• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.167-178
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• 2019

Open-pit (OP) and underground (UG) mining are usually used to exploit shallow and deep ore deposits, respectively. When mine deposit starts from shallow subsurface and extends to a great depth, sequential use of OP and UG mining is an efficient and economical way to maintain mining productivity. However, a transition from OP to UG mining could induce significant rock movements that cause the slope instability of the open pit. Based on Yanqianshan Iron Mine, which was in the transition from OP to UG mining, a large-scale two-dimensional (2D) model test was built according to the similar theory. Thereafter, the UG mining was carried out to mimic the process of transition from OP to UG mining to disclose the triggered rock movement as well as to assess the associated slope instability. By jointly using three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning, distributed fiber optics, and digital photogrammetry measurement, the deformations, movements and strains of the rock slope during mining were monitored. The obtained data showed that the transition from OP to UG mining led to significant slope movements and deformations that can trigger catastrophic slope failure. The progressive movement of the slope could be divided into three stages: onset of micro-fracture, propagation of tensile cracks, and the overturning and/or sliding of slopes. The failure mode depended on the orientation of structural joints of the rock mass as well as the formation of tension cracks. This study also proved that these non-contact monitoring technologies were valid methods to acquire the interior strain and external deformation with high precision.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.513-525
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• 2018

Slope stability of sensitive clayey soils is particularly important when subjected to strength loss and deformation. Except for progressive failure, for most sensitive and insensitive slopes, it is important to review the feasibility of conventional analysis methods based on peak strength since peak strength governs slope stability before yielding. In this study, as a part of efforts to understand the behavior of sensitive clay slopes, a total of 12 centrifuge tests were performed for artificially sensitive and insensitive clay slopes using San Francisco Bay Mud (PI = 50) and Yolo Loam (PI = 10). In terms of slope stability, the results were analyzed using the updated instability factor ($N_I$). $N_I$ using equivalent unit weight to cause a failure is in reasonable agreement shown in the Taylor's chart ($N_I$ ~ 5.5). In terms of dynamic deformation, it is shown that two-way sliding is a more accurate approach than conventional one-way sliding. Two-way sliding may relate to diffused shear surfaces. The outcome of this study is contributable to analyzing stability and deformation of steep sensitive clay slopes.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.83-92
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• 2018

The lapse of time may cause in the slope structure various deterioration phenomenon progresses in the ground of slope, and collapse due to deterioration of strength, resulting in a decrease in the service life. The approach to slope stability due to the ground deterioration is a different concept from the existing limit equilibrium analysis, which is limited to the physical characteristics and geometrical structure of ground. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of various literature studies related to the slope failure characteristics and behaviors to presented the optimal formulas for shear strength reduction, such as the exponential function, the logarithmic function and the inverse hyperbolic function. And then a case study was performed on cut slope of Gyeongbu High Speed Rail construction site along the Yangsan fault zone, where the slope failure of shale layer vulnerable to deterioration occurred. As a result, it was confirmed that landslide occurred due to reduction of shear strength by deterioration, as safety factor is approx. 1.0 at the time when the slope failure occurred. Based on the comprehensive case study, as a quantitative approach to the evaluation of slope stability due to deterioration of ground, finally we propose a method for evaluating slope stability with optimal strength reduction curves.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.34-34
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• 2012

Heavy storms rainfall has caused many landslides and slope failures especially in the mountainous area of the world. Landslides and slope failures are common geologic hazards and posed serious threats and globally cause billions in monetary losses and thousands of casualies each year so that studies on slope stability and its failure mechanism under rainfall are being increasing attention of these days. Rainfall-induced slope failures are generally caused by the rise in ground water level, and increase in pore water pressures and seepage forces during periods of intense rainfall. The effective stress in the soil will be decreased due to the increased pore pressure, which thus reduces the soil shear strength, eventually resulting in slope failure. During the rainfall, a wetting front goes downward into the slope, resulting in a gradual increase of the water content and a decrease of the negative pore-water pressure. This negative pore-water pressure is referred to as matric suction when referenced to the pore air pressure that contributes to the stability of unsaturated soil slopes. Therefore, the importance is the study of saturated unsaturated soil behaviors in evaluation of slope stability under heavy rainfall condition. In an actual field, a series of failures may occur in a slope due to a rainfall event. So, this study attempts to develop a numerical model to investigate this failure mechanism. A two-dimensional seepage flow model coupled with a one-dimensional surface flow and erosion/deposition model is used for seepage analysis. It is necessary to identify either there is surface runoff produced or not in a soil slope during a rainfall event, while analyzing the seepage and stability of such slopes. Runoff produced by rainfall may result erosion/deposition process on the surface of the slope. The depth of runoff has vital role in the seepage process within the soil domain so that surface flow and erosion/deposition model computes the surface water head of the runoff produced by the rainfall, and erosion/deposition on the surface of the model slope. Pore water pressure and moisture content data obtained by the seepage flow model are then used to analyze the stability of the slope. Spencer method of slope stability analysis is incorporated into dynamic programming to locate the critical slip surface of a general slope.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2011

This paper described that the failure causes of reinforced slope are analyzed based on the effect of geological and rainfall. The analysis result confirmed that the rainfall has effects on the stability of reinforced slope. Therefore, it was applied to the dewatering method using collector well for slope stabilized, and then the analysis of seepage and slope stability were conducted on slope with the applied method. The results of seepage analysis are corresponded with failure cause by rainfall and the results of slope stability, which is applied to dewatering method, are satisfied with safety factor criterion. Therefore, it confirmed that the dewatering method using collector could be possible to apply in field and reasonable method for slope stabilized during heavy rainfall.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.2 s.61
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• pp.146-155
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• 2006

The target slope of this study, formed during the construction of highway, is the very high infinite slope where sliding began along the discontinuity. Although an attempt was made to stabilize the upper part of the slope by installing the rock anchors, large scale failure was occurred at the lower part if the reinforced area. Afterwards, subsequent failures were observed two times. To investigate the cause of the failure, residual shear strength was measured by performing the direct shear test of rock specimen of the site. The anchor design was based on the pull-out test. Considering the slope surface where the undulation was severe and the variation of strength was very large, buttressing was used to obtain the required anchoring capacity.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.289-299
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• 2008

Based on the case study on the causes for the failure of cutting slope composed of weathered rock and soil, the factors influencing the design of a cutting slope have been examined, This type of rock and soil is widely distributed on the region whose parent rock is granite. To analyze the stability of the cutting slope, the following series of progress has been conducted: (1) ground characterization by geological survey and ground investigation, (2) the safety factor examination by limit equilibrium analysis and numerical analysis and (3) the comparison and analysis of rainfall and failure history. As a result, the main factors to cause the failure is determined to be the decrease of shear strength in the upper parts whose ground condition is weakened during localized heavy rain. Moreover, the analysis indicates the failure is also closely related to the groundwater inflow path. On the base of this investigation, a reinforcement method is proposed to ensure the stability of the cutting slope.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.417-427
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• 2017

This study aims to present cases of rock slope failures caused by geological structures. Status of slope failures, results of cause analysis and stabilizing methods are introduced, focusing primarily on rock slope failures caused by specific geologic structures, such as intersection of faults infilled with clay, foliation and fault shear zone by dike intrusion and deep-seated clayey layer along lithologic boundary. Detailed geological survey, geophysical exploration and boring survey were conducted for cause analysis. Stabilizing method to prevent further slope failures and to ensure long-term stability of slopes were established, considering characteristics of geological structures, types of failure and geological conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.485-491
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• 2010

Acquisition of information on failure slope, which may cause apprehension of second hand damage, requires acquisition of fast and accurate topographical data and efficient expression in indirect surveying method without accessing as needed. Therefore, in this study, the images on the intended area were photographed through hovering in the air by approaching collapsed road cut slope with the use of unmanned helicopter photography system. As a result of comparing the points observed by no prism total station and the 10 coordinate points analyzed through image analysis, the averages of absolute values were shown to be 0.056m in X axis direction, 0.082m in Y axis direction and 0.066m Z axis direction. In addition, the RMSE of the error for 10 points of test points were 0.015636m in X axis direction, 0.021319m in Y axis direction and 0.018734m in Z axis direction. Therefore, this method can determine the range of slope and longitudinal and cross sections of each slope in dangerous area that cannot be approached in relational image matching method for the terrains of such collapsed cut slope.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.20-32
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• 2011

Failure aspects of cut-slope, which induce the sequential collapses during the excavation stage, have been analyzed. Slope rock structures are investigated by examining the orientations and positions of discontinuity planes calculated based on the BIPS image inside the boreholes. Drilled core log has been also used to identify the structural defects. Clay minerals of swelling potentials are detected through XRD analysis. Numerical analysis for slope stability has been performed by utilizing the joint shear strength acquired from the direct joint shear test. Cut-slope collapse characteristics have been studied by investigating the posture of failure-prawn joint planes and the stability of tetrahedral blocks of different sizes. Cross-section analysis has been also performed to analyze the cut-slope behavior and to estimate the amount of reinforcement required to secure the stability of cut-slope. Behavior of reinforced cut-slope is also investigated by analyzing the slope monitoring data.