Abstract
Slope toe excavation strongly influences the stress balance of natural slopes and redistributes the stress of the slope body. Consequently, the sliding failure of toe-cut slopes is increasingly becoming more frequent, particularly in regions with persistent rainfall. The effects of external factors, namely, toe excavation and persistent rainfall, which lead to toe-cut slope failure were investigated through the numerical analysis of typical toe-cut slopes in the southeastern coastal region of China. Based on the grey relational theory, sensitivity analysis was carried out on the controlling factors to determine the degree of influence exerted by the external factors on the stability of toe-cut slopes. The stability analysis of toe-cut slopes reinforced by pile-anchor structures under earthquake conditions was carried out using pseudo-static analysis. The safety factor of toe-cut slopes significantly decreases as the excavation height, rainfall duration, and rainfall intensity increase. The slope stability is more sensitive to the excavation height of a toe-cut slope than it is to rainfall. The stability of a toe-cut slope reinforced by a pile-anchor structure was also analyzed under rainfall and earthquake conditions using the limit equilibrium method and pseudo-static analysis, respectively. The slope stability significantly improved when the slope was reinforced by a pile-anchor structure, even when the slope was subjected to persistent rainfall and earthquakes. The findings of this study can provide important guidance for the prevention of geological disasters in mountainous areas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References Cited
Aubertin, M., Mbonimpa, M., Bussière, B., et al., 2003. A Model to Predict the Water Retention Curve from Basic Geotechnical Properties. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 40(6): 1104–1122. https://doi.org/10.1139/t03-054
Ausilio, E., Conte, E., Dente, G., 2001. Stability Analysis of Slopes Reinforced with Piles. Computers and Geotechnics, 28(8): 591–611. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-352x(01)00013-1
Cai, F., Ugai, K., 2003. Reinforcing Mechanism of Anchors in Slopes: A Numerical Comparison of Results of LEM and FEM. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 27(7): 549–564. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.284
Cai, F., Ugai, K., 2004. Numerical Analysis of Rainfall Effects on Slope Stability. International Journal of Geomechanics, 4(2): 69–78. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)1532-3641(2004)4:2(69)
Chen, Z. Y., Wang, Z., Xi, H., et al., 2016. Recent Advances in High Slope Reinforcement in China: Case Studies. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 8(6): 775–788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2016.11.001
Deng, J. L., 1982. Control Problems of Grey Systems. Systems & Control Letters, 1(5): 288–294. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-6911(82)80025-x
Ding, Y., Dang, C., Yuan, G. X., et al., 2012. Characteristics and Remediation of a Landslide Complex Triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan, China Earthquake-Case from Yingxiu near the Earthquake Epicenter. Environmental Earth Sciences, 67(1): 161–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1489-7
Erzin, Y., Nikoo, M., Nikoo, M., et al., 2016. The Use of Self-Organizing Feature Map Networks for the Prediction of the Critical Factor of Safety of an Artificial Slope. Neural Network World, 26(5): 461–475. https://doi.org/10.14311/nnw.2016.26.027
Fredlund, D. G., Rahardjo, H., 1993. Soil Mechanics for Unsaturated Soils. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470172759
General Administration of Quality Supervision, 2012. Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China et al., Grade of Precipitation (GB/T 28592-2012) (in Chinese)
GEO-SLOPE International Ltd., 2010. Stability Modeling with SLOPE/W: An Engineering Methodology. GEO-SLOPE International Ltd, Calgary
Goto, H., Kumahara, Y., Uchiyama, S., et al., 2019. Distribution and Characteristics of Slope Movements in the Southern Part of Hiroshima Prefecture Caused by the Heavy Rain in Western Japan in July 2018. Journal of Disaster Research, 14(6): 894–902. https://doi.org/10.20965/jdr.2019.p0894
Huang, Y., Cheng, H. L., 2013. The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Geological Disasters in Southeastern China. Natural Hazards, 65(1): 377–390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-012-0370-7
Huang, Y., Xu, X., Liu, J. J., et al., 2020a. Centrifuge Modeling of Seismic Response and Failure Mode of a Slope Reinforced by a Pile-Anchor Structure. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 131: 106037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2020.106037
Huang, Y., Xu, X., Mao, W. W., 2020b. Numerical Performance Assessment of Slope Reinforcement Using a Pile-Anchor Structure under Seismic Loading. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 129: 105963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2019.105963
Iqbal, J., Dai, F. C., Hong, M., et al., 2018. Failure Mechanism and Stability Analysis of an Active Landslide in the Xiangjiaba Reservoir Area, Southwest China. Journal of Earth Science, 29(3): 646–661. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-017-0753-5
Kang, G. C., Song, Y. S., Kim, T. H., 2009. Behavior and Stability of a Large-Scale Cut Slope Considering Reinforcement Stages. Landslides, 6(3): 263–272. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-009-0164-5
Kang, S., Lee, S. R., Cho, S. E., 2020. Slope Stability Analysis of Unsaturated Soil Slopes Based on the Site-Specific Characteristics: A Case Study of Hwangryeong Mountain, Busan, Korea. Sustainability, 12(7): 2839. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072839
Kim, S. W., Chun, K. W., Kim, M., et al., 2021. Effect of Antecedent Rainfall Conditions and Their Variations on Shallow Landslide-Triggering Rainfall Thresholds in South Korea. Landslides, 18(2): 569–582. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-020-01505-4
Kuo, Y., Yang, T., Huang, G. W., 2008. The Use of Grey Relational Analysis in Solving Multiple Attribute Decision-Making Problems. Computers Y Industrial Engineering, 55(1): 80–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2007.12.002
Li, M., Zhang, J. M., Lee, C. F., et al., 2011. Centrifuge Model Tests on a Cohesive Soil Slope under Excavation Conditions. Soils and Foundations, 51(5): 801–812. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.51.801
Li, X. P., He, S. M., Wu, Y., 2010. Seismic Displacement of Slopes Reinforced with Piles. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 136(6): 880–884. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)gt.1943-5606.0000296
Li, X. P., Su, L. J., He, S. M., et al., 2016. Limit Equilibrium Analysis of Seismic Stability of Slopes Reinforced with a Row of Piles. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 40(8): 1241–1250. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2484
Liu, P., Chen, R. P., Wu, K., et al., 2020. Effects of Drying-Wetting Cycles on the Mechanical Behavior of Reconstituted Granite-Residual Soils. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 32(8): 04020199. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)mt.1943-5533.0003272
Ma, S. Y., Xu, C., 2019. Applicability of Two Newmark Models in the Assessment of Coseismic Landslide Hazard and Estimation of Slope-Failure Probability: An Example of the 2008 Wenchuan Mw 7.9 Earthquake Affected Area. Journal of Earth Science, 30(5): 1020–1030. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-019-0874-0
Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural of People’s Republic of China, 2013. Technical Code for Building Slope Engineering (GB 50330-2013). China Building Industry Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of People’s Republic of China, 2010. Code for Seismic Design of Buildings (GB 50011-2010). China Building Industry Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Song, H. F., Cui, W., 2016. A Large-Scale Colluvial Landslide Caused by Multiple Factors: Mechanism Analysis and Phased Stabilization. Landslides, 13(2): 321–335. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-015-0560-y
State Administration for Market Regulation, 2020. Code for the Design of Landslide Stabilization (GB/T 38509-2020) (in Chinese)
Terzaghi, K., 1950. Mechanism of landslides. In: Paige, S., ed., Application of Geology to Engineering Practice (Berkey Volume). Geological Society of American, New York. 83–123. https://doi.org/10.1130/berkey.1950.83
Tian, Y. Y., Xu, C., Ma, S. Y., et al., 2019. Inventory and Spatial Distribution of Landslides Triggered by the 8th August 2017 Mw 6.5 Jiuzhaigou Earthquake, China. Journal of Earth Science, 30(1): 206–217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-018-0869-2
Tosun, N., 2006. Determination of Optimum Parameters for Multi-Performance Characteristics in Drilling by Using Grey Relational Analysis. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 28(5/6): 450–455. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-004-2386-y
Towhata, I., Goto, S., Goto, S., et al., 2021. Mechanism and Future Risk of Slope Instability Induced by Extreme Rainfall Event in Izu Oshima Island, Japan. Natural Hazards, 105(1): 501–530. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-020-04321-0
Usluogullari, O. F., Temugan, A., Duman, E. S., 2016. Comparison of Slope Stabilization Methods by Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis. Natural Hazards, 81(2): 1027–1050. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-2118-7
Van Genuchten, M. T., 1980. A Closed-Form Equation for Predicting the Hydraulic Conductivity of Unsaturated Soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 44(5): 892–898. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400050002x
Wu, T. Y., Jia, J. H., Jiang, N., et al., 2020. Model Test of Deformation Evolution and Multi Factor Prediction of Anchorage Slope Stability under Rainfall Condition. Journal of Earth Science, 31(6): 1109–1120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-020-1343-5
Xu, Y., 2014. Research on Evolvement Process and Failure Mechanism of Pseudo-Soil Slope under Heavy Rainfall Action: [Dissertation]. China University of Geosciences, Wuhan (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Yang, J. H., Dai, J. H., Yao, C., et al., 2020. Estimation of Rock Mass Properties in Excavation Damage Zones of Rock Slopes Based on the Hoek-Brown Criterion and Acoustic Testing. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 126: 104192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2019.104192
Zhang, J. J., 2015. The Study of Granite Residual Soil Landslide in Guangxi Influenced by Cutting Slope and Rainfall based on Yulin District: [Dissertation]. Guangxi University, Nanning (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Zhang, S., Pei, X. J., Wang, S. Y., et al., 2020. Centrifuge Model Testing of Loess Landslides Induced by Excavation in Northwest China. International Journal of Geomechanics, 20(4): 04020022. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)gm.1943-5622.0001619
Zhao, B., Wang, Y. S., Wang, Y., et al., 2017. Retaining Mechanism and Structural Characteristics of h Type Anti-Slide Pile (hTP Pile) and Experience with Its Engineering Application. Engineering Geology, 222: 29–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.03.018
Zhao, G., Pang, B., Xu, Z. X., et al., 2018. Mapping Flood Susceptibility in Mountainous Areas on a National Scale in China. Science of the Total Environment, 615: 1133–1142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.037
Zhou, Z., Zhang, J. M., Ning, F. L., et al., 2020. Large-Scale Test Model of the Progressive Deformation and Failure of Cracked Soil Slopes. Journal of Earth Science, 31(6): 1097–1108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-020-1342-6
Zhu, D. Y., Lee, C. F., Qian, Q. H., et al., 2005. A Concise Algorithm for Computing the Factor of Safety Using the Morgenstern-Price Method. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 42(1): 272–278. https://doi.org/10.1139/t04-072
Zhuang, J. Q., Peng, J. B., 2014. A Coupled Slope Cutting—A Prolonged Rainfall-Induced Loess Landslide: A 17 October 2011 Case Study. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 73(4): 997–1011. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-014-0645-1
Acknowledgments
The authors sincerely appreciate the financial support provided to this study by the National Key R & D Program of China (No. 2017YFC1501304). The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-021-1474-3.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xu, X., Xing, Y., Guo, Z. et al. Stability Analysis of Rainfall-Triggered Toe-Cut Slopes and Effectiveness Evaluation of Pile-Anchor Structures. J. Earth Sci. 32, 1104–1112 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-021-1474-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-021-1474-3