Geotechnical Assessment of Rock Slope Stability Using Kinematic and Limit Equilibrium Analysis for Safety Evaluation

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the leading causes of slope instability along a local highway in Anhui, People’s Republic of China. As part of the east expansion project, the mountain range will be excavated to create a two-way, nearly 30 m wide highway. The site’s topography consists of a hill with palm-shaped faces carved from limestone running along its sides. The geological characteristics and slope stability of the research area highlight the possibility of slope failure along both sides of the roadway. Slope stability analysis was performed in order to determine the failure mechanism and create a stable slope. Initial slope characterization and shear properties of the rock were determined by means of fieldwork and laboratory analysis. By causing wedging failure and toppling collapse, the bedding joints and discontinuity orientations increase instability, as determined by a kinematic analysis performed with DIP.6 software. The Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) of analysis is presented in the software Slide 6.020 to illustrate the instability of the slope. The unstable condition of the slopes was determined using empirical methods that were validated and enhanced by limit equilibrium analysis.

Evaluation and stability assessment of road cut slope at Bhalupahad of Syangja District along Siddhartha Highway; Western Nepal

“…Nepal also faces the problem each year, causing huge loss of lives and property. The issue becomes more critical when concerned with road construction, especially in steep and mountainous regions [2]. The slope fails if the driving forces along an exposed discontinuity surface of either natural or cut slope exceed the shear resistance of that discontinuity.…”

Type of Rockslide along the Ponorogo – Pacitan Roads, East Java, Indonesia

“…However, these methods are often ineffective in predicting the potential for rock slope failure and its treatment because the rock slope stability is influenced by more factors than the soil slope. Hence, using empirical designs based on rock mass classification is more important than using analytical (Rahman et al, 2023).…”