Slope Stability Analysis by a New Graphical Method

The stability of slopes is commonly analyzed by the method of slices, which involves certain simplifying assumptions and, as normally applied, leads to conservative values of the factor of safety. A method of analysis developed by A. W. Bishop leads to more realistic values of the factor of safety but involves a tedious tabular form of computation. The derivation of Bishop's equation for the factor of safety of a slope is outlined briefly, and a graphical solution, similar to that introduced by D. R. May for the method of slices, is developed in detail. This graphical method is then applied to the stability analysis of two hypothetical slopes.