Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Probabilistic Assessment of Seismic Response of Toe-Excavated Partially Saturated Hillslopes

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Indian Geotechnical Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Toe excavation of the hills is a common practice in the highlands of India for construction or extension of roadway projects. Landslides in such cut slopes occurs very often and have dire consequences on human lives, properties and communication network in the hilly regions. Rise in natural ground water level due to torrential rain during monsoon season and seismic activity are two most crucial factors responsible for most of these landslides in cut slopes. The customary stability assessment techniques for such cut slopes is based on deterministic method, where the stability is assessed with reference to a single safety measure commonly known as factor of safety. Nonetheless, due to uncertainty related to various geotechnical parameters, the standard deterministic approach may end up resulting in mismatched design solutions. This paper reports the seismic behaviour of cut slopes in the presence of water table for different seismic zones in India utilizing a probabilistic approach. The study also exhibits the influence of correlation coefficient, spatial variation of shear strength parameters and the coefficient of variation on the seismic response of the partially saturated cut slope. Furthermore, the study reports the effect of incorporation of uncertainty in water table location and pseudo-static earthquake forces on seismic response of the partially saturated cut slope. A nonlinear time-history analysis is also carried out to estimate the more realistic seismic behaviour of the partially saturated cut slope during earthquake.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lan H, Zhou CH, Lee CF, Wang S, Wu FQ (2003) Rainfall induced landslide stability analysis in response to transient pore pressure-A case study of natural terrain landslide in Hong Kong. Sci China Ser E Tech Sci 46:52–68

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Chakraborty R, Dey A (2022) Probabilistic slope stability analysis: state-of-the-art review and future prospects. Inn Infra Sol 7:177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-022-00784-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Chakraborty R, Dey A (2021) Hillslope instability induced by toe excavation: a comparative study of LEM-based deterministic and probabilistic approaches. Sādhanā 46:1–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-021-01737-7

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  4. Chakraborty R, Dey A (2022) Probabilistic assessment of seismic response of toe-excavated hillslopes retained using anchored sheet-pile-wall. Ain Shams Eng J 13(5):101736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2022.101736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Tsompanakis Y, Lagaros ND, Psarropoulos PN, Georgopoulos EC (2010) Probabilistic seismic slope stability assessment of geostructures. Struct Infra Eng 6(1–2):179–191. https://doi.org/10.1080/15732470802664001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Xiao J, Gong W, Martin JR, Shen M, Luo Z (2016) Probabilistic seismic stability analysis of slope at a given site in a specified exposure time. Eng Geol 212:53–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.08.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Burgess J, Fenton GA, Griffiths DV (2019) Probabilistic seismic slope stability analysis and design. Can Geotech J 56(12):1979–1998. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2017-0544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Griffiths DV, Fenton GA (2000) Influence of soil strength spatial variability on the stability of an undrained clay slope by finite elements, Proceedings of the GeoDenver symposium, slope stability, pp 184–193. https://doi.org/10.1061/40512(289)14

  9. Griffiths DV, Fenton GA (2004) Probabilistic slope stability analysis by finite elements. J Geotech Geoenv Eng ASCE 130:507–518. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2004)130:5(507)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Malekpoor PS, Chenari RJ, Javankhoshdel S (2020) Discussion of probabilistic seismic slope stability analysis and design. Can Geotech J 57(7):1103–1108. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2019-0386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Chakraborty R, Dey A (2016) Effect of toe cutting on hill-slope stability. In: Proceeding Indian Geotechnical Conference, Madras, India, pp 1–4

  12. Chakraborty R, Dey A (2016) Multiple nonlinear regression analysis for slope stability using limit equilibrium method. In: Proceeding international geotechnical engineering conference on sustainability in geotechnical engineering practices and related urban Issues, Mumbai, India, pp 1–3

  13. Chakraborty R, Dey A (2016) Stability of hill-slope using FE and LE analyses. In: Proceeding national conference on engineering problems and application of mathematics, Agartala, India, pp 1–5

  14. Abramson LW, Lee ST, Sharma S, Boyce GM (2002) Slope stability and stabiization methods, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York, USA

    Google Scholar 

  15. Fenton GA, Griffiths DV (2008) Risk assessment in geotechnical engineering. Wiley, Hoboken, NJ, USA

    Book  Google Scholar 

  16. Lacasse S, Nadim F (1996) Uncertainties in characterizing soil properties. In: Shackelford CD et al (eds) Uncertainty in the geologic environment: from theory to practice. ASCE, New York, pp 49–75

    Google Scholar 

  17. SLOPE/W (2018) Geoslope manual for slope stability. GEO-SLOPE International, Calgary, Canada

  18. Morgenstern NR, Price VE (1965) The analysis of the stability of general slip surfaces. Geotechnique 15(1):79–93. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1965.15.1.79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Bishop AW (1955) The use of slip circle in stability analysis of slopes. Geotechnique 5(1):7–17. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1955.5.1.7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Gibson RE, Morgenstern N (1962) A note on the stability of cuttings in normally consolidated clays. Geotechnique 12(3):212–216. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1962.12.3.212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Ouyang W, Liu S-W, Yang Y (2022) An improved Morgenstern-price method using gaussian quadrature. Comp Geotech 148:104754. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2022.104754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Fan Q, Lin, J, Sun W, Lu J, Chen P (2021) Analysis of landslide stability based on the Morgenstern-price method. E3S Web of Conf, 4th Annual international conference on energy development and environmental protection, Guizhou, China. 299: 02019. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202129902019

  23. Morgenstern NR, Price VE (1967) A numerical method for solving the equations of stability of general slip surfaces. Comp J 9(4):388–393. https://doi.org/10.1093/comjnl/9.4.388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Fredlund DG, Krahn J (1977) Comparison of slope stability methods of analysis. Can Geotech J 14(3):429–439. https://doi.org/10.1139/t77-045

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Spencer E (1967) A method of analysis of the stability of embankments assuming parallel inter slice forces. Geotechnique 17:11–26. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1967.17.1.11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1997) Engineering and design: introduction to probability and reliability methods for use in geotechnical engineering. Department of the Army, Washington, D.C. Engineer Technical Letter 1110-2-547

  27. Das N (1992) An investigation of soil characteristics of the greater Guwahati landslide areas. In: Master of engineering thesis. Gauhati University, Assam, India

  28. Saikia BD, Sarma AK, Goswami D, Deka G (1996) Landslide hazard zonation of Guwahati area. In: Progress report, directorate of science and technology, Government of India

  29. Kalita UC (2001) A study of landslide hazards in north-eastern India. In: Proceeding 11th international conference of soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering 1–3: 1167–1170

  30. Saikia BD (2002) Geotechnical investigation of probable landslide spots within Guwahati city area. In: Progress report, directorate of science and technology, Government of India

  31. Das HK (2003) A case study of recent landslides in greater Guwahati. In: Master of engineering thesis. Gauhati University, Assam, India

  32. Das UK, Saikia BD (2010) Shear strength of unsaturated residual soils of the hills in Guwahati. In: Proceeding Indian geotechnical conference, Bombay, India, pp 1–4

  33. Saikia R, Deka P, Kalita S, Dey A (2014) Analysis and behavior of hill slopes and their stabilization measures. In: Proceeding Indian geotechnical conference, Kakinada, India, pp 2183–2190

  34. Acharyya R, Dey A (2015) Site characterization and bearing capacity estimation for a school building located on hillslope. In: Proceeding Indian geotechnical conference, Pune, India, pp 1–10

  35. Kumar SS, Tamang DT, Timsina R, Dey A (2015) Laboratory investigations to assess the geotechnical characteristics of soils from Sikkim hill slopes. In: Proceeding Indian geotechnical conference, Pune, India, pp 1–10

  36. Talukdar P, Bora R, Dey A (2018) Numerical investigation of hill slope instability due to seepage and anthropogenic activities. Ind Geotech J 48(3):585–594

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Acharyya R, Dey A (2019) Suitability of the typology of shallow foundations on hill-slopes. Ind Geotech J 49(6):635–649. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-019-00360-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Sarma CP, Murali Krishna A, Dey A (2019) Geotechnical characterization of hillslope soils of Guwahati region. In: Stalin VK and Muttharam M (eds) Geotechnical characterisation and geoenvironmental engineering. Lecture notes in civil engineering. 16:103–110

  39. Sarma CP, Dey A, Murali Krishna A (2020) Influence of digital elevation models on the simulation of rainfall-induced landslides in the hillslopes of Guwahati. India Eng Geol 268:105523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Dey A, Murali Krishna A (2021) Comprehensive rainfall induced landslide hazard analysis of ‘Sunsali’ and ‘Noonmati’ hills in Guwahati region. In: Project report. National geospatial program, Department of science and technology, Government of India, New Delhi, India, Rep. No. NRDMS/02/60/017(G)

  41. QUAKE/W (2018) Geoslope manual for dynamic analysis. GEO-SLOPE International, Calgary, Canada

  42. Lumb P (1970) Safety factors and the probability distribution of soil strength. Can Geotech J 7(3):225–242. https://doi.org/10.1139/t70-032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Mostyn GR, Soo S (1992) The effect of autocorrelation on the probability of failure of slopes. In: Proceeding 6th Australia, New Zealand conference on geomechanics—geotechnical risk, pp 542–546

  44. Hicks MA, Samy K (2002) Reliability-based characteristic values: a stochastic approach to Eurocode 7. Ground Eng 35(12):30–34

    Google Scholar 

  45. Baecher GB, Christian JT (2003) Reliability and statistics in geotechnical engineering. Wiley, England

    Google Scholar 

  46. Babu GLS, Mukesh MD (2004) Effect of soil variability on reliability of soil slopes. Geotechnique 54(5):335–337. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2004.54.5.335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Javankhoshdel S, Bathurst RJ (2014) Simplified probabilistic slope stability design charts for cohesive and cohesive-frictional (c-ϕ) soils. Can Geotech J 51(9):1033–1045. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2013-0385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Schultze E (1975) Some aspects concerning the application of statistics and probability to foundation structures. In: Proceeding 2nd international conference on the application of statistics and probability in soil and structural engineering, Aachen, 4: 457–494

  49. Alonso EE (1977) Risk analysis of slopes and its application to slopes in Canadian sensitive clays. Geotechnique 26(3):453–472. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1976.26.3.453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Tobutt DC (1982) Monte Carlo simulation methods for slope stability. Comp Geosci 8:199–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/0098-3004(82)90021-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Nguyen VU, Chowdhury RN (1984) Probabilistic study of spoil pile stability in strip coal mines-two techniques compared. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abs 21:303–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(84)90363-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Huang J, Griffiths DV, Fenton GA (2010) System reliability of slopes by RFEM. Soils Found 50(3):343–353. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.50.343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Nguyen VU, Chowdhury RN (1985) Simulation for risk analysis with correlated variables. Géotechnique 35:47–58. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1985.35.1.47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Fenton GA, Griffiths DV (2003) Bearing-capacity prediction of spatially random c-φ soils. Can Geotech J 40:54–65. https://doi.org/10.1139/t02-086

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Ferson S, Hajagos JG (2006) Varying correlation coefficients can underestimate uncertainty in probabilistic models. Rel Eng Sys Saf 91:1461–1467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ress.2005.11.043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Griffiths DV, Huang J, Fenton GA (2009) Influence of spatial variability on slope reliability using 2-D random fields. J Geotech Geoenv Eng ASCE 135(10):1367–1378. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000099

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Lü Q, Low BK (2011) Probabilistic analysis of underground rock excavations using response surface method and SORM. Comp Geotech 38:1008–1021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2011.07.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. IS (1893) (Part 1): 2002. Criteria for earthquake resistant design of structures. Bureau of Indian standards, New Delhi, India

  59. El-Ramly H, Morgernstern NR, Cruden DM (2002) Probabilistic slope stability analysis for practice. Can Geotech J 39(3):665–683. https://doi.org/10.1139/t02-034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Vanmarcke EH (1983) Random fields, analysis and synthesis. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

  61. Luo Z, Hu B, Wang Y, Di H (2018) Effect of spatial variability of soft clays on geotechnical design of braced excavations: a case study of Formosa excavation. Comp Geotech 103:242–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2018.07.020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Cho SE (2014) Probabilistic stability analysis of rainfall-induced landslides considering spatial variability of permeability. Eng Geol 171:11–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.12.015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Dou HQ, Han TC, Gong XN, Qiu ZY, Li ZN (2015) Effects of the spatial variability of permeability on rainfall-induced landslides. Eng Geol 192:92–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2015.03.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Nguyen TS, Likitlersuang S, Ohtsu H, Kitaoka T (2017) Influence of the spatial variability of shear strength parameters on rainfall induced landslides: a case study of sandstone slope on Japan. Arab J Geosci 10:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-3158-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. El-Ramly H, Morgenstern NR, Cruden DM (2003) Probabilistic stability analysis of a tailings dyke on presheared clay-shale. Can Geotech J 40:192–208. https://doi.org/10.1139/T02-095

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. DeWolfe GF, Griffiths DV, Huang J (2010) Probabilistic and deterministic slope stability analysis by random finite elements. In: GeoTrends—The progress of geological and geotechnical engineering in Colorado at the Cusp of a New Decade, GPP6. https://doi.org/10.1061/41144(391)9

  67. El-Ramly H, Morgenstern NR, Cruden DM (2005) Probabilistic assessment of stability of a cut slope in residual soil. Geotechnique 55(1):77–84. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.55.1.77.58590

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Chakraborty R, Dey A (2022) Random finite element and limit equilibrium methods-based probabilistic stability analyses of a cut slope. Ind Geotech J 52(4):969–978. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-022-00617-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Kramer SL (1996) Geotechnical earthquake engineering. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, USA

    Google Scholar 

  70. Morrison P, Maley R, Brady G, Porcella R (1977) Earthquake recordings on or near dams. Report No. PB285867, United States committee on large dams, California institute of technology, USA

  71. Tika T, Kallioglou P, Papadopoulou A, Pitilakis K (2003) Shear modulus and damping of natural sands. In: Proceeding 3rd International symposium on deformation characteristics of geomaterials, Lyon, France, pp 401–407

  72. Tinjum JM, Christensen RW (2011) Site investigation, characterization and assessment for wind turbine design and construction. In: Wind energy systems. Elsevier, pp 28–45. https://doi.org/10.1533/9780857090638.1.28

Download references

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies like public, commercial or non-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Meghalaya, Shillong, India

    Rubi Chakraborty

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India

    Arindam Dey

Authors
  1. Rubi Chakraborty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Arindam Dey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arindam Dey.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chakraborty, R., Dey, A. Probabilistic Assessment of Seismic Response of Toe-Excavated Partially Saturated Hillslopes. Indian Geotech J 54, 196–209 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-023-00840-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-023-00840-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation