TABLE OF CONTENTS The design of the foundation must consider the consequences of slope movement. For example, if the foundation is too close to the top of the slope, then any slope movement could cause settlement and lateral deformation of the structure. To mitigate this effect, building codes often require that the foundation be setback from the top of slope. For example, the International Building Code (2006) requires that the foundation be setback from the face of the slope a minimum distance of H/3, where H = height of the slope, but the distance need not exceed 40 ft (12 m).
This chapter will be devoted to the slope stability analyses for static conditions. Slope stability analyses for earthquakes will be covered in Chap. 13. Slope movement can generally be divided into six basic categories, as follows:
Rockfalls or topples. This is usually an extremely rapid movement that includes the free fall of rocks, movement of rocks by leaps and bounds down the slope face, and/or the rolling of rocks or fragments of rocks down the slope face (Varnes, 1978). A rock topple is similar to a rockfall, except that there is a turning moment about the center of gravity of the rock, which results in an initial rotational type movement and detachment from the slope face. Rockfalls are discussed in Sec. 10.2.
Surficial slope stability. Surficial slope instability involves shear displacement along a distinct failure (or slip) surface. As the name implies, surficial slope stability...
