Slope Stability Analysis Explained: Factor of Safety
Slope Stability Analysis Explained: Will This Slope Stand? Engineers answer that question with one number, the factor of safety (FS) . It compares the forces that resist sliding along a slip surface with the forces that drive it. Above 1 the slope stands. Below 1 it slides. The resisting side comes from the soil's shear strength (Mohr-Coulomb), and water pressure in the soil lowers it. That is why many landslides happen after heavy rain. The analysis follows five steps: investigate the site, assume a slip surface, compute FS, search for the critical surface, and check every condition (long-term, short-term, earthquake, rapid drawdown). The main methods are: Infinite slope, for shallow slides parallel to the surface Ordinary method of slices (Fellenius) Bishop's and Janbu's simplified methods Spencer and Morgenstern-Price, the rigorous limit equilibrium methods Finite element strength reduction, which needs no assumed surface In practice we never design for FS = ...