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Investigation to slope instability along railway cut slopes in Eastern Ghats mountain range, India: A comparative study based on slope mass rating, finite element modelling and probabilistic methods

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Abstract

In slope stability analysis, identification of the mechanism behind slope failure is the key factor during the study. Rock mass characterization and kinematics analysis, like geotechnical investigation methods, are not infallible all the time for the weathered slopes. The presence of different grades of weathered mass on the slope profile acts independently to influence the overall failure pattern. Numerical analysis by finite element method (FEM) is evolved as a primary slope stability analysis tool by overcoming the limitations of the stratified weathered materials on the slope. The paper focuses on the stability analysis of railway-cut laterite slopes of the Eastern Ghats of India. The medium to high-grade metamorphism, followed by physio-chemical weathering, favours the region for more prone to failure. The Force Equilibrium Model and Moment Equilibrium Model have been considered to determine the possibility of independent failure events for the probability analysis. Monte Carlo’s probability simulation method has delivered a better result for the weathered slopes by taking many variables for the studied region. A compression study has been made between the outcomes of slope stability analysis methods and the probability analysis models, which provides a comprehensive list of factors to understand the failure mechanism of weathered slopes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India

    Amulya Ratna Roul & Sarada Prasad Pradhan

  2. Department of Geology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India

    Durga Prasanna Mohanty

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  1. Amulya Ratna Roul
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  2. Sarada Prasad Pradhan
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  3. Durga Prasanna Mohanty
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Contributions

Amulya Ratna Roul: Conceived, designed and performed the experiments; collected, analysed and interpreted the data; contributed materials, analysis tools; performed writing. Sarada Prasad Pradhan: Conceived and designed the experiments; analyzed and interpreted the data; contributed materials, analysis tools and data; and performed writing – review and editing. Durga Prasanna Mohanty: Collected field sample, analyzed and interpreted the data, performed review.

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Correspondence to Sarada Prasad Pradhan.

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Communicated by N V Chalapathi Rao

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Roul, A.R., Pradhan, S.P. & Mohanty, D.P. Investigation to slope instability along railway cut slopes in Eastern Ghats mountain range, India: A comparative study based on slope mass rating, finite element modelling and probabilistic methods. J Earth Syst Sci 130, 206 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-021-01711-1

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