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Contents of 15.3 What factors determine slope stability?

Adding small amounts of water to sand produces increased cohesion, this is why you can build steep sand castle walls with moist sand not dry.

Fig 15.17

15.3 What factors determine slope stability?

Water: small amounts increase cohesion, but add too much and it causes particles to lose contact with one another reducing both friction and cohesion.

Angle of repose: this is the maximum angle of a stable slope as determined by the friction, cohesion, and particle shape.