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Strength Characterization of Geomaterial and Slope Stabilization Solutions For Hilly Areas of Uttarakhand
Strength Characterization of Geomaterial and Slope Stabilization Solutions For Hilly Areas of Uttarakhand
Strength Characterization of Geomaterial and Slope Stabilization Solutions For Hilly Areas of Uttarakhand
Technical Details :
Scheme : State University Research Excellence (SERB SURE)
Research Area : Civil Engineering (Engineering Sciences)
Duration : 24 Months Contact No : +919827063045
Date of Birth : 23-May-1986
Nationality : INDIAN Total Cost (INR) : 22,87,880
Project Summary :
The purpose of this research project is, assessing the strength characteristics of the
soils/loose rocks that constitutes the major part of slopes in the state of Uttarakhand and
suggesting optimum Slope Stabilization Solutions by conducting parametric studies. The focus
area is related to the slope stability assessment along the route Rishikesh to Rudraprayag
(NH-58, 140 kms) and Rudraprayag to Mana Village (Badrinath) (NH-58, 160 kms). The slope
failure is very common in this region especially during the monsoon season that leads to
extensive resource allocation and time intensive solution. In the absence of strength
characteristics of the soils/loose rocks the feasibility of any solution is difficult to calculate.
The Char Dham All Weather Highway Development Project holds its importance due to
pilgrimage as well as because of its strategic importance. The widening of road lead to the
formation of acute slopes which eventually fail. Such instance of slope failure led to closure of
roads from few hours to several days. Due to the terrain, the sample collection and testing at
any particular location becomes difficult. The broad objectives of the project include the
following: a. Identifying the critical sections in the 300 kms stretch of highway, in terms of
geometry of slopes and collection of soil samples from the locations. b. Assessing the strength
characteristics of the soils/loose rocks collected from critical locations by conducting
experimental studies. c. Exploring the causes of slope failure in various types of geomaterials
due to prevailing geotechnical conditions with the help of LEM software and will provide the
logical approach for solution. d. Parametric study of various slope stabilization solutions will
be conducted with the help of analysis software based on Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM). e.
Preparation of easy-to-understand guide for maintaining slopes in safe in conditions. Various
slope geometry with geomaterial properties and geotechnical conditions will be investigated.
Evaluation of various slope stabilization solutions will include: Gravity wall, Retaining wall,
Gabions, MSE wall, Soil nails, Rock bolts. Laboratory testing for strength characteristics of
the soils/loose rocks will be conducted. Particle size analysis curve will be plotted by
performing sieve analysis with the help of Heavy-Duty Sieve Shaker. The sieves sizes will
range from 53 mm to 0.075 mm. Then the representative samples will be tested in Electronic
Direct Shear Apparatus. The sample size will be 300 mm x 300 mm x 150 mm. The output of
the project will be shared with various governmental agencies which are In-charge of various
types construction activities in the region like residential projects, transportation projects.
The outcome will be the knowledge complied in the report as many
Executives/Planners/Supervisors lack extensive geotechnical engineering experience.
Objectives :
The broad objectives of the project include the following: a. Identifying the critical sections in
the 300 kms stretch of highway, in terms of geometry of slopes and collection of soil samples
from the locations. b. Assessing the strength characteristics of the soils/loose rocks collected
from critical locations by conducting experimental studies. c. Exploring the causes of slope
failure in various types of geomaterials due to prevailing geotechnical conditions with the help
of LEM software and will provide the logical approach for solution. d. Parametric study of
various slope stabilization solutions will be conducted with the help of analysis software based
on Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM). e. Preparation of easy-to-understand guide for
maintaining slopes in safe in conditions.
Keywords :
Slope Stability, Strength Characterization, Slope Stabilization
Planned Collaboration for the proposed work with any foreign scientist/ institution ? No
My institute is in Pauri region. It is 100 kms from Rishikesh. I am seeing the implementation of Char
Dham All Weather Highway Development Project worth 12000 Crores. And in the last three and half
years of my work I travelled extensively on various road in Uttarakhand. The widening of road lead
to the formation of acute slopes which eventually fail. Such instance of slope failure led to closure of
roads from few hours to several days. Various residential/institutional projects in mountainous region
are constructed by a creating a cut on a side of slope and extending it to provide a flat area. This leads
to near vertical sections that needs to be stabilized. The figure below elaborates the situation.
I completed the consultancy project of stabilizing the slope by designing the soil nail section.
I encountered the difficulty of obtaining soil strength and conducting any in-situ testing due to the
location of site.
In this project I will collect the soil samples from various locations and catalogue their strength
characteristics. I will further workout the optimum slope stabilizing technique that will help various
agencies working in this region.
I came across various research projects where a regional study is conducted with the purpose of
helping the local governmental agencies. Here is such an example: “Slope Stabilization and Repair
Solutions for Local Government Engineers” by David Saftner, Principal Investigator, Department of
Civil Engineering University of Minnesota, Duluth. Relevance of study is that for a particular region
this will provide a knowledge repository.
Several research papers were found that were dedicated to study the slope stability of a particular
road section. Papers were arranged in reversed chronological order.
• Cut slope stability assessment along ghat road section of Kolli hills, India (2016) by S.
Anbazhagan, V. Ramesh and S. E. Saranaathan
• Dudeja, D., Bhatt, S.P. & Biyani, A.K. Stability assessment of slide zones in Lesser
Himalayan part of Yamunotri pilgrimage route, Uttarakhand, India. Environ Earth Sci 76, 54
(2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6366-y
• Slope stability analysis and mitigation measures for selected landslide sites along NH-205 in
Himachal Pradesh, India (2020) by Akhilesh Kumar, Ravi Kumar Sharma and Bikram Singh
Mehta
• Slope stability analysis of landslide zones in the part of Himalaya, Chamba, Himachal
Pradesh, India (2021) by Kanwarpreet Singh and Virender Kumar
The Char Dham All Weather Highway Development Project holds its importance due to
pilgrimage as well as because of its strategic importance. The widening of road lead to the formation
of acute slopes which eventually fail. Such instance of slope failure led to closure of roads from few
hours to several days. As a part of project soil samples from various critical locations will be
collected and evaluated. This catalogue of soil strength characteristics and along with their optimum
slope stabilizing technique will help various agencies working in this region to mitigate unstable
slopes along the 300 km highway stretch.
In the proposed project work the Strength Characterization of Geomaterial will be done by
testing on the Electronic Direct Shear Apparatus. The sample size will be 300 mm x 300 mm x 150
mm. None of the study so far is using the large sample. The advantage of using large sample is the
inclusion of large size of particles which will truly simulate of field condition. None have used the
bigger sieves and have excluded the particles of coarser than 4.75 mm. The sieves sizes in this project
is of range from 53 mm to 0.075 mm.
2.4 If the project is location specific, basis for selection of location be highlighted:
The focus area is related to the slope stability assessment along the route Rishikesh to
Rudraprayag (NH-58, 140 kms) and Rudraprayag to Mana Village (Badrinath) (NH-58, 160 kms).
The access to front posts of borders shared with China is of critical importance. The road till
Mana which is last Indian village and is at border of India and China has its strategic importance. It
has to maintained for free movement of Indian Armed forces throughout the year.
3. Work Plan:
3.1 Methodology:
The details of Char Dham All Weather Highway Development Project are provided in the figure
below. The widening of national highway led to the formation of acute slopes which eventually fail.
Such instance of slope failure led to closure of roads from few hours to several days.
1. Literature Review
6. Compilation of report
The focus area is related to the slope stability assessment along the route Rishikesh to Rudraprayag
(NH-58, 140 kms) and Rudraprayag to Mana Village (Badrinath) (NH-58, 160 kms). The critical
locations will be identified by travelling along the entire route in stages.
The methodology is straightforward. After identification of the critical sections in the 300
kms stretch of highway, the collection of soil samples from the locations is planned. The soil samples
will be subjected to sieve analysis and then the strength characteristics will be investigated by
conducting experimental studies in Electronic Direct Shear Apparatus.
Then the slope stability will be calculated by using LEM software. Evaluation of various
slope stabilization solutions will include: Gravity wall, Retaining wall, Gabions, MSE wall, Soil
nails, Rock bolts. Parametric study of various slope stabilization solutions will be conducted with the
help of analysis software based on Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM).
Finally, a report containing easy-to-understand guide, will be prepared for maintaining slopes in
safe in conditions.
Literature Review
Procurement of Software
3.3 Suggested Plan of action for utilization of research outcome expected from the project.
The output of the project will be shared with various governmental agencies which are In-charge of
various types construction activities in the region like residential projects, transportation projects.
The outcome will be the knowledge complied in the report as many
Executives/Planners/Supervisors lack extensive geotechnical engineering experience. They will
know the safe slope angles and the optimum Slope Stabilization Solutions suitable for any
particular geomaterial at site and prevailing geotechnical condition.
NA
Dr. Sareesh Chandrawanshi, PI, completed his Ph.D. (2018) as well as M. Tech (2013) from the
Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal. The thesis work accomplished at both the
Post-graduate level and Doctorate level is in the area of ground improvement techniques. PI is
currently working as an Assistant Professor (selected in current position in year 2019) in the
Department of Civil Engineering, G.B. Pant Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pauri
(Garhwal), Uttarakhand. PI has extensive experience working in the geotechnical engineering with
a good publication record. His interest and teaching comprise of subjects: Soil Exploration, Slope
Stability Analysis and Ground Improvement Techniques. He has completed one consultancy project
“Protection work of hill side behind the four-occupancy block for Rastriya Sanskrit Sansthan at
Devprayag, Pauri.”, funded by CPWD (stabilized two sections with different configuration of Soil
Nails). He has successfully completed 2 research projects, and has one ongoing research projects
which is near completion.
NA
4.4 Bibliography
• Kumar, Akhilesh & Sharma, Ravi & Mehta, B.. (2020). Slope stability analysis and
mitigation measures for selected landslide sites along NH-205 in Himachal Pradesh, India.
Journal of Earth System Science. 129. 10.1007/s12040-020-01396-y.
• Anbazhagan, S., Ramesh, V. & Saranaathan, S.E. Cut slope stability assessment along ghat
road section of Kolli hills, India. Nat Hazards 86, 1081–1104 (2017).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2731-0
• Singh, K., Kumar, V. Slope stability analysis of landslide zones in the part of Himalaya,
Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, India. Environ Earth Sci 80, 332 (2021).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09629 -z
• Saftner, David; Carranza-Torres, Carlos; Nelson, Mitchell. (2017). Slope Stabilization and
Repair Solutions for Local Government Engineers. Minnesota Department of
Transportation. Retrieved from the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy,
https://hdl.handle.net/11299/189537
• Dudeja, D., Bhatt, S.P. & Biyani, A.K. Stability assessment of slide zones in Lesser
Himalayan part of Yamunotri pilgrimage route, Uttarakhand, India. Environ Earth Sci 76, 54
(2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6366-y
or sharing basis
7. Transportation Yes
PI's Fully functional Geotechnical Laboratory which caters to the need of graduation
level students. The equipment which will be used from the laboratory include:
Oven, Weighing scales, Hammers, Tools for soil sample collection.
Generic Name ,Model No. , (Make)/ Justification Quantity Spare time Estimated Cost
Sieves
Accessory to HE-SPL (HEICO) 1 50 % 1,53,400
Sieves were made of M.S. Steel G.I. Frame. Perforation plate 53
mm, 40 mm, 36.5 mm, 27.5 mm, 25 mm, 19 mm, 13.2 mm,
12.5 mm, 10 mm, 9.5 mm, 10 mm, 9.5 mm, 6 mm, 4.75 mm lid
and pan
Electronic Direct Shear Apparatus
HS24.520 (HEICO) 1 25 % 9,14,500
This is required for Laboratory testing for strength
characteristics of the soils/loose rocks. The sample size of this
equipment is 300 mm x 300 mm x 150 mm. The advantage of
using large sample is the inclusion of large size of particles
which will truly simulate of field condition.
Heavy Duty Sieve Shaker
HE-SPL (HEICO) 1 50 % 6,50,180
This sieve shaker is heavy duty and is suitable for rectangular
sieves. A lot of soil sample will be tested and since large
particles are present a heavy duty machine is required.
Sieves
Accessory to HE-SPL (HEICO) 1 50 % 1,29,800
Wire Mesh (Rectangular shape) 2.36 mm, 1.70 mm, 1.18 mm,
0.600 mm, 0.425 mm, 0.300 mm, 0.150 mm and 0.075 mm, lid
and pan
12. Publications (List of papers published in SCI Journals, in year wise descending order).
S.No. Author(s) Title Name of Journal Volume Page Year