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Silo-O - Slope Stability Analysis Report Rev B - TO REVIEW
Silo-O - Slope Stability Analysis Report Rev B - TO REVIEW
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1.0 Introduction
The purpose of this technical memorandum is to evaluate the ground load at the portals for the proposed tunnel at
Silo-o Hydroelectric project.
The purpose of this technical memorandum is to evaluate the stability of proposed slope and mitigation measures at
the Outlet portal (encircle in the below Figure) of the tunnel at Silo-O. The main tunnel alignment is about 1.8 km
long with overburden depths of up to about 400 m (maximum) with a tunnel diameter of 3m. The schematic drawing
of tunnel with Outlet portal location is shown below.
Based on the Geological Map of the regional geology of the area comprises Pliocene Quaternary which is
composed of volcanic plain or volcanic piedmont deposits. Chiefly pyroclastics and/or volcanic debris at
the foot of volcanoes (see Figure 1).
characteristics of soil & rock were partly assumed and partly taken from Jacob’s report. The Shear strength
reduction analysis has been carried out in RS2 to understand the factor of safety against slope/rotational failure. In
this analysis the shear strength properties are reduced to determine the critical strength reduction factor (SRF) after
which the model collapses. Hence the SRF can be considered equivalent to a factor of safety in any limit equilibrium
analysis. The points of maximum shear strain, maximum total displacement and yielded elements highlight indicate
the critical slip circle.
In the current analysis, both soil & rock are modelled. The Mohr Coulomb failure criteria is used for soil strata in
Material model and Generalised Hoek brown failure for rock strata. The analysis is carried out with and without
jointed rock model. The joint is parallel and sloping downwards at a 20degree angle with 0.5m spacing which is
based on geologist observations at site. The joint information in cross direction is not available and hence not
applied to the jointed rock model.
To carry out shear strength reduction analysis in jointed rock model the joint shear parameters also need to be given
as input and after that SSR analysis can be applied. Since the joint shear parameters are not given in geotechnical
report provided by Client, the same has been assumed based on relevant international papers on joint parameters of
Sandstone rock.
Different cases are considered to derive the SRF for the given outlet portal. The summary of the analysis carried out
is give in table below.
The output of each model pertaining to the cases described above along with their parameters are given described in
sections below.
Soil C’- 6kPa, Ф’-32, ɤ - 19- Drained Mohr Coulomb Soil parameters assumed based on
SPT ‘N’ values. Rock parameters
Highly UCS-40MPa, mi-15, GSI-35, ɤ - Generalized Hoek like mb, ɤ are taken from
weathered 24kN/m3 Ei = 7000Mpa Brown – Reference [2]. GSI & UCS value is
Jointed rock mass- based on Geologist site visit & Ei
Technical Memorandum on Outlet Portal slope stability
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rock Joint Inclination: (-)20degrees Mohr Coulomb Slip value considered from Reference
Criteria [1]. Rock joint orientation are
Joint spacing- 0.5m confirmed by Geologist . Joint
Joint shear strength- 40 degrees, shear strength assumed based on
10kpa Reference [3].
Case 2a Slope 1.5V:1H for rock & 1V:2H for soil- Static Case
Soil C’- 6kPa, Ф’-32, ɤ - 19 Mohr Coulomb Soil parameters assumed based on SPT
‘N’ values. Rock parameters like mb, ɤ
Highly UCS-40MPa, mb-15, GSI- Generalized Hoek are taken from Reference [2]. GSI &
weathered 35, ɤ - 24kN/m3 , Ei = Brown – UCS value is based on Geologist site
rock 7000Mpa visit & Ei value considered from
Jointed rock mass-
Joint Inclination: Mohr Coulomb Slip Reference [1]. Rock joint orientation
(-)20degrees Criteria are confirmed by Geologist. Joint shear
strength assumed based on Reference
Joint spacing- 0.5m [3].
Technical Memorandum on Outlet Portal slope stability
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Case 2b Slope 1.5V:1H for rock & 1V:2H for soil- Seismic Case
Soil (4.5m) Cu - 90kPa, ɤ - 19 Mohr Coulomb Soil parameters assumed based on SPT ‘N’ values.
Rock parameters like mb, ɤ are taken from
Highly UCS-40MPa, mb-15, Generalized Hoek Reference [2]. GSI & UCS value is based on
weathered GSI-35, ɤ - 24kN/m3 Brown – Geologist site visit & Ei value considered from
rock Ei = 7000Mpa Reference [1]. Rock joint orientation are
Jointed rock mass-
Joint Inclination: Mohr Coulomb confirmed by Geologist. Joint shear strength
(-)20degrees Slip Criteria assumed based on Reference [3].Horizontal
seismic coefficient (0.213) based on Reference [2].
Joint spacing- 0.5m
Technical Memorandum on Outlet Portal slope stability
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Case 3a Slope 1V:2H for rock & 1V:2H for soil- Static Case
Soil C’- 6kPa, Ф’-32, ɤ - 19 Mohr Coulomb Soil parameters assumed based on SPT
‘N’ values. Rock parameters like mb, ɤ
Highly UCS-40MPa, mb-15, GSI- Generalized Hoek are taken from Reference [2]. GSI &
weathered 35, ɤ - 24kN/m3 , Ei = Brown – UCS value is based on Geologist site
rock 7000Mpa visit & Ei value considered from
Jointed rock mass-
Joint Inclination: Mohr Coulomb Slip Reference [1]. Rock joint orientation
(-)20degrees Criteria are confirmed by Geologist. Joint shear
strength assumed based on Reference
Joint spacing- 0.5m [3].
Case 3b Slope 1V:2H for rock & 1V:2H for soil- Seismic Case
Soil (4.5m) Cu - 90kPa, ɤ - 19 Mohr Coulomb Soil parameters assumed based on SPT ‘N’ values.
Rock parameters like mb, ɤ are taken from
Highly UCS-40 MPa, mb-15, Generalized Hoek Reference [2]. GSI & UCS value is based on
weathered GSI-35, ɤ - 24kN/m3 Brown – Jointed Geologist site visit & Ei value considered from
rock Ei = 7000Mpa rock mass- Mohr Reference [1]. Rock joint orientation are
Coulomb Slip confirmed by Geologist. Joint shear strength
Joint Inclination: Criteria
(-)20degrees assumed based on Reference [3]. Horizontal
seismic coefficient (0.213) based on Reference [2].
Joint spacing- 0.5m
Case 4a Slope 1V:2H for rock & 1V:2H for soil- Static Case
Soil C’- 6kPa, Ф’-32, ɤ - 19 Mohr Coulomb Soil parameters assumed based on SPT
‘N’ values. Rock parameters like mb, ɤ
Highly UCS-40 MPa, mb-15, GSI- Generalized Hoek are taken from Reference [2]. GSI &
weathered 35, ɤ - 24kN/m3 , Ei = Brown – UCS value is based on Geologist site
rock 7000Mpa visit & Ei value considered from
Jointed rock mass-
Joint Inclination: Mohr Coulomb Slip Reference [1]. Rock joint orientation
(-)20degrees Criteria are confirmed by Geologist. Joint shear
strength assumed based on Reference
Joint spacing- 0.5m [3].
Case 4b Slope 1V:2H for rock & 1V:2H for soil- Seismic Case
Soil (4.5m) Cu - 90kPa, ɤ - 19 Mohr Coulomb Soil parameters assumed based on SPT ‘N’ values.
Rock parameters like mb, ɤ are taken from
Highly UCS-40 MPa, mb-15, Generalized Hoek Reference [2]. GSI & UCS value is based on
weathered GSI-35, ɤ - 24kN/m3 Brown – Geologist site visit & Ei value considered from
rock Ei = 7000 MPa Reference [1]. Rock joint orientation are
Jointed rock mass-
Joint Inclination: Mohr Coulomb confirmed by Geologist. Joint shear strength
(-)20degrees Slip Criteria assumed based on Reference [3]. Horizontal
seismic coefficient (0.213) based on Reference [2].
Joint spacing- 0.5m
1. The soil profile thickness is uniform across the slope and the ground model is same as BH-03 of the
geotechnical report provided by Client.
2. The shear strength properties of soil strata are assumed and derived based on SPT ‘N’ values and Reference
[2].
3. The rock stratum is considered uniform across the slope profile and is considered as highly weathered
condition as per BH-3. Rock parameters like UCS, GSI, and joint orientation are considered based on
Geologist review of rock at site. Other parameters like rock mass factor (m b) and unit weight are taken from
Reference [2].
4. Young’s modulus has been taken from Reference [1]
5. The ground water table is assumed to follow the interface of soil and highly weathered rock- considered -
as per Jacob’s report “RPT101RevC – Geotechnical Assessment”.
6. Rock joint shear parameters are not available in geotechnical report and Jacob’s report “RPT101RevC –
Geotechnical Assessment” hence the same has been assumed based on literature.
7. The disturbance factor of 0.7 considering good blasting in the vicinity of rock excavation (1.0m) has been
considered based on the information provided by Client.
Technical Memorandum on Outlet Portal slope stability
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5.0 Recommendations
Based on the RS2 analyses carried out with limited geotechnical information, a slope of 1V:2H for soil &
1.5 V: 1H for rock (Case 3) is deemed as a safe slope for both static & seismic cases. Steeper slopes might
be possible only when the soil and rock shear strength parameters are much better than the assumed or
considered in the analysis.
The geologist at site should check the requirements of any rock bolts if there are chances of rock fall due
to local disturbances caused by blasting/excavation. Also, the analysis is carried out based on assumed
parameters & thickness of both soil & rock strata as per the limited Borelog information. The same
should be checked before construction.
6.0 References
The following references were used to carry out the stability analysis of the outlet portal.