• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.405-414
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• 2008

When we evaluate slope stability, we regard the slope homogeneous and evaluate slope stability at the most dangerous portion of slope. However, since conditions and properties of rock mass/soil are different from one location to another within a single slope, slope stability evaluated by current concept can not represent slope correctly. This also result in over-reinforcement at the portion where reinforcement is not necessary. In order to solve these problems, we suggest a cell unit evaluation method in which we apply small rectangular cells in a slope and regard each cell as a single slope. In this method, slopes are classified into soil slope and rock slope depending on materials. Strength of rock, volumetric joint count, spacing of joints, condition of joints, ground water condition and so on are examined and SMR and condition index values are calculated. Finally, all data and results are presented as contour maps. We apply the cell unit evaluation method into 3 cut slopes. SMR values estimated by the new method are larger than those by current concept at most portions of slope, indicating that the new method suggested by this research represent slope stability more correctly than methods which were used. This method will prevent over-reinforcement at the portion of slope where reinforcement is not necessary.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.16 no.2 s.48
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• pp.189-199
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• 2006

This paper presents a field study of the stability of slope collapsed during road construction and proposes a reasonable countermeasure if the current slope is unstable. As a result of slope investigation, it was found that the slope includes five tension cracks and the sliding surface is started from the tension crack and propagated the surface soil layer through weathered rock layer. The slope stability analyses are conducted in case of dry and rainfall seasons. The results indicate that the slope is unstable status. A reinforcement method of slope failure should be selected according to the scale of failure. That is, the scale of slope failure, which is classified small, middle and large size determines the reinforcement method of slope. Since the slope interested in this study is large size failure slope, the reinforcement method to control slope failure is selected stabilizing piles, and seed spray and drainage of surface waterare also selected to remain the factor of safety. The SLOPILE (Ver. 3.0) program is applied in order to do stability analysis of slope reinforced by piles. As the result of analysis, the slope reinforced by a row of piles shows the stable state. It is clearly confirmed that the stabilizing of piles can improve the stability of slope.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.67-74
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• 2007

Many studies for slope stability studies have indicated that the infiltration of rainwater into a slope decrease the slope stability. In order to minimize damage caused by slope failure, most design codes suggest that the slope stability be analyzed by saturated condition during rainy season. However it would be excessively conservative condition that every soil slope is saturated in rainy season irrespective of rainfall intensity, soil type and slope geometry. In addition, because most soil slopes are in an unsaturated state, it is necessary to consider the unsaturated characteristics of slope. This paper suggests a prediction method of saturation time for the weathered granite soil slopes due to rainfalls. The finite element analysis of transient water flow through unsaturated slope was used to investigate effects of soil-water characteristics, permeability at saturation, slope geometry, and rainfall intensity. From the result of these analyses, the prediction charts considering soil-water characteristics, permeability at saturation, and slope height were proposed in this study. It is possible to the time required to be saturated slope after rainfall.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3232-3236
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• 2012

Consolidation and remedies for slope stability were considered for the slope with additional embankment. Transferred stresses due to additional embankment were assessed by the derived formula based on elasticity theory. Available remedies for slope stability with additional embankment including JSP method, stone column method and EPS method were studied. Caution needed for using JSP method is high pressure which can result in heaving of adjacent soils. Shortages of used case and noise of construction of stone column method are also considered for the safe remedy for slope stability.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.179-191
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• 2019

Based on the effective stress principle, a new formula for shear strength of unsaturated soil is derived under the general nonlinear Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) strength criterion to improve the classical strength criterion of unsaturated soil. Meanwhile, the simple irrigation model under steady seepage is adopted to obtain the distribution of the matrix suction or the degree of saturation (DOS) above the groundwater table in the slope. Then, combined with the improved strength criterion of unsaturated soil and the simple irrigation model under steady seepage, the limit equilibrium (LE) solutions for the unsaturated slope stability are established according to the global LE conditions of the entire sliding body with assumption of the stresses on the slip surface. Compared to the classical strength criterion of unsaturated soil, not only the cohesion soil but also the internal friction angle is affected by the matric suction or the DOS in the improved strength criterion. Moreover, the internal friction angle related to the matric suction has the nonlinear characteristics, particularly for a small of the matric suction. Thereafter, the feasibility of the present method is verified by comparison and analysis on some slope examples. Furthermore, stability charts are also drawn to quickly analyze the unsaturated slope stability.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.453-460
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• 2022

It is essential for geotechnical engineers to conduct studies and make predictions about the stability of slopes, since collapse of a slope may result in catastrophic events. The Gaussian process regression (GPR) approach was carried out for the purpose of predicting the factor of safety (FOS) of the slopes in the study that was presented here. The model makes use of a total of 327 slope cases from Iran, each of which has a unique combination of geometric and shear strength parameters that were analyzed by PLAXIS software in order to determine their FOS. The K-fold (K = 5) technique of cross-validation (CV) was used in order to conduct an analysis of the accuracy of the models' predictions. In conclusion, the GPR model showed excellent ability in the prediction of FOS of slope stability, with an R² value of 0.8355, RMSE value of 0.1372, and MAPE value of 6.6389%, respectively. According to the results of the sensitivity analysis, the characteristics (friction angle) and (unit weight) are, in descending order, the most effective, the next most effective, and the least effective parameters for determining slope stability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.273-280
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• 2001

In order to evaluate the stability of railway cut-slope under rainfall, explanatory variables and subordinate variables were selected for multivariate analysis. Furthermore the site which had occurred failure due to rainfall was investigated, and by executing multivariate analysis for 121 cases, critical rainfall was defined by the case that had high value of correlation factor. The 0.3 square value of maximum hourly rainfall during 24 hours before failure caused the collapse of railway cut-slope and could be used to estimate the stability of railway cut-slope. From the result of application to a collapse example, the evaluaton method by critical rainfall curve is satisfactory.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.97-102
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• 2004

In this paper, a finite element based method far determining factor of safety of slopes which has certain advantages over conventional limit equilibrium methods is described. Particularly, the slope failure behaviour considering different seepage conditions is produced by finite element method using strength reduction technique. It is shown that both the failure mechanism and the safety factor that are analyzed by the FEM using strength reduction technique are an effective means of slope stability analysis. And the stability of a slope with rising water table and rapid drawdown are analyzed and the results are compared with the simplified Bishop Method of the Limit Equilibrium Methods.

• Proceedings of the KSEG Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.109-114
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• 2002

Development of a three-dimensional mine visualization model for a section of the mine is addressed first. Discontinuity orientation and location information was taken from this visualization model for use in slope stability analyses. Estimated shear strength properties of discontinuities and mechanical properties of intact rock from the rock mass samples obtained from the mine are discussed next. The third part of the paper is focused on the results obtained for maximum safe slope angles for the section considered of the mine based on block theory analysis conducted under only the gravitational forces using the mapped discontinuities at the mine. Finally, the effects of water that exist in the rock mass, a tension crack, slope face inclination, overall wedge height and double benching on factor of safety of wedge stability are illustrated through limit equilibrium slope stability analyses conducted on a single tetrahedral wedge belonging to potential key block category that exist in the investigated area of the mine.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.27-39
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• 2023

To effectively manage flood risk, it is crucial to assess the stability of flood defense structures like levees under extreme flood conditions. This study focuses on the time-dependent probabilistic assessment of embankment slope stability when subjected to rapid water level drops. We integrate seepage analysis results from finite element analysis with slope stability analysis and employ Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the time-dependent behavior of the slope during rapid drawdown. The resulting probability of failure is used to develop fragility curves for the levee slope. Notably, the probability of slope failure remains low up to a specific water level, sharply increasing beyond that threshold. Furthermore, the fragility curves are strongly influenced by the rate of drawdown, which is determined through hydraulic analysis based on flood scenarios. Climate change has a significant impact on the stability of the water-side slope of the embankment due to water level fluctuations.