Numerical Modeling and Simulation of the Stability of Earth Slopes

ABSTRACT Ghana, as most other countries, has a considerable variation in its topography. In an attempt to build cheaper, but yet the safe structures (i.e., roads, apartments, etc.), we are most often times faced with building on hill-sides and in valleys. This then calls for the need to correctly assess the stability of any adjacent slopes. In recent times, due to the extensive need for stability analysis in engineering practice, slope stability analysis programs have been developed. It is noted that these commercial slope stability programs are used extensively in the industry but are very expensive and require purchasing yearly licenses. As a result of this, slope stability analysis is not routinely conducted in local geotechnical engineering practice. The need for cheaper more accessible options is thus considered needful. This research initiative uses MATLAB, a commercially available, user-friendly and easy to access computing platform to develop a slope stability analysis program. The method used is the General Limit Equilibrium Method (GLE) with the adoption of the Morgenstern-Price (M-P) factor of safety (FoS) approach to develop a cheap, efficient, and yet effective model for slope stability analysis and design. The results of the program are validated by comparing with the results of SLOPE/W, a commercial slope stability program. The results show four model outputs from the developed program and SLOPE/W for a homogeneous material. Two different failure mechanisms are shown (i.e., toe and base failures). It is noted that the percentage error in the M-P FoS is less than 5%. It is anticipated that with the availability of this computer code, Ghanaian Engineers can more readily assess the safety of slopes in routine design works.