Modelling of landslide triggering mechanisms

Abstract

In this study, almost all of the the landslide triggering mechanisms which are slopegeometry, changes in groundwater level, earthquake, surcharge load, tension crack andliquefaction have been modelled for a model slope. Plaxis computer software which uses finite element method for soil and rock analysis has been used for the stability analyses.Factor of safety values, extreme total displacements, extreme total principal stresses,total strains, active pore pressures and the some values for a specific point in the modelhave been calculated as the output data. Analyses results have been compared to each other. Hand calculations of factor of safety values for the analyses have been presented andcompared to the computer results.The most critical cases are found increase of water, steeper slope angle, and tensioncrack analyses respectively. The short-term change in water level and the resulting change in the pore pressure distribution hardly influence the stability of the slopes. Water levelchanges and surcharge load applied on the slope also play an important role in principalstress distribution. Principal strain values are seen to have increased due to the increase ofthe displacement values via the effects such as earthquake. Finally, although computer programs which generally use finite element code, gavereasonable results and general ideas for the triggering mechanisms of the stability ofslopes. Changing the slope geometry and its geotechnical properties can alter theseoutcomes. A more complete sensitive analysis with realistic geotechnical properties should be performed for each case.