Abstract
A main objective of this paper is to demonstrate, by examples, the vast applicability of simple. direct formulae and graphs to solve a variety of slope stability problems in practice. The basic developments of these tools took place between 1920 and 1955, rougnly speaking, although a number of refinements have been added since. Only overall average conditions were considered in these approaches. Herein, three alternatives are presented, named Simple Equilibrium Analyses, SEA, Resistance Envelopes, RE, and Stability Charts, SC.
The practical exploration of the approximate stress distribution within a soil mass of a potential slide was based on limit equilibrium principles and the method of slices using non-circular shear surfaces. This approach was called the Generalized Procedure of Slices, GPS. Janbu (1957, 1973, 1996). A spread sheet version of GPS will be presented and used in an analysis of the initial slopes at the Finneidfjord Slide in June 1996. The numerical GPS-results compare well with the SEA, RE and SC analyses.
