Abstract
A limit equilibrium slope stability analysis method is proposed by considering progressive failure. A local factor of safety is defined at the base of each slice, and a unique idea is introduced to render the highly undeterminate problem determinate. A load-incremental procedure is developed for the analysis of progressive failure of slopes, in which total load including the soil self-weight is divided into many incremental steps, and with each load-incremental step, the analysis is repeated up to the final loading condition. It is shown that local failure and its evolution in slopes can be represented well by the value of local factor of safety. Finally, two problems including an actual failure of the dam are analyzed using the proposed method, and distribution of local failure areas in the slopes and values of the overall factor of safety are agreed with those obtained from FEM analyses.
