ABSTRACT
In the design of slopes, the strength parameters of the geomaterials, such as cohesion and internal friction angle, must first be evaluated. Furthermore, practising engineers are aware of the displacements of slopes during construction sometimes being large, so that additional support measures are needed. Among the various kinds of field measurements, displacement measurements are most commonly performed because of their reliability and ease of handling. In monitoring, however, displacements are usually measured to assess the stability of a slope. In order to link the design of slopes to the monitoring of them, two approaches namely: stress-based approach and strain-based approach, for assessing the stability of slopes are available in terms of the factor of safety. In jointed rock masses, toppling failure often occurs, so that the stability of toppling failure must be properly assessed. Toppling is a specific characteristic of highly jointed rock masses, and it has never appeared in soils.
