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Slope Stability
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MGGGC7105 - Slope Stability
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20240200
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1.2
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2026-09-10
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2026-09-10
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Engineering
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Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability
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Engineering
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Postgraduate - Coursework
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15
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.125
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030911
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Geotechnical Engineering
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030911 - Geotechnical Engineering
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<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/mgggc7105">View unit fees</a>
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Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
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<p>This course introduces the engineering behaviour of natural and engineered soil / rock slopes, the factors that affect the stability of the slopes, and the analysis methods with and without considering the variation of material properties under various conditions. Some basic knowledge about numerical modelling is also included in the course. After finishing the course, the students are anticipated to be able to analyse the stability of rock / soil slopes using the methods introduced during the course.</p>
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<p>Week 1 - Geology and slopes: Geological structure and slope movement, groundwater, seismic effects, initial stress, weathering, previous landslide activities, natural slopes, cut and fill.<br>
Week 2 - Drained and undrained condition: Total and effective stress theory, short and long term stability, selection of soil strength parameters.<br>
Week 3 - Slope stability analysis: Infinite slopes, plane failure, wedge failure, tension cracks.<br>
Week 4 - Slope stability analysis: Slip failure.<br>
Week 5 - Water effects: Rainfall induced landslides, rapid drawdown, and water rise in dam.<br>
Week 6 - Discontinuities in rocks and failure modes of rock slopes.<br>
Week 7 - Analysis of rock slopes: Limit equilibrium analysis, plane failure, wedge failure, Hoek and Bray simplified method.<br>
Week 8 - Slope stability in Intermediate Geotechnical Materials (IGMs) and case study.<br>
Week 9 - Numerical modelling: Stress and strain analysis, Introduction of finite element method and finite differential method, parameters required for numerical modelling.<br>
Week 10 - Slope stability evaluation index: Factor of safety and probability of failure.<br>
Week 11 - Probabilistic analysis: First order and reliability method, Monte Carlo simulation.<br>
Week 12 - Case study.</p>
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<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
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2027
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2026
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Overview
Key information
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Assessment
FedTASK
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Overview
Unit description
<p>This course introduces the engineering behaviour of natural and engineered soil / rock slopes, the factors that affect the stability of the slopes, and the analysis methods with and without considering the variation of material properties under various conditions. Some basic knowledge about numerical modelling is also included in the course. After finishing the course, the students are anticipated to be able to analyse the stability of rock / soil slopes using the methods introduced during the course.</p>
Unit content
<p>Week 1 - Geology and slopes: Geological structure and slope movement, groundwater, seismic effects, initial stress, weathering, previous landslide activities, natural slopes, cut and fill.<br> Week 2 - Drained and undrained condition: Total and effective stress theory, short and long term stability, selection of soil strength parameters.<br> Week 3 - Slope stability analysis: Infinite slopes, plane failure, wedge failure, tension cracks.<br> Week 4 - Slope stability analysis: Slip failure.<br> Week 5 - Water effects: Rainfall induced landslides, rapid drawdown, and water rise in dam.<br> Week 6 - Discontinuities in rocks and failure modes of rock slopes.<br> Week 7 - Analysis of rock slopes: Limit equilibrium analysis, plane failure, wedge failure, Hoek and Bray simplified method.<br> Week 8 - Slope stability in Intermediate Geotechnical Materials (IGMs) and case study.<br> Week 9 - Numerical modelling: Stress and strain analysis, Introduction of finite element method and finite differential method, parameters required for numerical modelling.<br> Week 10 - Slope stability evaluation index: Factor of safety and probability of failure.<br> Week 11 - Probabilistic analysis: First order and reliability method, Monte Carlo simulation.<br> Week 12 - Case study.</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability
Discipline:
Engineering
Study level:
Postgraduate - Coursework
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
030911 - Geotechnical Engineering
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/mgggc7105">View unit fees</a>
Requisites
Prerequisite
None
Corequisite
None
Exclusion
None
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
<p>On successful completion of this unit, students are expected to gain the following [K]nowledge, [S]kills and [A]pplication of knowledge & skills</p>
Learning Outcomes
Ref
Outcome
K1
<p>Describe the behaviour of natural and engineered soil / rock slopes under various weather and engineering conditions.</p>
K2
<p>Explain the factors that may affect the stability of slopes.</p>
K3
<p>Describe the difference between deterministic and probabilistic analysis methods for slope stability analysis.</p>
K4
<p>Select an appropriate slope stability analysis method subject to geometry of slope, material properties, and uncertainty of observations.</p>
K5
<p>Outline the use of advanced numerical modelling tools to analyse the behaviour of slopes.</p>
S1
<p>Choose appropriate material properties and use suitable methods to analyse the stability of different types of slopes.</p>
S2
<p>Assess the potential landslide risk of slopes.</p>
A1
<p>Analyse the stability of slopes considering a range of environmental and engineering processes.</p>
A2
<p>Use advanced numerical method tools to simulate the behaviour of slopes.</p>
Assessment
Learning Tasks and Assessment
Ref
Learning task
Assessment type
Weighting
Learning outcomes assessed
1
<p>Slopes for road embankments and dams.</p>
<p>Coursework â€" Essay (2000 words).</p>
<p>20-35%</p>
K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, A1
2
<p>Large excavation in open cuts.</p>
<p>Coursework - Case study and report (4000 words).</p>
<p>20-35%</p>
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, A1, A2
3
<p>Probabilistic and deterministic analysis of slopes.</p>
<p>Coursework - Project.</p>
<p>30-50%</p>
K3, K4, K5, S1, S2, A2
Supplementary assessment available:
Yes
Supplementary assessment information:
<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
FedTASK
FedTASK
<p>Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FedTASKs (<strong>T</strong>ransferable <strong>A</strong>ttributes <strong>S</strong>kills and <strong>K</strong>nowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key, transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and co-operative learning opportunities.</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability
Discipline:
Engineering
Study level:
Postgraduate - Coursework
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
030911 - Geotechnical Engineering
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/mgggc7105">View unit fees</a>
Additional information
Add Info Static Text
Internal reference: MGGGC7105 - U1.2