Centrifuge Modelling of Slope Failure Due to Groundwater During Excavation

Abstract

In order to prevent occupational accidents during slope excavation work, it is important to include slope stability in all aspects of construction design. In slope excavation work, the two major factors are the excavation height and the gradient, both of which are prescribed by some guidelines and laws. However, accidents often occur during slope excavation work, even with the required safety gradient, because existing guidelines fail to consider the effects of water. In this study, the stability of a slope with rising groundwater was examined for different excavation slopes. The results show that the slope was stable in the absence of water, but it collapsed when the groundwater rose. We also propose a method for predicting landslides using slope movement measurements. The method uses the standard deviation from past measured values to detect data abnormalities on current measurements. Predictions obtained by this method were classified under advisory, warning, or emergency warning based on the deviation rate between the moving average and standard deviation of past data. It was observed that slope failure can be reliably predicted using this method.