ASSIGNMENT NO.

-1















SUBMITTED TO : SUBMITTED BY:
MS. UMA MALIK BAJRANG GUPTA
ROLL NO.-C09210
BRANCH-CIVIL
SEM.-6TH
WHAT IS A SLOPE FAILURE?
A slope failure is a phenomenon that a slope collapses abruptly due to
weakened self-retainability of the earth under the influence of a rainfall or an
earthquake.
Generally, a slope failure can be defined as a downward movement of a large
amount of slope material. For this reason, slope failures are also referred to
as mass movements. Slope failures can occur suddenly in one easily recognized
movement, or almost imperceptibly over a period of many years.


A slope failure is classified based on how it moves and
the type of material being moved:
Creep: very slow movement of rock or soil downslope, often caused by
repeated freezing and thawing of soil moisture.
Falls: very rapid fall of rock and earth material from vertical or near vertical
slopes. Rockfalls are a common example.
Flows: slow to rapid movement of rock, soil, snow, or ice. Types of flows
include mudflows, earthflows, debris flows, and snow avalanches. Flows
typically have more mixing of material than other slope failures.
Slides: slow to rapid movement of soil or rock. This category includes rock
slides, earth slides, and slumps. Slides often occur with little mixing of material.
Subsidence: slow to rapid collapse of rock or soil into underlying spaces.
Sinkholes in karst landscapes are a common example.


SLIDES
Slides, either in rock or soil, will have rotational or translational movement. The
behavior of the slide depends mostly on the type of material and whether that
material is:
(1) homogeneous (isotropic) material (similar properties in all directions), or
(2) inhomogeneous (anisotropic) material with planes of weakness.

Caused by slope failure of
homogeneous (isotropic) materials
(similar properties in all directions).

Caused by slope failure of
inhomogeneous (anisotropic) material
with planes of weakness.
Translational Movement
Imagine yourself sliding down a slide
at a playground. This is similar to
what occurs in translational rock- and
land- slides. Slides move in contact
with the underlying surface! The
"sliding surface" is commonly a
bedding plane, but may also be a
fault or fracture surface.


Rotational Movement
The sliding of material along a
curved surface called a
rotational slide or slump. A
common cause of slumping is
erosion at the base of a slope.
For example, coastal storm
waves erode cliff bases,
removing supporting material
(remember?). Slope failure
occurs. The slump block rotates
downward, producing a scarp
(cliff) at the top of the slope.



SLOPE FAILURE FACTORS
Gravity can be divided into components acting parallel to a slope and
perpendicular to the slope.
Failure is more likely to occur if the effect of friction on the potential sliding
surface is reduced.
The physical properties of the slope materials such as cohesion between grains
may reduce the potential for slope failure.
The angle of repose is the maximum slope generated when loose
unconsolidated material is formed into a pile.
The addition of excess water may destabilize slopes by adding weight,
destroying cohesion between grains, and reducing friction.




SLOPE FAILURE PROCESSES
Rock fall occurs when ice wedging loosens angular boulders from rocky cliffs.
Rockslides occur where sheets of rock move downslope on a planar sliding
surface such as a bedding plane or fracture surface.
A slump is the downslope movement of material on a curved surface.
Mudflows and debris flows represent a chaotic mixture of water and
unconsolidated slope materials.
Arid and temperate areas may be marked by rockfall and rockslides whereas
humid regions will show greater frequency of slumps, mudslides, and debris
flows.


WHERE DO SLOPE FAILURES OCCUR?

Slope failures can be triggered by weather events, geologic events, human
modification of the landscape, or most commonly, some interaction of all
of the above.
Therefore, slope failures occur nearly everywhere slopes exist.
Mountainous regions, hilly regions, and coastlines have the greatest risk
of slope failures. Also, locations in active tectonic regions are prone to
slope failures triggered by earthquakes or volcanic activity.
Sinkholes form in karst landscapes, where water has dissolved underlying
bedrock, typically limestone or gypsum.
The southeastern United States is particularly prone to sinkhole
formation; over 50% of the state of Kentucky is subject to these hazards.
Along the highways of the Rocky Mountains and coastal mountain ranges
of California, rockfalls cause transportation delays, vehicle damage, and
road damage every year.


PRACTICAL EXAMPLES OF SLOPE FAILURE
1.Bukit Lanjan NKVE-2003




2.Slope failure along Lake Erie.




3.Slope failure around Port-au-Prince

4. Landslide at Kobe

CONSEQUENCES OF SLOPE FAILURES :
Whether on the surface or underground, unanticipated movement of the
ground can pose hazardous conditions which may lead to
Endangerment of lives.
Demolition of equipment.
The loss of property.
Losses to engg. Structures, railway formations, highway embankments,
canal banks, earth dams etc