1. Rock Slope Stability Analysis: Limit Equilibrium Method
Plane failure analysis
Wedge failure analysis
Toppling failure analysis

2. Planar Failure Analysis
The block is considered to undergoes slippage along the plane for the value of ratio < 1, else it is stable
A block is rest on a slope having angle θ

3. Plane failure analysis along a discontinuityθ A B C H
Unstable Block blockW α W
Geometry of a slope for plane failure

4. Plane failure analysis along a discontinuity
Planar Failure Analysis
the plane on which sliding occurs must strike parallel or nearly parallel (within approximately ) to the slope face
the failure must daylight in the slope face. This means that its dip must be smaller than the dip of the slope face
the dip of the failure plane must be greater than the angle of internal friction angle of this plane

5. Plane failure analysis along a discontinuity
W cosθ W
W sinθ R
Block A
Factor of safety =
Factor of safety =
Normal Stress;
Shear Stress ,
Factor of safety = =

6. Water is filled in discontinuities
The effective normal stress due to present of water in the joint, is given as

7. Tension crack present in the upper slope surface
Tension crack in upper surface of slope and in the face

10. Tension crack present in the slope surface

11. Compound slope with water in upper slope angle
Compound slopes have appreciable angle with the horizontal. High slope formation has in generally a positive upper slope angle while the shorter slope has a negative slope angle
Compound slope with a positive upper slope angle
Geometry of slope with tension crack in upper slope angle

13. Effect of rock bolts
Geometry of slope with tension crack in upper slope and its interaction with rock bolt

15. Wedge Failure Analysis
Geometric conditions of wedge failure: (a) pictorial view of wedge failure; (b) stereoplot showing
the orientation of the line of intersection

16. Analysis of wedge failure considering only frictional resistance
Resolution of forces to calculate factor of safety of wedge: (a) view of wedge looking at face showing definition of
angles β and α, and reactions on sliding Plane RA and RB, (b) stereonet showing measurement of angles β and α, (c) cross-
section of wedge showing resolution of wedge weight W.

17. Plane failure analysis along a discontinuity

18. Analysis of wedge failure with cohesion and friction angle
Pictorial View of wedge showing the numbering of intersection lines and planes

19. Analysis of wedge failure with cohesion and friction angle

20. Analysis of wedge failure with cohesion and friction angle

21. Toppling Failure Analysis

22. Kinematics of block toppling failure

23. Inter-layer slip test

24. Block alignment test

25. Limit equilibrium analysis for toppling failure

26. Limit equilibrium analysis for toppling failure
Model for limiting equilibrium analysis of toppling on a stepped base (Goodman and Bray, 1976).

27. Forces acting on the nth column sitting on a stepped base