NZGS GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING BASICS PREPARED BY: Miles Buob (Tonkin + Taylor Ltd.

)
REVIEWED BY: Sajjad Anwar (AECOM)
SLOPE STABILITY ASSESSMENT Sally Hargraves (GeoSolutions NZ Ltd.)

1. P
 RELIMINARY SLOPE 2. D
 ETAILED SLOPE 3. SLOPE STABILITY 4. D
 ESIGN REQUIREMENTS/
ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT CALCULATION STANDARDS

• Greenfield or Brownfield site?
– If it is a previously developed slope, how long has the
slope existed?
• What type of slope is it and are you proposing to
change it?
– Cut/fill slope?
– Adding loading to top (road, rail, house,
building, etc.)
– Reinforced slope or Unreinforced slope?
– Retaining wall?
– Terraced walls?
– Building below an existing slope?
• What is the life of the slope?
– If proposing a new slope, is the slope temporary for
construction or a permanent feature?
• What is the site geology/geomorphology/topography
(Scale and Accuracy of Geological Map should be
considered)?
• GNS New Zealand Geology Web Map
• Local geology maps (1:50,000)
• GNS 3D geology models
• GNS Regional Geology Books
• Is LiDAR available for the site?
• Access to local knowledge/experience
• Evidence of static/seismic instability at or
near the site using historical aerial imagery
(i.e. tension cracks, shallow failures, runout, nearby
slumping, etc.)?
• Retrolens
• Stereophoto (for 3D effects)
• Regional/Local Council GIS
• LINZ Data Service
• GNS Landslide Database
• Google Earth Pro
• Establish a ground model and soil parameters for the units • Choose an assessment software based on the failure type. • Commonly:
on the site. –  SLOPE/W – Circular, noncircular, wedge – Static Case – Long Term (Drained)
– Refer to the NZGS Geotechnical Engineering Basics: –  SLIDE – Circular, noncircular, wedge Parameters with surcharges
Developing an Engineering Geological Model poster for –  PLAXIS – Circular, slumping, noncircular – Temporary Stability Cases (FoS ≥ 1.2 to 1.3)
model generation. –  RS2 – Circular, slumping, noncircular – Construction
–  RocPlane – Planar sliding – High Rainfall Event
• Establish a ground water table (GWT) –  Swedge – Wedge failure – Rapid Drawdown
– Do you have a site-specific GWT measurement? –  Rocfall/Roctopple – Rockfalls, toppling – Scour (loss of toe)
– Is there a regional scale groundwater surface for your local –  TSLOPE – Circular, noncircular, wedge – Seismic Cases – (FoS ≥ 1.0 to 1.1) -or- (Newmark
council? Displacements < required codes/standards)
– Will there be any loading on the slope? • Choose a Limit Equilibrium (2D – Slices, – SLS
– Construction (temporary) 3D – columns) analysis method (which accounts for both – ULS/DCLS
– Permanent or future? moment and force equilibrium: – CALS
–  Morgenstern-Price – Liquefied cases
• Establish Seismic Parameters –  Spencer
– P eak Ground Acceleration (Determined from NZGS/MBIE –  Janbu (Generalised) • Check applicable standards based on design practice for
Module 1, NZS 1170.0, NZS 1170.5, detailed requirements:
NZTA Bridge Manual) • Set spatial limitations on calculation – Roads/Rail – NZTA Bridge Manual
– Liquefaction/Cyclic Softening – Horizontal – Residential/Commercial Developments
– Residual soil strength (typically modelled with –2 x slope height for static loading cases – Regional/Local Council Code of Practice (CoP)
Vertical Stress Ratio) –4 x slope height for seismic loading cases – Regional-scale assessments – AGS Guides
– Reduced shear strength – Note: this is not typically used when assessing
– Seismic soils strength (undrained parameters) liquefied slope instability. • If a slope fails prior to meeting code/standard:
– Vertical – Can the slope be modified?
• Decide on the most probable failure mode associated with –W here relevant, ensure model extends deep – Can you remove loading from the head or add load
the site geology (Soil/Rock) enough to incorporate deep seated failures. to the toe.
– (multiple can apply) – Can you redirect surface water?
–  Circular/Noncircular/slumping • Seismic Slope Displacements:
– Wedge/Planar failure – Where
 seismic case has a FoS <1.0: Check the Newmark • Slope Stability ‘Rules of Thumb’:
– Toppling Failure Rigid Block Method and acceptable displacements – A 1:4 slope could be considered stable under
– Debris Flow within NZTA Bridge Manual. NZS 3604 ‘good ground’
Ambraseys and Srbulov (1995)
– – Soil friction angle is typically equal to ‘angle of repose’ if
• Decide on the design methodology Jibson (2007)
– the slope is statically stable and primarily coarse-grained.
– Limit Equilibrium (Slice method) Bray and Travasarou (2007)
–
– Finite Element Modelling (Strength
Reduction Factor)

NOTE: Figures sourced from US Geological Survey Circular 1325 – DISCLAIMER: This reference guide is not a standard. It is a ‘rough guide’ based on common practice in New Zealand. The recommended calculation process/analytical methods within this document are not intended to be codified nor does the document
The Landslide Handbook – A Guide to Understanding Landslides hold any legal requirement/standing in New Zealand. The accuracy of the process described below depends highly on the expertise of the geoprofessional regarding the modelling of the design, the understanding of various soil models and their
(2008), with kind permission for reproduction.) limitations, the selection of material parameters, and the ability to judge the results. NOTE: Bold, underlined text contain hyperlinks to external sources. These hyperlinks are subject to failure should these posters be reviewed in print form.