1.5. Slope Stability Failure as an Example of Shearing Along Internal Surface

Try these first

1. 1.

   Define shear strength in your own words.

   Hint

   Think about the sliding or shearing forces acting on the soil.

2. 2.

   What are the two main components of shear strength?

   Hint

   One deals with sticking and the other with sliding.

3. 3.

   What is shear strength?

   • A measure of soil density
   • The capacity to resist sliding
   • The weight of the soil

   Hint

   Consider what happens when forces try to make the soil slide.

4. 4.

   True or False: Frictional resistance is a stress-independent property.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Remember the role of stress in friction.

5. 5.

   A saturated slope has a cohesion of 10 kPa and a normal stress of 30 kPa. Calculate the expected shear strength.

   Hint

   Don't forget to convert the angle to radians if needed.

6. 6.

   In a landslide scenario, analyze how decreasing cohesion affects the slope safety factor given a normal stress of 20 kPa.

   Hint

   Evaluate how lower cohesion shifts the stability balance.