Slope Stability
Code
10743
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Ciências da Terra
Credits
6.0
Teacher in charge
Pedro Calé da Cunha Lamas
Weekly hours
4
Total hours
72
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
Students should understand basic concepts and acquire skills that enable them to identify the mechanisms of mass movements. They also should have the skills to perform the necessary studies in order to obtain the physical and mechanical parameters they need to apply the methodologies used on slope stability assessment.
Prerequisites
No special requirements, but the previous attendance of Strength of Materials and Soil Mechanics classes (1st cycle) is advisable.
The participation in, at least, two thirds of the practical classes is required, unless the student is under a special status.
Subject matter
Definition for slope and mass movement; slope stability problems; some historic events.
Geomorphologic evolution of slopes: erosion and mass movements; classification systems; mass movement factors and causes. Methods of investigation in the laboratory and in the field.
Stability analysis methods; limit equilibrium condition; global and partial (Eurocode 7) safety factors; short term and long term analysis. Stability analysis of rock slopes; kinematic analysis using stereographic plot; rock slope classifications by Slope Mass Rating index. Limit equilibrium analysis for planar slides. Stability analysis of soil slopes; planar failure surfaces (Culmann and “infinite” slope methods); circular failure surfaces (fiu=0 method; slices methods; stability charts. Computer program procedures for slope stability calculations (SLOPE-W and others). Slope stabilization and protection; slope monitoring.
Bibliography
Abramson, L.; Lee, T.; Sharma, S.; Boyce, G. 1996. Slope stability and stabilization methods. John Wiley & Sons
Cernica, J. 1995. Geotechnical engineering: Soil mechanics; Chp.10 (Shear strength of soils); Chp.11 (Stability of soils), John Wiley & Sons
Dikau, R.; Brunsden, D.; Schrott, L.; Ibsen, M.-L. (ed.) 1996. Landslide recognition: Identification, movement and causes; John Wiley & Sons
González Vallejo L. (Coord.) 2002. Geological engineering (in Spanish). Prentice Hall
Hoek, E. & Bray, J. 1994. Rock slope engineering. Chapman & Hall (Institution of Mining and Metallurgy), London, 3 ed
Nash, D. 1989. A comparative review of limit equilibrium methods of stability analysis. In M. Anderson & K. Richards (ed.) Slope Stability, John Wiley & Sons, London, Chp. 2, 11-73
Smoltczyk, U. (ed.) 2002. Geotechnical engineering handbook, Ernst & Sohn, ed.; Vol.1; Chp.1.13 (Phenomenology of natural slopes and their mass movements), Chp.1.15 (Stability of rock slopes)
Teaching method
Theoretical classes with audiovisual media support (Powerpoint). Practical classes which include office work, solving problems using different methods of slope stability evaluation and discussion of some slope stability studies performed in Portugal. Two documents in pdf format, one of them where the syllabus are exposed, the other one a notebook of practical exercises, are available to the students through the Clip platform. Some bibliography is also provided. Study visit to the slopes near the campus, where different failure mechanisms as well as several remedial works can be observed and discussed.
Evaluation method
Final grade: the sum of the results of three tests with respectively 25%, 35% and 40% of the final grade (or a t-p final exam). A minimum of 10 is required as passing grade. No query is admitted in the tests with the exception of a form that is provided by the teacher.