• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.289-300
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• 2020

With the rapid development of the distributed strain sensing (DSS) technology, the strain becomes an alternative monitoring parameter to analyze slope stability conditions. Previous studies reveal that the horizontal strain measurements can be used to evaluate the deformation pattern and failure mechanism of soil slopes, but they fail to consider various influential factors. Regarding the horizontal strain as a key parameter, this study aims to investigate the stability condition of a locally loaded slope by adopting the variable-controlling method and conducting a strength reduction finite element analysis. The strain distributions and factors of safety in different conditions, such as slope ratio, soil strength parameters and loading locations, are investigated. The results demonstrate that the soil strain distribution is closely related to the slope stability condition. As the slope ratio increases, more tensile strains accumulate in the slope mass under surcharge loading. The cohesion and the friction angle of soil have exponential relationships with the strain parameters. They also display close relationships with the factors of safety. With an increasing distance from the slope edge to the loading position, the transition from slope instability to ultimate bearing capacity failure can be illustrated from the strain perspective.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.655-662
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• 2003

Slope stability is an important issue ill civil engineering works or in open pit mines where both economy and efficiency is required. These are the long-term stability problems which depend on the change of physical properties under a certain weather condition. These can also result in progress of weathering which can change mechanical or hydro-geological properties of rock mass considerably. In this study, weathering in nature was simulated by freeze-thaw test and Soxhlet test which represent mechanical and chemical weathering respectively. Measured were elastic wave velocities, absorption rate, volume change. Uniaxial compression strengths before and after the weathering tests were also measured. The change in weight and volume of the specimens were not clearly related to the weathering process, but P, S wave velocities were clearly decreased as weathering progresses. For some class of rocks, P-wave velocity was increased probably because of the saturation due to improved connectivity of the pre-existing pores. Based on the test results, stability of the slopes were analyzed using FLAC$\^$2D/. Due to the reduced strength parameters, the factors of safety were decreased for the selected sites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2007.09a
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• pp.481-501
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• 2007

Excessive rainfalls due to climatic changes can trigger an increase in rainfall-induced slope failures that pose real threats to both lives and properties. Many high slopes in residual soils could stand at a steep angle, but failed during or after rainfall. Commonly, these slopes have a deep groundwater table and negative pore-water pressures in the unsaturated zone above the groundwater table contribute to the shear strength of soil and consequently to factor of safety of the slope. Stability assessment of slope under rainfall requires information on rate of rainwater infiltration in the unsaturated zone and the resulting changes in pore-water pressure and shear strength of soil. This paper describes the application of unsaturated soil mechanics principles and theories in the assessment of rainfall effect on stability of slope through proper characterization of soil properties, measurement of negative pore-water pressures, seepage and slope stability analyses involving unsaturated and saturated soils. Factors controlling the rate of changes in factor of safety during rainfall and a preventive method to minimize infiltration are highlighted in this paper.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.175-189
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• 2020

A set of relatively simple five local shear and tension failure variables is presented and then implemented into a generalized poroelastic hydromechanical numerical model to analyze failure potential and stability of variably saturated geologic media. These five local shear and tension failure variables are formulated from geometrical relationships between the Mohr circle and the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion superimposed with the tension cutoff, which approximate together the Mohr effective stress failure envelope. Finally, fully coupled groundwater flow and land deformation in two variably saturated geologic media, which are associated with a slope (Case 1) and a tunnel (Case 2), respectively, and their failure potential and stability are simulated using the resultant hydromechanical numerical model. The numerical simulation results of both cases show that shear and tension failure potential and stability of variably saturated geologic media can be analyzed numerically simply and efficiently and even better by using the five local shear and tension failure variables as a set than by using the conventional factors of safety against shear and tension failures only.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.31-39
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• 2008

The information of cut slope in Baekyang Mt. area, Busan is investigated in order to construct the Slope Management System in Urban Area. The slope inspection sheet is made to record the characteristics for cut slopes, and that is capable to be inputted slope information systematically. The cut slopes in Baekyang Mt. area are consisting of 103 slopes. Most of the cut slopes are constructed in cutting slope and retaining wall (CR). The school is mostly distributed adjacent to cut slopes. The average traverse of cut slopes is approximately 122m, and the average height is approximately 18m. The slopes combined with soil and rock are mostly distributed. The retaining wall was installed in the toe part of cut slope in order to increase the slope stability, and the additional reinforcement methods including the anchor, drainage, preventing rock fall, shotcrete and vegetation were installed in the walls and slopes.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.333-341
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• 2014

The construction of roads, tunnels, and bridges results in changes to the local terrain that may influence the ground safety factor, which represents the stability of geotechnical structures. In this study, we assessed construction sites that had collapsed as a result of terrain change, and then simulated variation in the ground safety factor with respect to terrain change caused by road construction. We assumed steep slopes to simulate changes in terrain in a mountainous area and assumed that earthworks took place for road construction by cutting a platform into the slope and altering the slope angle of the terrain both above and below the road. We calculated values of the ground safety factor through a stability analysis of the slope both above and below the road, and examined the variation in the safety factor of the above- and below-road slopes with respect to changes in road width. We found that if the slope angle was the same above and below the road, then the change in the ground safety factor during/after road construction occurred in the slope below the road, and if the slope angle above the road differed from that below, then the change occurred in both the above- and below-road slopes. Furthermore, the ground safety factor was essentially constant for road widths exceeding 2-6 m, depending on both above- and below-road slope angle. The findings of this study can be used to guide the management of construction sites and to assess changes in ground stability during road construction work, particularly in the early stages of earthworks, when the road width is narrow.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1995.06a
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• pp.210-227
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• 1995

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.123-133
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• 2001

Since most of soil slopes are in an unsaturated state, it is necessary to consider the unsaturated characteristics of soil slopes, in order to obtain more reasonable results. Therefore in this study we supplemented a slope stability analysis program to consider them, based on the concept of limit equilibrium. We also applied an optimization technique to search for a failure surface. Besides, we carried out experiments to obtain the unsaturated soil properties required in the analysis with weathered granite soils. We formulated a nonlinear apparent cohesion relationship with the matrix suction to be able to apply the unsaturated shear strength characteristics to the stability analysis. In addition, we intended to obtain more accurate soil water characteristic curves(SWCC) by measuring the change in volume of the specimen in the SWCC tests. As a result, we could appropriately assess the change of the safety factor according to the rainfall intensity and duration, by considering the variation of suction, permeability, and shear strength caused by the infiltration of rainfall into slopes.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.2 s.52
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• pp.163-176
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• 2007

Landslides which is one of the major natural hazard is defined as a mass movement of weathered material rock and debris due to gravity and can be triggered by complex mechanism. It causes enormous property damages and losses of human lift directly and indirectly. In order to mitigate landslide risk effectively, a new method is required to develope for better understanding of landslide risk based on the damaged cost produce, investment priority data, etc. In this study, we suggest a new evaluation method for slope stability using risk analysis. 30 slopes including 10 stable slopes, 10 slopes of possible failure and 10 failed slopes along the national and local roads are examined. Risk analysis comprises the hazard analysis and the consequence analysis. Risk scores evaluated by risk analysis show very clear boundaries for each category and are the highest for the failed slopes and the lowest for the stable slopes. The evaluation method for slope stability suggested by this research may define the condition and stability of slope more clearly than other methods suggested by others.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.9-18
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• 2008

Shallow slope failures in residual soil during periods of prolonged infiltration are common in Korea. This study examines an infinite slope analysis to estimate the influence of infiltration on surficial stability of slopes by the limit equilibrium method. Approximate method which is based on the Green-Ampt model have been considered to evaluate the likelihood of shallow slope failure which is induced by a particular rainfall event that accounts for the rainfall intensity and duration for various return periods. Pradel & Raad method which is devised to predict the depth of wetting front to decomposed granite soil slopes having measured soil-water characteristic curves. To compare the results with those obtained from the Pradel & Raad method, a series of numerical analysis using SEEP/W were carried out. It was found that the stability analysis of unsaturated soils calculated by using the soil-water characteristic curve of decomposed granite soils was found to be a proper analysis for shallow slope failures due to rainfall.