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Slope stability analysis report

Technical Report · October 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.12503.42405

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Charfeldine Mahammedi
University of the West of England, Bristol
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 Slope stability
analysis report
Mahammedi charf el dine
 Table of Contents
I/ Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 4
II/ The potential variation of water table ............................................................................................. 4
III/ Stability analysis of the slope ........................................................................................................ 5
III-I/ Methods of calculating slope stability..................................................................................... 5
III-2/ Methods slices ........................................................................................................................ 6
III-3/ Effect of Water on Slope Stability.......................................................................................... 7
IV- 4 Software Analysis .................................................................................................................... 8
V- The limitation of retained water ................................................................................................... 10
VI-Maximizing the capacity of the dam with low risk of slope ........................................................ 10
VII- Conclusions and Recommendations .......................................................................................... 11
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................. 12

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 List of Figures

Figure 1-A. Water level in piezometers in the same level of reservoir………………………………4

Figure 1-B. Reservoir level water above water level in piezometer…………………………………4
Figure 1-C. Piezometer water level above reservoir level …………………………………………..4
Figure 2 Methods of calculating slope stability……………………………………………………...5
Figure 3 Methods slices……………………………………………………………………………...5
Figure 4 Rainfall in high elevation in sliding surface………………………………………………11

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I/ Introduction
This report is intended to give conception about dam in Guangxi province in China; recommendations
touching the site of the project. Specifically the report will include discussion about the impact of the
dam on the variation of the water level. Secondly, analyses study of slope stability on the left side of
the river valley by using computer software, to explore the likelihood of slope failures. The
modulation will be done by Geostudio version 2007, in addition guidelines for engineering to reduce
the risk of slope instability. Another discussion will be made about the influence of retained water on
limits of dam size; finally this report will include conclusion and recommendations.

II/ The potential variation of water table

The variation of the water table is relevant to many factors: rainfall, river flux and the permeability
of soil and rock surrounded the dam.
The below figures shows the potential variation of water table, usually, the piezometers follow closely
the changing levels of the reservoir. The initial readings of Fig 1-c, the piezometer indicates water
pressures above the reservoir surface, this information has been interpreted as an indication of
additional factors, other than the level in the reservoir, which may control the water pressure at the
sliding surface. Rainfall water infiltrating at high elevations of left side of the dam may result a high
pore pressures. On the other hand, the simultaneous variation of piezometer and reservoir levels is a
good indication of the high permeability of the rock mass above the sliding surface.

Figure 1-a: Water level in piezometers in the same Fig1-b: Reservoir level water above water level in
level of reservoir piezometer

Figure 1-c: Piezometer water level above reservoir level

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III/ Stability analysis of the slope
Before the start of use the analysis of slope by Geostudio is preferable to understand the methodology
of slope stability and the methods involves in this analysis. Slope stability analysis involves
determining the shear stress developed along the most likely rupture surface and comparing it with
the shear strength of the soil. The most likely rupture surface is the critical surface that has the
minimum factor of safety. (Jacques Lérau. 2006)
The only visual assessment of the strength of a bank does not provide enough information to assess
its stability and the safety margin is unknown (Andres and al., 1986). This stability can only be
determined by a method based on the geotechnical characteristics calculation. The safety of a slope
depends in particular:
 Properties of the terrain,
 The inclination of the slope,
 The depth of the trench or excavation (height of the slope)
 The position of the groundwater
 Static and dynamic loads.

Stability analysis of land slip is a complex operation to the extent that a multitude of interfering
aspects, including the uncertainty of geotechnical parameters. The sliding mechanism is also complex
and is described by the calculation of slope stability as a simple way.

III-I/ Methods of calculating slope stability

Two techniques for calculating slope stability are comm. Only used under the conditions of plastic
rupture (CHEN, 1975):
 The methods of limit equilibrium,
 Analytical methods limit constraints

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 Method of calculating
slope stability

Methodof limit Method of analysis

equilibrium strength limit

Slices method(use for heterogen soil)

Fellenius

Bishop

Morgenters
ext..
.
Figure 2: Methods of calculating slope stability

III-2/ Methods slices

The basic principle of all these methods (Fellenius, Bishop...) is to decompose the soil mass into slices
to reflect a change in soil characteristics (Figure 2). Then consider the resulting inter-slice forces
acting on an application point (Chowdhury, 1978).

Figure 3: Methods slices

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III-3/ Effect of Water on Slope Stability
According to (Andres and Wulliman 1986)
Frictional Soils
Below Water Table, buoyancy reduces shearing resistance.
Clays:
Cohesive Strength decreases as water content increases.
Fills on Clays and Silts :
Soil consolidates as water is squeezed out factor of safety increases with time.
Cuts in Clay :
Soil absorbs water when overburden pressure removed, factor of safety decreases with time.
Shale’s, Clay stones, Siltstones, Etc.
Weak rock materials “Slake” when exposed to water embankments Undergo Internal settlement
or failure.

III-4 The parameters intrinsic 'C' and 'φ'

The Cohesion “C”

It expresses the shear strength of the soil under normal forced zero. This is the inherent resistance of
the structure due mainly to feeder physic-chemical type.
It does not exist in granular soils that do not have such links. It is relatively high for fine soils strongly
over consolidated. It disappears when these bonds are broken by shear, which is approximately
maximum curve break as it accounts for a significant share in the values of the safety factors
calculated, must pay attention to the values that we adopted in the calculations. (Jacques Lérau, 2006)
The friction angle 'φ'
It reflects the friction in the sliding grain on grain.
For a granular soil, its depends substantially on the state of compactness of the material value instead.
As this condition is difficult to measure, so it is difficult to reproduce in the laboratory, must again
pay attention to the value of the test results.
In the case of fine-grained soils, it has been possible to demonstrate the influence of the clay
mineralogical components on the value of g. It is noticeable that the presence of montmorillonite
which gives rise to high values of plasticity, and harmful to the resistance shearing. This material
further having the ability to swell in the presence of water and a source of many troubles. (Jacques
Lérau, 2006)

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IV- 4 Software Analysis
The analysis on this report was carried out using the "Geostudio 2007" software package. The results
from the Bishop method are those considered most applicable, as the Bishop to provide a more
accurate measure of the Factor of Safety (Fs) for any given slip circle. (J Race)
The stability analysis is performed by calculating in ground breaking, in such a calculation, three
types of fit parameters characterizing
 Geometry
 The hydraulic regime
 Shear strength.
The software will analyze several slips at different area on the slope, at many depths. Meanwhile the
software would look automatically for the minimum Fs. The shear strength parameters to be included
in the calculations are suggested mainly to expect the behavior of the slope.
The results are taken from tow studies cases, regarding to potential parameters of soil (cohesion,
friction angle, specific weight). In the first case of study the parameters of soil are similar to
proprieties of soil in reality where the angle of internal friction of clay is limited between 20°-30°,
and the cohesive strength generally is between 10-25KPA. In addition the Unit weight of clay is
limited between 16-18 KN/𝑚3 .

Case N°1

Cohesion C (KN/𝑚3 ) friction angle ( 𝜑 0 ) Unit weight (𝛾) (KN/𝑚3 )

Clay 20 25 17
Calcaire 20 30 20

Clay
Calcaire

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The factor of safety is low (0.423), thus it will be increased by maximizing the shear strength
(resistance forces) of soil, raise the cohesion and friction angle and on the other side to minimize the
driving forces, the weight of the soil should be decreased.

Case N°2

Cohesion C (KN/𝑚3 ) friction angle ( 𝜑 0 ) Unit weight (𝛾) (KN/𝑚3 )

Clay 30 40 15
Calcaire 20 30 20

Calcaire
Clay

Although the high values of shear strength parameters which are unrealistic, the potential failure of
slope is high (F=0.739), in this situation many measures should be taken to improve the security of
the slope. These values are perfect, in reality is hard to get this values,

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V- The limitation of retained water
To determine the height necessary for storing the required volume of water. For this purpose engineers
should make several approximations to determine the size of the dam that will store this volume of
water.

As result of geologic constraints of the site, weak shear stress of clay and low factor of safety, these
con weak conditions make the effect of retained water level in this dam will be more considerable in
the slides rather than in upstream of the dam. This pressure is likely to cause failure within the soil.

The factor of safety decreases as the reservoir water level increases, because the shear stress of clay
will drop, furthermore, reservoir water level raise, the slides velocity increase, which means the risk
of sliding increases by raising retained water.

The question after this discussion is: Does low fill of dam will ensure the stability of slope?

From previous analysis perspective, submerging the toe of slope will lead to reduce stability of slides,
in addition rainfall in high elevation creates prevailing water pressures on the sliding surface, thus the
potential of dam failure still exist although reduction of reservoir water level.

Rainfall

Figure 4: Rainfall in high elevation in sliding surface

VI-Maximizing the capacity of the dam with low risk of slope

From the available data, the relationship between the size of the dam and risk slope is not linear, in
other words we can’t say however the capacity of the dam increases the risk of slope increases, is
reversed. Because low amount of retained water can provoke slides movement.

Managing a very large landslide is daunting issue, many measures can be taken by engineers to
keep the ground movement under control:

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  Prevent or drastically reduce the penetration of rain water.
 Create partial landslides.
 Drain the soil with galleries.
 Cementing ground to make it waterproof,
 Build a barrier in front of the potential landslide by dropping the explosive rock masses
from the other side,

These measures can’t ensure the stability of a slope after filling the dam, because the volume of slip
is important and the interaction with water weakens the soil properties, where is hard to prevent the
contact of sliding with water by decreasing retained water because the rainfall will weakens the
proprieties of the soil.

VII- Conclusions and Recommendations

Based on the provider information, and the results of the stability analysis of the sloping ground on
the left side of the river valley, this part will have minus ability of stability, and it will be indispensable
to seeking for options to improve stability in order to achieve minimum factor of safety. The
techniques mentioned in this report may will be useful for more comfortable stability, but they
couldn’t ensure the required factors until other deep study about the feasibility of those techniques.

Despite all the precautions that can be taken, it is never certain that there will be no disturbances on
a slope. If there is a significant risk, then consider setting up monitoring systems and alert.

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 REFERENCES

Andres, F. Et Wulliman, R. (1986), Travaux en tranchée. 2ème Edition Française,

Baufachverlag S.A. Zurich.

Bergeron, C., Dehayas, H. and Pointet, T. Remontées des nappes d’eau souterraine cause et effets.
Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Département des applications graphique. juin 1983.

Chowdhury, R. N. (1978) "Slope analysis". Developments in geotechnical engineering vol.22,

Elsevier, Amsterdam.

J Race BSc CGeol FGS EurGeol, slope stability analysis report, November 2011
Jacques Lérau. 2006. ‘Geotechnics 1’. National Institute of Applied Sciences Toulouse, Department
of Science and Technology for Engineering, Chapters 4,

Reiffsteck Ph. Mecanique des sols avancés, Stabilités des pentes, Laboratoire central des ponts et
chaussées(LCPC)

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