Slope failure has become a common phenomenon around the world, often taking a heavy toll on human lives. Both, natural and man-made slopes created, are susceptible to failure unless sufficient stability is not imparted. Knowledge of all the factors causing failure is an important aspect to understand the mechanical behavior of slope material. The shear strength parameters, cohesion, and angle of internal friction of failed material, determined from laboratory and in-situ tests may be misleading. Back analysis is a much reliable and consistent method to estimate the mobilized parameters in-situ. This paper explores the application of traditional limit equilibrium method (LEM) and Finite Element Method (FEM) to perform back analysis and find out the probability of failure of slopes. It performs probabilistic analysis on a case of failed slope using both the methods. This paper shall discuss certain indispensable drawbacks of limit equilibrium method and how Finite Element method can help to overcome those limitations.

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