P.C. McWilliams’s scientific contributions

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Publications (4)


Factor-of-safety charts for estimating the stability of saturated and unsaturated tailings pond embankments
  • Conference Paper

January 1981

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13 Reads

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3 Citations

D.R. Tesarik

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P.C. McWilliams

Factor-of-safety contours are drawn for homogeneous earth embankments for two contrasting situations: no phreatic surface and a phreatic surface that assumes 10 percent freeboard. The curves provide a quick first approximation of the ''most stable'' and ''least stable'' condition of the embankment. 11 refs.


Probabilistic approach to the factor of safety for embankment slope stability

January 1981

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12 Reads

The authors have a conviction that some measure of the variability of the factor of safety should be used - ranging from something relatively simple, such as the coefficient of variation, to the probability of failure approach. It is not yet established whether three-dimensional modeling should replace the current two-dimensional slip-circle modeling. However, a designer with doubts about an embankment's safety would be advised to use the three-dimensional modeling. The Bureau of Mines has available for distribution a computer program which outputs the usual factor of safety (Fellenius, Bishop) plus the standard deviation of the factor of safety using first-order approximations. 11 refs.


PROBABILISTIC APPROACH TO THE FACTOR OF SAFETY FOR EMBANKMENT SLOPE STABILITY.

January 1981

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6 Reads

The authors have a conviction that some measure of the variability of the factor of safety should be used - ranging from something relatively simple, such as the coefficient of variation, to the probability of failure approach. It is not yet established whether three-dimensional modeling should replace the current two-dimensional slip-circle modeling. However, a designer with doubts about an embankment's safety would be advised to use the three-dimensional modeling. The Bureau of Mines has available for distribution a computer program which outputs the usual factor of safety (Fellenius, Bishop) plus the standard deviation of the factor of safety using first-order approximations.


Citations (1)


... Each failure mode has its own set of sequential data input fields. The hydrologic failure mode considers the following factors: The embankment slope failure potential is determined based on limit equilibrium stability charts provided in Tesarik & McWilliams (1981) and Hoek & Bray (1977). The charts use dam material properties, water levels, and slope geometry to determine the factor of safety of the embankment. ...

Reference:

Predicting Tailings Dam Failure and Release Volumes
Factor-of-safety charts for estimating the stability of saturated and unsaturated tailings pond embankments
  • Citing Conference Paper
  • January 1981