Stability of a Jointed Rock Slope in Himalayas

G. Madhavi Latha
Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, email: madhavi@civil.iisc.ernet.in
Aruna Kumari, G.
L&T-Valdel Engineering Limited, Bangalore, India, email: aruna.iisc@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: This paper presents static and dynamic stability analyses of the right abutment slope of a railway bridge proposed at
about 350 m above the ground level, crossing a river and connecting two huge hillocks in Himalayas, India. The site is located in a
highly active seismic zone. The rock slopes are heavily jointed and the joint spacing and orientation are varying at different locations.
Static and seismic slope stability analysis confirmed the global stability of the slope. However, it is very likely that there could be
wedge failures possible at some of the pier locations. This paper also presents the results from kinematics of right abutment slope for
the wedge failure analysis based on stereographic projections. Some very important conclusions regarding the stability of the slope at
various pier locations and field observations are presented with appropriate recommendations.

1 INTRODUCTION
2 DESCRIPTION OF THE ROCK SLOPE
Stability analysis of rock slopes becomes essential for the safe
design of excavated slopes like open pit mines, road cuts and A railway line is being laid in Jammu and Kashmir, India and
also to check the equilibrium conditions of a natural slope. A this line is crossing the river Chenab at a height of about 350 m.
rock slope can fail due to one or the combination of these A bridge is being constructed with total 18 piers at this place
following four mechanisms; circular sliding, plane sliding, connecting two hillocks. Among these piers, 4 piers (P10-P40)
wedge sliding and toppling. Circular failure occurs in rock mass are resting on left abutment and the other 14 piers (P50-P180)
which can be justified as homogeneous medium. When the are resting on right abutment. Slope stability analysis of the right
instability is dictated by the presence of pre-existing abutment is taken up in the present study. The section of the
discontinuities, the failure will be in the form of plane sliding, bridge and abutments along with the foundations that could
wedge sliding or toppling. To assess the stability of a rock slope, affect the stability of the slope is given in Figure 1. Figure 2
all these possible failure modes have to be checked. shows the photograph taken at the site of proposed bridge.
There are several tools available at present to carry out slope
stability analyses of rocks. Limit equilibrium method used in
conjunction with numerical modeling still remains as most
commonly adopted method in rock slope engineering, even
though most failures involve complex internal deformation and
fracturing which bears little resemblance to the rigid block
assumptions required by most limit equilibrium back-analyses.
The argument for the use of all relevant available slope analysis
techniques in a design or back-analysis is crystallized by the
observation of Chen (2000), In the early days, slope failure was
always written off as an act of God. Today, attorneys can always
find someone to blame and someone to pay for the damage
especially when the damage involves loss of life or property.
The dynamic analysis of slopes in rock masses is studied by
several earlier researchers using different techniques. Zhang et
al. (1997) carried out studies on the dynamic behaviour of a 120- Fig. 1. Section of the gorge with pier foundations along the slope
m high rock slope of the Three Gorges Shiplock using DEM.
Hatzor et al. (2004) carried out dynamic 2D stability analysis of
upper terrace of King Herods Palace in Masada, which is a
highly discontinuous rock slope. Bhasin and Kaynia (2004)
performed static and dynamic rock slope stability analyses for a
700-m high rock slope in western Norway using a numerical
discontinuum modeling technique. Liu et al. (2004) studied the
dynamic response of Huangmail in Phosphorite rock slope in
China under explosion using UDEC. Crosta (2007) performed
dynamic analysis of the Thurwieser Rock Avalanche, Italian
Alps.
This paper presents the results from static, pseudo static and
dynamic analysis of a huge rock slope in the Himalaya region of
India. Equivalent continuum approach along with the Hoek-
Brown failure criterion (Hoek and Brown, 1980) is used to
represent the rock mass behaviour in the continuum analyses.
The slope is then analyzed for possible wedge failures at Fig. 2. Photograph showing the proposed bridge site
different pier locations.
 The rocks present at the bridge site are heavily jointed. The
subsurface at the extent of the bridge site considered for slope
stability analysis essentially consists of dolomitic limestone with
different degrees of weathering and fracturing. The main
discontinuities at the site are one sub-horizontal foliation joint
dipping about 20-30 degrees in north-east (NE) direction and
two sub-vertical joints. The summary of structural features
present in the area is given in Table 1.

Table 1. Summary of the structural features at the site

Feature Strike Dip Dip
direction
Railway line N120 N 300 - -
alignment
Foliation joint N 140 - N 320 27 N 50
Fig. 3. Factor of Safety Plot for the static stability of rock slope
Sub-vertical joint -1 N 150 - N 330 65 N 240
Sub-vertical joint -2 N 75 - N 255 80 N 165 3.3 Pseudo-static Slope Stability
As the proposed bridge location is situated in seismic zone V
Properties of intact rocks obtained through laboratory testing of India, where severe earthquakes are expected, it is mandatory
of cores collected from boreholes at the site are given in Table 2. to assess the stability of the slope under seismic conditions.
Initially the seismic slope stability is estimated using pseudo-
Table 2. Properties of intact rock at the site static approach (Okabe 1924; Mononobe and Matsuo 1929).
Pseudo-static analysis involves simulating the ground motion as
constant static horizontal force acting in a direction out of phase
Property Value
with respect to face of slope. The magnitude of the pseudo-static
force is the product of seismic coefficient kH and the weight of
Density (kg/m3) 2762 the sliding block W. The value of kH may be taken as equal to
Youngs modulus (GPa) 65 the design PGA (Peak Ground Acceleration) which is expressed
Poissons ratio 0.15 as a fraction of the gravity acceleration. Usually this value is
UCS (Mpa) 115 selected based on the Maximum Credible Earthquake (MCE) for
c (Mpa) for intact rock 44.44 the specific seismic zone in which the slope is situated.
'' , degrees 20 In the present study the horizontal seismic coefficient kH is
selected as 0.31g based on the previous earthquake history of the
Hoek and Brown 23.52,
region and MCE scenario. The value of kV the vertical seismic
parameters m and s 1.0
coefficient is taken as 2/3rd of kH as per the Indian Standard
code IS 1893 (2002). The analysis is carried out by applying
both vertical and horizontal seismic force components. The
3 SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSES results obtained from pseudo-static analysis of the slope in
FLAC are shown in Figure 4 in the form of FOS plot. The value
of FOS observed is 1.11. The value of FOS indicates that the
3.1 Numerical Model slope is just stable.
The slope is simulated using FLAC (Fast Lagrangian Analysis
of Continua) version 5.0 (Itasca, 1995). The slope is analysed for
plane strain condition in small strain mode. A relatively finer
discretization of 100 80 grid size is chosen for modelling the
slope. At the base of the model boundary, both horizontal (x)
and vertical (y) displacements are arrested by fixing the nodes.
Along left and right of the boundary horizontal displacements
are arrested. Initial stresses of magnitude xx=yy=zz=8
MPa are applied to all the zones. Stability analysis is carried out
using Hoek-Brown failure criterion in FLAC. FLAC calculates
the factor of safety automatically using the shear strength
reduction technique through bracketing technique. The values of
c and are updated in every trial until the difference
between lower and upper brackets is minimal.

3.2 Static Slope Stability

The results obtained from the stability analysis on the cut profile
are shown in Figure 3 in the form of FOS (Factor of Safety) plot. Fig. 4. FOS Plot for the pseudo-static stability of rock slope
The value of FOS obtained from the static analysis is 1.88 which
means that the slope is globally stable.
3.4 Dynamic Slope Stability 4 WEDGE FAILURE ANALYSIS OF THE SLOPE
The FOS obtained from the pseudo static approach depicts that
the slope is just stable as the FOS is just above 1. However 4.1 Kinematic Analysis
pseudo static approach underestimates the dynamic response of a Global stability of the slope is examined in the earlier sections
structure. Hence in order to comprehensively understand the and it was found that the slope is stable in both static and
behaviour of slope during the dynamic event, time response seismic conditions. However, the global failure is a rare
analysis is performed by subjecting the slope a dynamically possibility for this slope. It is essential to investigate the
induced base shear at the base. For this purpose a real possibility of local wedge failures which might occur due to the
earthquake occurred in the vicinity of the slope i.e. the intersection of joint sets daylighting onto the slope. Kinematic
Uttarkashi earthquake is considered. Figure 5 shows the analysis is carried out to evaluate the possibility of blocks or
accelerogram of the earthquake scenario considered. It can be masses of rock moving along geologic structures and sliding out
seen from the figure that the duration of the earthquake is about of the face of a slope. The possibility of wedge failure at
40 seconds and the peak ground acceleration is 0.309g occurring different pier locations is examined by plotting stereographic
at a time step of 5.8 sec. The stability of the slope in dynamic projections for the joint sets. Kinematic analysis is usually
analysis is assessed in terms of horizontal and vertical carried out using graphical stereographic projection approach
displacements. Figure 6 shows the displacement vectors in slope explained by Goodman (2000). Application of kinematic
after the dynamic event. It can be observed from the figure that analysis for rock slope stability assessment is well documented
the displacements are concentrated near toe. However the in literature (e. g. Leung and Kheok, 1987; Yoon et al., 2002).
displacement vectors are nominal along the slope. Higher The geological data of joint sets for the stereographic projections
displacements along the slope are highly detrimental and cause is obtained from the joint mapping done on the exposed slope
rock falls. The maximum residual displacement observed after surface at different pier locations and is presented in Table 3.
the dynamic analysis is 60.87 mm as shown in Figure 6.
Table 3. Details of joints at different locations along the slope
0.4
Location Joint set J1 Joint set J2
0.3
Dip Dip Dip Dip
Direction Direction
0.2
P70 67o 47o 47o 244o
P60 40o 49o 56o 240o
Acceleration (g)

0.1
o
P50 40 54o 48 o
234o
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Location Joint set J3 Joint set J4
-0.1 Dip Dip Dip Dip
-0.2
Direction Direction
P70 70o 131o 51o 263o
-0.3
Time (s)
P60 69o 153o 39o 308o
o
P50 71 153o 8o
32o
Fig. 5. Transverse component of acceleration time history of
Using the data in Table 3, stereographic projections of joint
Uttarkashi earthquake used in the study
sets are plotted for various locations. The average angle of slope
for the right abutment of the bridge is 50 and the dip direction
of the slope is 123. Stereographic projections of joint sets at
P60 and P50 are shown in Figures 7 and 8 respectively.

Fig. 6. Displaced slope after complete dynamic event

The maximum permissible displacement for this kind of slope is

specified as 200 mm in SME mining Engineering Handbook
(Hartman, 1992). Hence the displacement of the slope for the
maximum credible earthquake scenario is within the permissible
limit, establishing the safety of the slope against failure during CL: Central line of the railway bridge
earthquake.

Fig. 7. Stereographic projections of joints at P60


Fig. 8. Stereographic projections of joints at P50
4.2 Interpretations from Kinematics of Slope
Wedge failure occurs due to sliding along a combination of
discontinuities. The conditions for sliding require that the
friction angle of the rock mass is overcome, and that the
intersection of the discontinuities "daylight" on the slope
surface. On the stereonet plot, these conditions are indicated by
the intersection of two discontinuity great circles within the
shaded crescent formed by the friction angle and the slope's
great circle as shown in Figure 9.
Fig. 9. Condition for wedge failure
Based on the stereographic projections with slope angle of 50,
it is seen that wedge failure is possible at P60 and P50 locations,
as the line of intersection of joint sets J1 and J3 is falling in the
crescent formed by the slope angle and friction angle. Wedge
failure in fact occurred during excavation of exploratory drift at
P50 as shown in Figure 10, supporting the stereographic
interpretations that the wedge failures are possible in this zone.
Fig. 10. Wedge failure observed in exploratory drift at P50
Hence to avoid the wedge failures, the slope needs to be
flattened. By plotting the stereographs for slope angle of 45, it
was observed that the wedge failure is still possible at P60. By
trial, it was observed that the maximum value for slope angle
can be taken as 43 to avoid wedge failures at all the locations.
Hence it is recommended to flatten the slope of right abutment
to 43 in order to avoid wedge failures.
5 CONCLUSIONS
Static, pseudo-static and dynamic analyses of a rock slope in
Himalayas are carried out using equivalent continuum model in
the numerical program FLAC. These analyses showed that the
slope is globally stable for static as well as maximum credible
earthquake conditions. Kinematic analysis based on
stereographic projections revealed the possibility of wedge
failure at certain locations which necessitated the flattening of
the slope. Flattening the existing 50 slope to 43 is
recommended to avoid wedge failures at certain pier locations.
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