Applications

A f f  f  f f f ff f 

0©20f fU  fN  tfi

 f©
Sy0.y0©20f09019©GfM

9f f
U  9f f
Z

 fU  fN  tfi

  tfffM

Figure 1.2 Vertical plane through model at y = −30

A f f  f  f f f ff f 

0©20f fU  fN  tfi

 f©
Sy0.y0©20f09019©GfM

9f f
U  9f f
Z

 fU  fN  tfi

  tfffM

Figure 1.3 Vertical plane through model at x = 0

FLAC 3D Version 5.01

Influence of Slope Curvature on Stability 1-3

A Tf f  f  f f f ff f 

0©20fT fm  fE  tfTi

 f©
Sy0.y0©20f09019©GfM

m  9f f
O
 n  
MOfNMmO

T fm  fE  tfTi

  tfffM

Figure 1.4 Free water surface

A Uf f  f  f f f ff f 

0©20fU fE  f6  tfUi

 f©
Sy0.y0©20f09019©,fM
 nnn n  
Ci©©©©5a©g
1ig©©©5a©g
1i©©©©5a©g
0ig©©©5a©g
0i©©©©5a©g
2ig©©©5a©g
2i©©©©5a©g
gi©©©©5a©C
©i©©©©5a©©
b2iS.G©5b22

U fE  f6  tfUi

  tfffM

Figure 1.5 Pore-pressure contours

FLAC 3D Version 5.01

1-4 Example Applications

The strength parameters chosen for this model are selected for comparison of FLAC 3D results to
circular failure charts published by Hoek and Bray (1981). Figure 1.6 shows which chart to use as a
function of the groundwater flow conditions. In our case, the chart used is number 4. For example,
if we assume a friction angle of 45◦ (tan φ = 1) and a factor of safety F = 1, then we can draw a
horizontal line in chart number 4 (see Figure 1.7) until we intersect the slope angle of 63◦ . If we
draw a vertical line, we obtain a value of 0.06 for c/(γ H F ). For a specific weight, γ , of 25,000
N/m3 and a height, H , of 25 m, we obtain a cohesion of 37.5 kPa.
For our analysis, we select a cohesion value of 100 kPa in order to start with a stable slope. The
value for c/(γ H tan φ) is then 0.16 and, using Figure 1.7, the value for c/(γ H F ) is 0.1 and F is
1.61.

GROUNDWATER FLOW CONDITIONS CHART

1
Fully drained slope

2
Surface water 8x slope
height behind toe of slope

3
Surface water 4x slope
height behind toe of slope

4
Surface water 2x slope
height behind toe of slope

5
Saturated slope subjected to
heavy surface recharge

Figure 1.6 Chart number as a function of groundwater flow conditions

(adapted from Hoek and Bray 1981)

FLAC 3D Version 5.01

Influence of Slope Curvature on Stability 1-5

Figure 1.7 Circular failure chart number 4 (Hoek and Bray 1981)

FLAC 3D Version 5.01

1-6 Example Applications

1.2 Modeling Procedure

The FLAC 3D model shown in Figure 1.1 is created from two radial-cylinder primitive shapes and
three brick primitive shapes. The two ends of the first cylinder primitive have different radii to
create the angled slope. See the data file “slope3d.f3dat” in Example 1.1.
The free water surface is defined via the FISH file “WATER.FIS.” There are two functions in this
file: aux1 and aux2. The former is problem-specific and creates a series of tables containing the
x- and y-values of individual contour lines of the water surface. The latter function is generic and
combines the digitized contour lines stored in the tables to form the faces (or surface patches) of
the phreatic surface.
The model is assigned a Mohr-Coulomb material model and several properties:

bulk modulus 200 MPa

shear modulus 100 MPa
friction angle 45◦
cohesion 100 kPa
tension limit 100 kPa

The mass density of the dry material is 2500 kg/m3 , the mass density of the saturated material
is 2600 kg/m3 , and gravity is specified at 10 m/sec2 acting in the negative z-direction. The FISH
function ini dens assigns the different densities to zones above and below the water table. Roller
boundaries are placed along the sides of the model, and the bottom of the model is pinned.
The factor of safety is calculated by the strength reduction method using the SOLVE fos command.
A value of 1.70 is calculated for F . This is slightly higher than the factor of safety produced by the
circular failure chart, which suggests that there is a slight effect of slope curvature on the stability.
The resulting failure surface is depicted by the displacement contour plot shown in Figure 1.8; the
plot is made after restoring the file “fosmode.f3sav.” This plot shows that a “scoop-shaped” failure
surface develops along the long side of the bathtub, but the slope is stable at the end.

FLAC 3D Version 5.01

Influence of Slope Curvature on Stability 1-7

A f f  f  f f f ff f 

0©20f fM  fN  tfi

 fgCSS
Sy0.y0©20f05015©,f7
 nn 
Ci1,0,-b©2
Ci©©©©-b©2
1i©©©©-b©2
0i©©©©-b©2
2i©©©©-b©2
©i©©©©-a©©

 fM  fN  tfi

  tfff7

Figure 1.8 Displacement contours in the FLAC 3D model at the failure state

This problem was also run with the two-dimensional program FLAC in both plane-strain mode (see
data file “SL-PS.DAT”) and axisymmetry mode (see data file “SL-AXI.DAT”). The model geometry
was created to match that in the vertical section through the FLAC 3D model (see Figure 1.9).
The calculation for factor of safety in the plane-strain model matches that from the circular failure
chart, F = 1.61. The displacement contour and vector plot at failure shows a similar failure surface
to that from FLAC 3D. Compare Figure 1.10 to Figure 1.11, which plots displacement contours and
vectors on a vertical plane through the FLAC 3D model at y = −30.
The factor-of-safety calculation for the axisymmetric model produces a value for F = 2.35. This
further indicates that the greater curvature produces a more stable slope.

1.3 Reference

Hoek, E., and J. W. Bray. Rock Slope Engineering, 3rd Ed. London: The Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy (1981).

FLAC 3D Version 5.01

1-8 Example Applications

JOB TITLE : . (*10^1)

FLAC (Version 7.00)

4.000

LEGEND

25-Oct-12 13:03 3.000

step 0
-4.444E+00 <x< 8.444E+01
-3.944E+01 <y< 4.944E+01
2.000

Grid plot

0 2E 1 1.000

Water Table

0.000

-1.000

-2.000

-3.000

0.500 1.500 2.500 3.500 4.500 5.500 6.500 7.500

(*10^1)

Figure 1.9 FLAC model grid

JOB TITLE : . (*10^1)

FLAC (Version 7.00)

4.000

LEGEND

25-Oct-12 13:19 3.000

step 5680
-4.444E+00 <x< 8.444E+01
-3.944E+01 <y< 4.944E+01
2.000

X-displacement contours
-4.50E+00
-4.00E+00 1.000
-3.50E+00
-3.00E+00
-2.50E+00
-2.00E+00 0.000

-1.50E+00
-1.00E+00
-5.00E-01 -1.000
0.00E+00

Contour interval= 5.00E-01

Displacement vectors -2.000

max vector = 4.927E+00

0 1E 1 -3.000

0.500 1.500 2.500 3.500 4.500 5.500 6.500 7.500

(*10^1)

Figure 1.10 Displacement contours and vectors for plane-strain FLAC model

FLAC 3D Version 5.01

Influence of Slope Curvature on Stability 1-9

A mf f  f  f f f ff f 

0©20fm fM  f-  tfmi

 fgCSS
Sy0.y0©20f05015©,f7
 nnl 
5f f
©i©©©©Ea©©
b2i©©©©Eb©2
b0i©©©©Eb©2
b1i©©©©Eb©2
bCi©©©©Eb©2
bCi©g0SEb©2
 
5f f
 5f©iC2S2S1
5f22iS2,2

m fM  f-  tfmi

  tfff7

Figure 1.11 Displacement contours and vectors for FLAC 3D model along a
vertical plane at y = −30

FLAC 3D Version 5.01

1 - 10 Example Applications

1.4 Listing of Data File

The project file for this example, “slope3d.f3prj,” is located in “example applications\Slope Cur-
vature.”

Example 1.1 SLOPE3D.F3DAT

;-------------------------------------------------------------
; influence of slope curvature on stability
; of an open pit
;-------------------------------------------------------------

new project
set fish autocreate off

title ’Influence of slope curvature on stability of an open pit’

; create model by joining radial cylinder and brick primitives

gen zone radcyl &
p0 0 0 25 p1 add 80 0 0 p2 add 0 0 -25 p3 add 0 80 0 &
dim 24.5 24.5 12 12 ratio 1 1 1 1.1
gen zone radcyl &
p0 0 0 0 p1 add 80 0 0 p2 add 0 0 -15 p3 add 0 80 0 &
dim 12 12 12 12 ratio 1 1 1 1.1 fill size 5 7 10 10
gen zone brick &
p0 0 -40 -15 p1 add 12 0 0 p2 add 0 40 0 p3 add 0 0 15 &
size 5 12 7
gen zone brick &
p0 12 -40 -15 p1 add 68 0 0 p2 add 0 40 0 p3 add 0 0 15 &
size 10 12 7 ratio 1.1 1 1
gen zone brick &
p0 12 -40 0 p1 add 68 0 0 p2 add 0 40 0 p3 add 12.5 0 25 &
p4 add 68 40 0 p5 add 12.5 40 25 p6 add 68 0 25 p7 add 68 40 25 &
size 10 12 10 rat 1.1 1 1

; initialize gravity
set gravity 0 0 -10

; install water table

ini pp 0 grad 0 0 -1e4 range z -15.1 0
table 1 12 0 18.25 12.5 25 17 35 21 50 24 75 25 150 25
call water.fis suppress ; load support functions
@aux1(7,10)
@aux2(7,10)

; assign Mohr Coulomb model and properties

FLAC 3D Version 5.01

Influence of Slope Curvature on Stability 1 - 11

model mech mohr

prop bulk 2e8 she 1e8 fric 45 coh 1e5 ten 1e5
; boundary conditions
fix x range x -.1 .1
fix x range x 79.9 80.1
fix y range y -40.1 -39.9
fix y range y 79.9 80.1
fix x range z -15.1 -14.9
fix y range z -15.1 -14.9
fix z range z -15.1 -14.9

; initialize density: saturated and unsaturated

define ini_dens
local pnt = zone_head
loop while pnt # null
if z_pp(pnt) # 0.0 then
z_density(pnt) = 2600
else
z_density(pnt) = 2500
endif
pnt = z_next(pnt)
endloop
end
@ini_dens

; initialize stresses
ini syy -6.25e5 grad 0 0 2.5e4
ini sxx -6.25e5 grad 0 0 2.5e4
ini szz -6.25e5 grad 0 0 2.5e4

; histories
hist nstep 10
hist add unbal
hist add gp xdisp 24.5 -40 25
hist add gp zdisp 24.5 -40 25
hist add gp xdisp 24.5 0 25
hist add gp ydisp 24.5 0 25
hist add gp zdisp 24.5 0 25
hist add gp ydisp 0 24.5 25
hist add gp zdisp 0 24.5 25

; calculate fos
solve fos

return

FLAC 3D Version 5.01

1 - 12 Example Applications

FLAC 3D Version 5.01