The manual guides the user on how to optimize these searches to ensure the global minimum factor of safety is found, rather than a local minimum that might give a false sense of security.
Once the "Solve" command is executed, SLOPE/W provides a visual contour of the Factor of Safety. The slope is theoretically stable. FoS < 1.0: The slope is unstable. geostudio slope w manual
Defining the failure surface is critical. The manual details the various algorithms used to search for the critical slip surface—the surface with the lowest factor of safety. The manual guides the user on how to
The manual provides guidance on selecting horizontal acceleration coefficients (kh) based on peak ground acceleration (PGA). It warns against using pseudo-static for liquefiable soils without modification. FoS Defining the failure surface is critical
Select a Limit Equilibrium method. Morgenstern-Price is often the default as it satisfies both force and moment equilibrium.
Always run a sensitivity analysis on your most uncertain parameters (like cohesion or water table height) to see how they impact the FoS.
Based on a decade of technical support experience and the manual's "Troubleshooting" chapter, here are the top 5 user errors: