End Effects on Stability of Cohesive Slopes

The concept of the two-dimensional circular arc method of stability analysis is extended to three-dimensional slope stability problems. End effects on the stability of cohesive slopes due to failure along a finite length are evaluated by means of a computer program STAB3D developed for this purpose. As an application of the technique, two cases are considered: (1) The toe failure of a vertical cut where typical end effects are illustrated; and (2) the toe failure of a slope with any angle β when a finite length of failure is imposed. The stability of a test section embankment loaded to failure is analyzed.