IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i21p8870-d434851.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Application of Limit Equilibrium Analysis and Numerical Modeling in a Case of Slope Instability

Author

Listed:
  • Fhatuwani Sengani

    (Department of Geology and Mining, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, South Africa
    Department of Electrical and Mining Engineering, University of South Africa, Florida Campus, Johannesburg 1710, South Africa)

  • François Mulenga

    (Department of Electrical and Mining Engineering, University of South Africa, Florida Campus, Johannesburg 1710, South Africa)

Abstract

The application of limit equilibrium analysis and numerical simulation in case of slope instability is described. The purpose of the study was to use both limit equilibrium methods (LEMs) and numerical simulations (finite element method (FEM)) to understanding the common factor imposing the selected slope into slope instabilities. Field observations, toppling analysis, rotational analysis, and numerical simulations were performed. The results of the study showed that the selected unstable slopes were associated with the sliding types of toppling; it was observed that the slopes were governed by tension cracks and layered soil mass and dominated with approximately two joints sets throughout. The simulated factor of safety (FoS) of the slopes composed of clay soil was denoted to be prone to slope instability while others were categorized as moderately stable. The simulated FoS of the slopes correlated very well with the visual observations; however, it is anticipated that properties of soil mass and other characteristics of the slopes contributed largely to the simulated FoS. The sensitivity of the model was further tested by looking into the effect of the slope angle on the stability of the slope. The results of the simulations showed that the steeper the slope, the more they become prone to instability. Lastly, Phase 2 numerical simulation (FEM) showed that volumetric strain, shear stress, shear strain, total displacement, and σ 1 and σ 3 components of the slope increase with the stages of the road construction. It was concluded improper road construction, steepness of the slope, slope properties (soil types), and multiple geological features cutting across are the common mechanisms behind the slope instability.

Suggested Citation

  • Fhatuwani Sengani & François Mulenga, 2020. "Application of Limit Equilibrium Analysis and Numerical Modeling in a Case of Slope Instability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-33, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8870-:d:434851
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/21/8870/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/21/8870/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jean Vaunat & Serge Leroueil, 2002. "Analysis of Post-Failure Slope Movements within the Framework of Hazard and Risk Analysis," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 26(1), pages 81-107, May.
    2. Yang Hong & Robert Adler & George Huffman, 2007. "Use of satellite remote sensing data in the mapping of global landslide susceptibility," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 43(2), pages 245-256, November.
    3. Dalia Kirschbaum & Robert Adler & Yang Hong & Stephanie Hill & Arthur Lerner-Lam, 2010. "A global landslide catalog for hazard applications: method, results, and limitations," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 52(3), pages 561-575, March.
    4. Maxx Dilley & Robert S. Chen & Uwe Deichmann & Arthur L. Lerner-Lam & Margaret Arnold, 2005. "Natural Disaster Hotspots: A Global Risk Analysis," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 7376, December.
    5. Thomas Stanley & Dalia B. Kirschbaum, 2017. "A heuristic approach to global landslide susceptibility mapping," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 87(1), pages 145-164, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Fhatuwani Sengani & Dhiren Allopi, 2022. "Accuracy of Two-Dimensional Limit Equilibrium Methods in Predicting Stability of Homogenous Road-Cut Slopes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-26, March.
    2. Shaoling Li & Chi Qiu & Jiankun Huang & Xiaoping Guo & Yucun Hu & Al-Shami Qahtan Mugahed & Jin Tan, 2022. "Stability Analysis of a High-Steep Dump Slope under Different Rainfall Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Grzegorz Kacprzak & Mateusz Frydrych & Paweł Nowak, 2023. "Influence of Load–Settlement Relationship of Intermediate Foundation Pile Group on Numerical Analysis of a Skyscraper under Construction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, February.
    4. Dongli Li & Miaojun Sun & Echuan Yan & Tao Yang, 2021. "The Effects of Seismic Coefficient Uncertainty on Pseudo-Static Slope Stability: A Probabilistic Sensitivity Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-15, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. S. Modugno & S. C. M. Johnson & P. Borrelli & E. Alam & N. Bezak & H. Balzter, 2022. "Analysis of human exposure to landslides with a GIS multiscale approach," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 112(1), pages 387-412, May.
    2. Derly Gómez & Edwin F. García & Edier Aristizábal, 2023. "Spatial and temporal landslide distributions using global and open landslide databases," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 117(1), pages 25-55, May.
    3. Thomas Stanley & Dalia B. Kirschbaum, 2017. "A heuristic approach to global landslide susceptibility mapping," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 87(1), pages 145-164, May.
    4. George Gaprindashvili & Cees Westen, 2016. "Generation of a national landslide hazard and risk map for the country of Georgia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 80(1), pages 69-101, January.
    5. Jeevan R. Kulkarni & Sneha S. Kulkarni & Mitali U. Inamdar & Nitin M. Tamhankar & Spandan B. Waghmare & Kiran R. Thombare & Paresh S. Mhetre & Tanuja Khatavkar & Yashodhan Panse & Amey Patwardhan & Yo, 2022. "“Satark”: Landslide Prediction System over Western Ghats of India," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-23, May.
    6. G. Sakkas & I. Misailidis & N. Sakellariou & V. Kouskouna & G. Kaviris, 2016. "Modeling landslide susceptibility in Greece: a weighted linear combination approach using analytic hierarchical process, validated with spatial and statistical analysis," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 84(3), pages 1873-1904, December.
    7. Christian Geiß & Hannes Taubenböck, 2013. "Remote sensing contributing to assess earthquake risk: from a literature review towards a roadmap," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 68(1), pages 7-48, August.
    8. Mohammad Mehrabi, 2022. "Landslide susceptibility zonation using statistical and machine learning approaches in Northern Lecco, Italy," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 111(1), pages 901-937, March.
    9. Stephen R. Sobie, 2020. "Future changes in precipitation-caused landslide frequency in British Columbia," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(2), pages 465-484, September.
    10. Chong Xu & Xiwei Xu & Fuchu Dai & Zhide Wu & Honglin He & Feng Shi & Xiyan Wu & Suning Xu, 2013. "Application of an incomplete landslide inventory, logistic regression model and its validation for landslide susceptibility mapping related to the May 12, 2008 Wenchuan earthquake of China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 68(2), pages 883-900, September.
    11. Amit Bera & Bhabani Prasad Mukhopadhyay & Debasish Das, 2019. "Landslide hazard zonation mapping using multi-criteria analysis with the help of GIS techniques: a case study from Eastern Himalayas, Namchi, South Sikkim," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 96(2), pages 935-959, March.
    12. Chelsea Dandridge & Thomas A. Stanley & Dalia B. Kirschbaum & Venkataraman Lakshmi, 2023. "Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Global Landslide Reporting Using a Decade of the Global Landslide Catalog," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, February.
    13. Weidong Wang & Jiaying Li & Xia Qu & Zheng Han & Pan Liu, 2019. "Prediction on landslide displacement using a new combination model: a case study of Qinglong landslide in China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 96(3), pages 1121-1139, April.
    14. Xiaobing Yu & Hong Chen & Chenliang Li, 2019. "Evaluate Typhoon Disasters in 21st Century Maritime Silk Road by Super-Efficiency DEA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-10, May.
    15. Nicolás Bronfman & Pamela Cisternas & Esperanza López-Vázquez & Luis Cifuentes, 2016. "Trust and risk perception of natural hazards: implications for risk preparedness in Chile," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 81(1), pages 307-327, March.
    16. Xiang-Zhou Xu & Hong-Wu Zhang & Wen-Long Wang & Chao Zhao & Qiao Yan, 2015. "Quantitative monitoring of gravity erosion using a novel 3D surface measuring technique: validation and case study," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 75(2), pages 1927-1939, January.
    17. Dapeng Huang & Renhe Zhang & Zhiguo Huo & Fei Mao & Youhao E & Wei Zheng, 2012. "An assessment of multidimensional flood vulnerability at the provincial scale in China based on the DEA method," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 64(2), pages 1575-1586, November.
    18. Viet-Ha Nhu & Ataollah Shirzadi & Himan Shahabi & Sushant K. Singh & Nadhir Al-Ansari & John J. Clague & Abolfazl Jaafari & Wei Chen & Shaghayegh Miraki & Jie Dou & Chinh Luu & Krzysztof Górski & Binh, 2020. "Shallow Landslide Susceptibility Mapping: A Comparison between Logistic Model Tree, Logistic Regression, Naïve Bayes Tree, Artificial Neural Network, and Support Vector Machine Algorithms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-30, April.
    19. Hone-Jay Chu & Yi-Chin Chen, 2018. "Crowdsourcing photograph locations for debris flow hot spot mapping," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 90(3), pages 1259-1276, February.
    20. Aubin VIGNOBOUL, 2022. "The winds of inequalities: How hurricanes impact inequalities at the macro level?," LEO Working Papers / DR LEO 2986, Orleans Economics Laboratory / Laboratoire d'Economie d'Orleans (LEO), University of Orleans.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8870-:d:434851. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.