Analysis types > Slope stability analysis

The method, based on finite element formulation as described earlier, can be applied with complex slope configurations in two dimensions to model virtually all types of mechanisms. General soil material models that include Mohr-Coulomb and others can be employed. The equilibrium stress, strains, and the associated shear strengths in the soil mass can be computed very accurately.

During the analysis the program gradually reduces the basic strength characteristics of the soil mass until failure occurs. The factor of safety (FS) is to be assessed, and this quantity is defined as the proportion by which tan Φ (friction angle) and c (cohesion) must be reduced in order to cause failure with the gravity loading kept constant. This is in contrast to the bearing capacity analysis in which failure is induced by increasing the loads with the material properties remaining constant.