Sustainability Considerations in Recent Advances of Numerical Techniques for Investigating Slope Stability

The significance of rock slope stability analysis has surged in recent years, driven by the expanding infrastructure development on and within rock slopes. Buildings with multiple stories, highways, trains, dams and other rock engineering projects are all part of this expansion. The stability of rock slopes is affected by an intricate combination of factors such as the natural characteristics of the rock material, the existence of fissures in the rock mass, the angle and height of the slope, external loading, groundwater conditions, hydrological factors and seismic forces such as earthquakes. The interaction of these elements, particularly when combined with severe degradation of the rock mass, increases complexity to the behaviour of slope of the rocks, making it difficult to analyse and comprehend their stability. Rock slopes may become unstable due to factors like geological weaknesses (such as faults, joints and bedding planes), weathering, erosion, seismic activity, human activities and dynamic forces from tunnel excavation. Generally, the slopes in less severe seismic zones are designed based on prior experience without considering the seismic effects which can sometimes pose threat to the sustainability of the slopes. Here, we present a case study in an area characterized by loose soil and weathered rock, which can become destabilized due to dynamic forces. In the present study, the slope was modelled with seismic loading, tunnel interface and support for stability assessment. In a two-dimensional context, the finite element method (FEM) was used to enhance slope stability analysis. This study investigates the consequence of the dynamic forces on the viability of the rock slopes and provide comparative merits of including seismic forces in the design of rock slopes. The effect of slope protection measures on the overall sustainability is also included.