SLOPE STABlLITY

AND PROTECTION

Allan E. Botuyan, MSCE

Qualitest Solutions & Technologies, Inc.
Davao City, Philippines

CMEAP 2019, Baguio City

Naga, Cebu, September 2018
Barangay Banawel, Natonin, Mt. Province,
October 2018
Guinsaugon, Leyte, February 2014
Davao City, October 2017
Landslide movement
Davao City, October 2017
Complex landslide
Terminology in describing landslide
Cause of Landslides

Event – start or completion of the job.

STABILITY MARGIN
(Factor of Safety)
Factor of Safety, FS

Resisting Forces (or moments)

FS =
Driving Forces (or moments)
(Disturbing)

FS = 1.5 without seismic

FS = 1.25 with seismic
FS = 1.0 start of actual landslide
planar slip plane

Resisting Forces
FS =
Driving Forces
circular slip plane Resisting moment
FS =
o Driving moment
R
x

Su
R

` W
Su

Su
Su
Su
Cause of Landslides
Driving / Disturbing Resisting
moment > moment
forces forces

average shear available

stress
> shear strength
INCREASING the driving force

FS = 1.0

Resisting Forces
FS =
Driving Forces
INCREASING the driving force

FS < 1.0

Resisting Forces
FS =
Driving Forces
INCREASING the driving moment

FS = 1.0 o R
x

Su
R

` W
Su

Su
Su Resisting moment
Su FS =
Driving moment
INCREASING the driving moment
x2
FS < 1.0 o R
x1

Su
R

` W
Su

Su
Su Resisting moment
Su FS =
Driving moment
DECREASING the resisting force

FS = 1.0

Resisting Forces
FS =
Driving Forces
DECREASING the resisting force
Cutting slope to steeper face

FS < 1.0

Resisting Forces
FS =
Driving Forces
DECREASING the RESISTING moment
SATURATION OF SLOPE
o R
FS = 1.0 x

Su
R

` W
Su

Su
Su Resisting moment
Su FS =
Driving moment
DECREASING the RESISTING moment
SATURATION OF SLOPE Su decreases
o R
FS < 1.0 x

Su
R

` W + Ww
Su

Su
Su Resisting moment
Su FS =
Driving moment
CHECKING THE SLOPE STABILITY
1. Field Data Gathering
• topography and geometry (survey)
• sub soil properties
(soil boring, field & lab tests)
• ground water conditions
(stand pipes & piezometers)
 Field Identification
1. Coarse-grained soil (cohesionless) : CGS
• more than 50% of he particles is visible
to the naked eye.
2. Fine-grained soil (cohesive) : FGS
• less than 50% of the particles is visible to
the naked eye.
• smaller than 75micron size are not
visible to the naked eye.
 Field Identification
It is necessary to know the characteristics
of the soil at the job site.

FGS
• Clay ( 0.002mm particle diameter)
• Silt (0.002 to 0.05mm particle diameter)

CGS
• Sand (0.05mm to 2mm particle diameter)
• Gravel (2mm to 75mm particle diameter)
 Field Identification
If the soil is fine-grained, to differentiate silt from clay.

1. DILATANCY TEST:
During shaking in the palm, the soil that
shows quick glossy appearance, soil is
more silt than clay.
Water appears and disappears quickly for
silts, while slow to no reaction for clays.
 Field Identification
If the soil is fine-grained, to differentiate silt from clay.
2. TOUGHNESS TEST:
Soil is molded and remolded into a putty
into small threads of 3mm in diameter.
Water evaporates during the molding and
remolding.
Higher clay content have high toughness
Higher silt content have low toughness
result.
 Field Identification
If the soil is fine-grained, to differentiate silt from clay.
2. TOUGHNESS TEST:
 Field Identification
If the soil is fine-grained, to differentiate silt from clay.
3. DRY STRENGTH TEST:
the soil pat is completely dried.
The strength is determine by breaking the
sample between the fingers.
High clay content soil has higher dry strength
than high silt content soil.
 Field Soil strength determination
1. POCKET PENETROMETER TEST
For fine-grained soils only (clay / silts)
Determination of the field unconfined
compressive strength,qu
The undrained shear strength,cu
Su = ½ qu
 Field Soil strength determination
1. POCKET PENETROMETER TEST

Su = ½ qu
 o R
x

Su
R

` W
Su

Su
Su
Su
Lab Soil strength determination
For c- φ soils by direct shear test or triaxial test
CHECKING THE SLOPE STABILITY
2. Slope Stability Analysis
• Published stability charts
• Engineering softwares
 limit equilibrium method
 finite element method
 boundary element method
CHECKING THE SLOPE STABILITY
2. Slope Stability Analysis
• Published stability charts
Published stability charts

Soils with φ = 0 (Janbu 1968)

Published stability charts

Soils with φ = 0 (Janbu 1968)

Published stability charts

Soils with φ = 0 and φ > 0 (Janbu 1968)

Published stability charts

Soils with φ = 0 and φ > 0 (Janbu 1968)

Published stability charts

Soils with φ = 0 and φ > 0 (Janbu 1968)

Published stability charts

Soils with φ > 0 (Janbu 1968)

CHECKING THE SLOPE STABILITY
2. Slope Stability Analysis
• Published stability charts
CHECKING THE SLOPE STABILITY
2. Slope Stability Analysis
• Published stability charts
• Engineering softwares
 limit equilibrium method
 finite element method
 boundary element method
Engineering softwares
Limit Equilibrium Method
• SLIDE 2
• SLOPE/W OF GEOSLOPE
• GEO5
Finite Element Method
• PLAXIS
• FLAC
• LUSAS
• SIGMA/W OF GEOSLOPE
SLOPE STABILIZATION METHODS
1. Reduce driving force/moment.
2. Increase resisting force/moment.
3. Combination of both.
SLOPE STABILIZATION METHODS
1. Reduce driving force/moment.
2. Increase resisting force/moment.
3. Combination of both.

SURFACE PROTECTION METHODS

1. Reduce surface erosion.
2. Prevent rock falls.
SLOPE STABILIZATION METHODS
1. Reduce driving force/moment.
2. Increase resisting force/moment.
3. Combination of both.
DECREASING THE DRIVING FORCE
a) Excavation

Reduction of height
by removing the top of slope
DECREASING THE DRIVING FORCE
a) Excavation

Flattening the slope angle

DECREASING THE DRIVING FORCE
a) Excavation

Benching of slope
DECREASING THE DRIVING FORCE
b) Drainage Original water table

Lowered water table

horizontal drain pipes

Lowering of water table by drain pipes

Seepage forces and pore pressures
are eliminated thus decreasing driving forces
DECREASING THE DRIVING FORCE
b) Drainage blankets
Highway project
flow
20” permeable
layer

material removed and

replaced with imported
6” perforated pipe compacted material

Lowering of water table

Seepage forces and pore pressures
are eliminated thus decreasing driving forces
INCREASING THE RESISTING FORCE
b) Surface drainage

Surface treatment / cover leaks

with drainage channels with sand
catch pits
INCREASING THE RESISTING FORCE
c) BERM / BUTTRESS

Compacted
earth/rock berm
FS < 1.0

FS > 1.0
INCREASING THE RESISTING FORCE
d) REINFORCEMENT

Passive soil nailing method

INCREASING THE RESISTING FORCE
e) RETAINING WALLS
INCREASING THE RESISTING FORCE
e) RETAINING WALLS
Compacted fill

Surface channel drain

drainage material

Weep holes

Cantilever RC Retaining Wall

INCREASING THE RESISTING FORCE
e) RETAINING WALLS

steel sheet piles / concrete piles

INCREASING THE RESISTING FORCE
e) RETAINING WALLS

combined bored piles with

prestressed tie back anchors
INCREASING THE RESISTING FORCE
e) RETAINING WALLS
INCREASING THE RESISTING FORCE
e) RETAINING WALLS

Reinforced soil slopes

 US Route 460, Breaks Community, Virginia
24m high x 168m long Reinforced Soil Slopes
INCREASING THE RESISTING FORCE
e) RETAINING WALLS

Mechanicallly Stabilized Earth (MSE)retaining walls

Miller Creek, Seattle, USA
40m high MSE
Gabion facing MSE retaining wall
SLOPE STABILIZATION METHODS
1. Reduce driving force/moment.
2. Increase resisting force/moment.
3. Combination of both.

SURFACE PROTECTION METHODS

SLOPE STABILIZATION METHODS
1. Reduce driving force/moment.
2. Increase resisting force/moment.
3. Combination of both.

SURFACE PROTECTION METHODS

1. Reduce surface erosion.
2. Prevent rock falls.
 SURFACE PROTECTION METHODS
1. Reduce surface erosion.
Vegetation and erosion control
1. Reduce surface erosion.
Vegetation and erosion control
1. Reduce surface erosion.
Vegetation and erosion control
Geosyenthtic mats for erosion control
geocells for erosion control
 SURFACE PROTECTION METHODS
2. Prevent rockfalls