EFFECT OF GROUND VIBRATION ON SLOPE STABILITY

A CASE STUDY
INTRODUCTION
What is Slope Stability?

Slope stability is the process of calculating and assessing how much stress a
particular slope can manage before failing.

Examples of common slopes include roads for commercial use, dams,

excavated slopes, and soft rock trails in reservoirs, forests, and parks.
Considering the importance of slope stability to their work, it’s beneficial for civil
engineers to understand how to properly evaluate slope stability and leverage
various techniques to achieve slope stabilization.
Why is slope stability analysis important?
The main interest of slope stability analysis is typically to determine
a factor of safety (FS) against slope failure .The slopes should be
very thoroughly analyzed since their failure may lead to loss of
human life as well as colossal economic loss. The quantitative
determination of the stability of slopes is necessary in a number of
engineering activities such as:

(a) the design of earth dams and embankments,

(b) the analysis of stability of natural slopes,
(c) analysis of the stability of excavated slopes,
(d) analysis of deepseated failure of foundations and retaining walls.
SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS METHODS BASED
ON LIMITED EQUILIBRIUM METHOD
METHOD FORCE EQUILIBRIUM MOMENT SHAPE OF SLIP
EQUILIBRIUM SURFACE

Ordinary method of Does not satisfy Yes Circular

slices (Fellenius, 1927) horizontal or vertical
forces equilibrium
Bishops Modified Method Satisfy vertical force Yes Circular only. Non
(Bishop, 1955) but not horizontal circular may have
force equilibrium numerical problems
Janbu’s simplified Yes No Any shape. More
method frequent numerical
(Janbu, 1956) problems than other
methods
Morgenstern and Price Yes. Permits side Yes Any shape
(Morgenstern and Price, forces to be varied
1965)
Spencer’s Method Yes. Side forces are Yes Any shape
Effect of Ground Vibration on Slope Stability: Case
Study of Landslide on the Mouth of Railway Tunnel
INTRODUCTION

 On January 23th, 2016 a landslide occurred at the mouth of the railway

tunnel in Gunung Gajah Village, Lahat District, Indonesia.
 At the time when landslide occurred, fortunately, there was no train passing
and the railway track could be cleared immediately from landslide.
 Landslide covering the railway track could be very dangerous if there was a
train passing though the tunnel and could cause injuries and fatalities.
Contribution of Ground Vibration to Landslide
Ground vibration can contribute to the occurrence of
landslide because the dynamic load from the ground vibration can
increase the shear stress on the slope and increase the soil pore
pressure so that the shear stress increases and the shear strength
retaining the slope decreases.
Considering the impact that can be caused by landslide, the
analysis of the parameters that affect a landslide, especially the
variables of ground vibration around the railway track of Gunung
Gajah Village is important in order to anticipate the possibility of
landslides elsewhere.
Unfavourable slope at the research area
 Data Collected
The primary data were collected through field surveys like
 land use survey
 soil sampling
 laboratory testing
 measurement of strike and dip of rock layers and geological
structure
 measurement of slope geometry and measurement of peak
 ground acceleration (PGA) due to rail traffic
Results Obtained on Ground Vibration
 The ground vibration that appears on research area can be from earthquakes
and rail traffic.
 The peak ground acceleration due to earthquake can be determined using
Indonesian earthquake zone map 2010.
 Based on the interpretation of that map, the research area has a range of
peak acceleration values between 0,2 to 0,3 g.
 Ground vibration due to rail traffic comes from two types of rails, which are
fuel carrier rail and passenger rail.
 Based on the measurement result, the average of peak ground acceleration
due to fuel carrier rail traffic is 0.025 g while the average value of peak
ground acceleration due to passenger rail traffic is 0.026 g.
Slope stability analysis
.
 Slope stability analysis was done using variation of groundwater
level and seismic load.
 This needs to be done because of the possibility of increasing
ground water level due to rainfall precipitation into the soil layer
through the pores of the soil or crack and earthquake activity.
 For variation of ground water level, there are three conditions,
water-saturated condition (ground water level is 2 meters below
ground level), water-half saturated condition (ground water level is 8
meters below ground level) and water-unsaturated condition.
 Water-saturated condition
Method Minimum Safety Factor

Fellenius 1.74

Bishop Simplified 1.86

Janbu Simplified 1.64

Morgenstren-Price 1.86
Water-half saturated condition
Method Minimum Safety Factor

Fellenius 1.89

Bishop Simplified 2.05

Janbu Simplified 1.84

Morgenstren-Price 2.05
Water-unsaturated condition
Method Minimum Safety Factor
Fellenius 2.16

Bishop Simplified 2.30

Janbu Simplified 2.00

Morgenstren-Price 2.30
Water saturated condition
METHOD Minimum SF with Minimum SF with
seismic load 0.10 g seismic load 0.15 g
Fellenius method 1.35 1.21

Bishop Simplified 1.44 1.29

Janbu Simplified 1.40 1.25

Morgentren-Price 1.58 1.42

Water half-saturated condition
METHOD Minimum SF with Minimum SF with
seismic load 0.10 g seismic load 0.15 g
Fellenius method 1.46 1.34

Bishop Simplified 1.59 1.42

Janbu Simplified 1.40 1.25

Morgentren-Price 1.58 1.42
Water unsaturated condition
METHOD Minimum SF with Minimum SF with
seismic load 0.10 g seismic load 0.15 g

Fellenius method 1.68 1.51

Bishop Simplified 1.79 1.61

Janbu Simplified 1.62 1.45
Morgentren-Price 1.79 1.61
Proposed Stabilisation Method
To prevent the occurrence of the landslides around research area,
stabilization method should be applied in accordance with the conditions
in that area such as:
1. Build a retaining wall to increase the safety factor of the slope,
considering that that is natural slope whose age of slopes is
unlimited.
2. Build the drains to reduce run off on research area.
3. Perform cementing (shotcrete) in the wall of landslide in order to prevent
weathering.
Conclusion
 Ground vibration caused by railway traffic and earthquakes are
correlated to the slope instability.
 It shows that higher the peak acceleration, the lower the safety
factor of slope.
 To prevent the occurrence of further landslide around research
area, stabilization method should be applied in accordance with
the conditions in that area such as building a retaining wall to
increase safety factor of slope, draining channels to reduce run
off and performing shotcrete in the wall of landslide in order to
avoid weathering.