Slope stability analysis: A kinematical approach

A stability analysis of slopes based on a translational mechanism of failure is presented, The collapse mechanism is assumed to be in the form of rigid blocks analogous to slices in traditional slice methods, The proposed analysis, although based on the kinematical approach of limit analysis, always satisfies the equilibrium of forces acting on all blocks in the selected mechanism, AU slope stability analyses based on the limit equilibrium of slices can be interpreted in the context of their implicitly assumed collapse mechanisms, The static assumptions made are equivalent to assuming an arbitrary strength of the soil on interfaces between slices, Solutions to stability factor gamma H/c from all analyses based on the limit equilibrium of slices fall into a relatively narrow range bounded by the solutions using the proposed analysis for two extreme assumptions of soil strength between the blocks, Solutions beyond this range obtained by any method of slices indicate unreasonable consequences when interpreted in the context of the failure mechanism, A convenient way to include pore pressure effects is also presented and implemented in the analysis of both translational and rotational slope collapse.