SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS USING SLOPEEX PROGRAM IN COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE

Abstract

Slope stability analysis is routinely performed to assess the safe design of man-made soil slopes such as embankments, road cuts, open-pit mining, excavations, dams, landfills, etc. The design of a soil slope requires geological information such as soil layers, soil properties, slope geometry, groundwater conditions and natural or man-made forces acting on the slope. The objectives of slope stability analysis are to investigate potential failure mechanisms, to design an optimal slope with safety, reliability and economics considerations and to design possible remedial measures in slope reinstatement works. SlopeEX is a slope stability analysis programme. It is an EXCEL® spreadsheet programmed based on the simplified Bishop’s method. This paper exploit SlopeEX programme in comparison with one of the most used commercial software namely Slope/W. A few cases of slope condition have been analyzed using both programmes to find the consistency of the results obtained. The results of the SlopeEX analysis have been compared with the results obtained from SLOPE/W and it shows that the different percentage in safety factors obtained by both programmes are very nominal ranges between 1 % to 8 % and are found to be consistent. From the results obtained from the analysis, it can be concluded that SlopeEX programme is comparable with the commercial software for slope stability analysis. It is affordable, simple and easy to use for students, researchers or engineers.