Use of Graphical Technique for Stability Analysis of Embankment

Abstract

To authenticate the stability of homogeneous slopes, a simplified version of the friction circle method is presented in the proposed investigation. By introducing few simplified assumptions, the original friction circle method has been modified to provide a simpler and user-friendly technique for slope stability analysis of finite slopes. The graphical technique has been incorporated for the stability analysis of embankments in (c-) soils. The use of this method recompenses the drawbacks of other methods of their suitability for performing stability analysis in the field. The endeavor has been made in this work to make available the most critical slip surface that occurs in the field for the particular conditions. By using computer program these critical slip surfaces are originated and their correlation with the height, slope, and seepage conditions of the embankment has been established. Both toe circles and slope circles that envisage above the toe have been analyzed using this technique. Base circles are less critical unless the friction angle is less than 3 0 ( Terzaghi and Peck, 1984). Therefore, this method is most appropriate for analyzing slopes in c- soils. This method itself lends to back of the envelope type calculations useful for back calculating the geo-mechanical parameters such as c,,  and ru of known slides or imminent slides. Keywords: c - cohesion,  - friction angle of soils,  - density of soil, ru - pore pressure ratio.