Strains Preceding Failure in Infinite Slopes

An analysis is presented of the strains and displacements that take place in an infinite slope, consisting of an elastic‐plastic Mohr‐Coulomb material, due to the increase of the water table level. In particular, an attempt is made to establish a relationship between the displacements before failure and the slope safety factor. It is also shown that, for a slope of given geometry and mechanical properties, the strains and displacements before failure are significantly influenced by the ratio between the stress components parallel and normal to the slope. The initial state of stress plays a major role in defining the thickness of the shear zone within which the shear and volumetric plastic strains concentrate before failure.