ABSTRACT
The stability evaluation of the slope commonly uses limit equilibrium methods, for example, Fellenius’ method in Japan. The limit equilibrium methods have two limitations. It is necessary to divide the sliding mass into slices, and to set up some additional equations to make the problem statically determinate. It is necessary to search sliding surface with a minimum safety factor. Shear strength reduction finite element method (SSR-FEM) begins to be used to analyze the slope stability though it is not commonly in the design. The shear strength reduction factor F increases incrementally until the global failure of the slope reaches, which means that the finite element calculation diverges under a physically real convergence criterion. One of the main advantages of SSRFEM is that the safety factor emerges naturally from the analysis without the user having to commit to any particular from of the mechanism a priori.
