Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Many slopes remain stable due to the strength imparted to them by suction stress. Thus, the necessity for stability charts to aid in design considerations in scenarios involving partial saturation has become essential. Therefore, this paper proposes a set of straightforward and quick stability charts for uniform unsaturated slopes using the kinematic approach of limit analysis, upper bound theorem. The charts covered various soil strength which ensured a case of frictional and c- $$\phi$$ slopes. The stability charts, which account for changes in suction due to infiltration, evaporation, or fluctuations in the water table level, eliminate the need for iterations. Validation against case studies from the literature showed generally excellent agreement, demonstrating the efficacy of the approach in assessing slope stability under unsaturated conditions. The significance of stability charts becomes evident when they are required in situations where conventional stability charts do not account for the effect of the suction stress on the stability.
Source: Environmental Earth Sciences
Author: Bestun J. Shwan
Institution: Salahaddin University-Erbil
Language: English
Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,290
OpenAlex ID: W7126091849