Application of Finite Element Method for safety factor analysis of slope stability

Applications of Finite Element Method in the slope stability analysis are discussed in this study. Influences from different properties of soil material followed by Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, different angles of slope, different groundwater depths below ground surface, and element types and element nodes on slope stability are evaluated using a FE code, PLAXIS and some results are compared with previous studies. This study shows the benefits of using finite element approach on slope stability and gives some conclusions for the practical use of the finite element method on slope stability analysis.