Elements of Soil Mechanics, 8th Edition

Example 5.7

This spreadsheet is used to solve Example 5.7.

Although the worksheet contains the data for Example 5.7 from the book,
be changed so that the reader can see the effect of varying the soil prope
dimensions etc.
Select the worksheet to enter data and view results.
Ian Smith, Sept 2005

for Example 5.7 from the book, the data may

e effect of varying the soil properties, slip circle

ew results.

Rigorous Method, ru = 0.2

Example 5.7
Slope Stability Assessment
Rigorous Method
Other Data
Soil Properties

ru =

Slice
1
2
3
4

Radius, R =
Angle, q =
Angle, q =
First Trial F, F1 =

10 kPa
35
3
16 (kN/m )
0.2

z (m)
1.00
3.08
4.00
2.70

b (m)
3.15
3.15
3.15
3.15

W (kN)
50.4
155.2
201.6
136.1

a ()
7
20
34
52

sin a
0.113
0.334
0.559
0.783

Factor of safety =

9.15 m
89 degrees
1.55 rads
1.50

(1)

(2)

(3)

W sin a
5.7
51.8
112.7
106.5
276.8

c' b
31.5
31.5
31.5
31.5

28.2
87.0
112.9
76.2

1.46

W (1 - ru) tan f'

c' =
f' =
g=

(4)

(2) + (3)
59.7
118.5
144.4
107.7

sec a
1.006
1.061
1.206
1.606

tan a
0.114
0.354
0.675
1.257

Rigorous Method, ru = 0.2

(5)

(6)
(4) x (5)

seca
tan f ' tan a
1
F
F=
1.50
0.956
0.910
0.917
1.012

F=
1.47
0.955
0.908
0.913
1.004

F=
1.46
0.954
0.907
0.912
1.003

F=
1.50
57.1
107.8
132.5
109.1
406.5

F=
1.47
57.0
107.5
131.8
108.2
404.6

F=
1.46
57.0
107.4
131.7
108.0
404.1

Rigorous Method, ru = 0.4

Example 5.7
Slope Stability Assessment
Rigorous Method
Other Data
Soil Properties

ru =

Slice
1
2
3
4

Radius, R =
Angle, q =
Angle, q =
First Trial F, F1 =

10 kPa
35
3
16 (kN/m )
0.4

z (m)
1.00
3.08
4.00
2.70

b (m)
3.15
3.15
3.15
3.15

W (kN)
50.4
155.2
201.6
136.1

a ()
7
20
34
52

sin a
0.113
0.334
0.559
0.783

Factor of safety =

9.15 m
89 degrees
1.55 rads
1.30

(1)

(2)

(3)

W sin a
5.7
51.8
112.7
106.5
276.8

c' b
31.5
31.5
31.5
31.5

21.2
65.2
84.7
57.2

1.13

W (1 - ru) tan f'

c' =
f' =
g=

(4)

(2) + (3)
52.7
96.7
116.2
88.7

sec a
1.006
1.061
1.206
1.606

tan a
0.114
0.354
0.675
1.257

Rigorous Method, ru = 0.4

(5)

(6)
(4) x (5)

seca
tan f ' tan a
1
F
F=
1.30
0.948
0.891
0.885
0.958

F=
1.17
0.942
0.875
0.859
0.917

F=
1.14
0.941
0.871
0.853
0.906

F=
1.30
49.9
86.2
102.8
84.9
323.9

F=
1.17
49.6
84.7
99.9
81.3
315.4

F=
1.14
49.5
84.3
99.1
80.4
313.3

Rigorous Method, ru = 0.6

0.81
Slope Stability Assessment
Rigorous Method
Other Data
Soil Properties

ru =

Slice
1
2
3
4

Radius, R =
Angle, q =
Angle, q =
First Trial F, F1 =

10 kPa
35
3
16 (kN/m )
0.6

z (m)
1.00
3.08
4.00
2.70

b (m)
3.15
3.15
3.15
3.15

W (kN)
50.4
155.2
201.6
136.1

a ()
7
20
34
52

sin a
0.113
0.334
0.559
0.783

Factor of safety =

9.15 m
89 degrees
1.55 rads
1.50

(1)

(2)

(3)

W sin a
5.7
51.8
112.7
106.5
276.8

c' b
31.5
31.5
31.5
31.5

14.1
43.5
56.5
38.1

0.81

W (1 - ru) tan f'

c' =
f' =
g=

(4)

(2) + (3)
45.6
75.0
88.0
69.6

sec a
1.006
1.061
1.206
1.606

tan a
0.114
0.354
0.675
1.257

Rigorous Method, ru = 0.6

(5)

(6)
(4) x (5)

seca
tan f ' tan a
1
F
F=
1.00
0.932
0.850
0.819
0.854

F=
0.86
0.921
0.823
0.778
0.793

F=
0.82
0.917
0.815
0.766
0.776

F=
1.00
42.5
63.7
72.1
59.5
237.8

F=
0.86
42.0
61.7
68.5
55.2
227.4

F=
0.82
41.8
61.1
67.4
54.0
224.3

ru
0.2
0.4
0.6

F
1.5
1.1
0.8

Variation of F with r
F
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0

1.5

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4
ru

of F with ru

1.1
0.8

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

This spreadsheet has been downloaded from the website that supports
Smith's Elements of Soil Mechanics, 8th Edition
Published by Blackwell Publishing, May 2006
ISBN: 1-4051-3370-8
Visit the website:
http://sbe.napier.ac.uk/esm

Purchase the book:

(Blackwell Publishing website)

Please note:
This spreadsheet is an aid for learning and should really only be
used in conjunction with the relevant section in the book.
It is not intended for use in geotechnical design.
Ian Smith, May 2006

http://sbe.napier.ac.uk/esm