Impact of shear strength parameters on slope stability

Abstract

Analysis and assessment of the slopes stability are an important in geotechnical engineering for all the times. The paper deals with the assessment of slope stability in fine-grained soils. The influence of change in shear strength parameters on the factor of safety has been studied. The factor of safety can be correctly obtained only if the critical failure surface of the slope is accurately identified and shear strength parameters are correctly. To investigate effect of soil strength parameters on the factor of safety, different values of shear strength parameters: cohesion (c), internal friction angle (ϕ), were chosen. The calculation and assessment of slope stability was made using methods which assume a circular shape of the slip surface (Bishop and Petterson method) and methods that consider the polygonal shape of the slip surface (Spencer and Janbu method). We analyzed the impact of shear strength parameters of the resulting factor of slope stability of fine grained soil. The results of the study showed that the factor of safety of the slope changes with varying cohesion c and internal friction angle ϕ.