An equilibrium is considered stable (for simplicity we will consider asymptotic stability only) if the system always returns to it after small disturbances. If the system moves away from the equilibrium after small disturbances, then the equilibrium is unstable.

Types Of Rocks To Help Stop Erosion

1. 1) Cobblestones.
2. 2) Gravel.
3. 3) Non-Absorbent Stone.
4. 4) Riprap.
5. 1) Using Retaining Walls.
6. 2) Anchoring Plant Beds With Boulders.
7. 3) Creating A Rock Toe For Shorelines.
8. 4) Rock Terraces.

Slope stability refers to the condition of inclined soil or rock slopes to withstand or undergo movement. A slope can be globally stable if the safety factor, computed along any potential sliding surface running from the top of the slope to its toe, is always larger than 1.

Below are some of the common methods used for slope failure mitigation and repair:

1. Drainage. Contractors who know what they’re doing will always draw up drainage plans to complement their slope repair plans.
2. Terracing & Benching.
3. Retaining Walls.
4. Friction Piles.
5. Sheet Piling.
6. Rock Bolts.
7. Shotcrete.
8. Geo-grid.

We can split the vertical gravitational force into two components relative to the slope: one pushing the block down the slope (the shear force), and the other pushing into the slope (the normal force).

If a weak rock or soil occurs between stronger rocks or soils, the weak layer will be the most likely place for failure to occur, especially if the layer dips in a down-slope direction as in the illustration above. Similarly, loose unconsolidated sand has no cohesive strength.

Types of slope failure in geotechnical engineering

• Rotational failure. When rotational failure occurs, the failed surface will begin to move outwards and downwards.
• Translational failure.
• Compound failure.
• Wedge failure.
• Contact G3Soilworks.

Human activities play a crucial role in slope modification. Humans greatly affect slopes negatively, for example, by mining, construction and farming. While humans are the culprits of affecting slopes negatively, they’re the ones who can modify slopes to stabilise them, for example, terracing.

Yes, in some cases human activities can be a contributing factor in causing landslides. They are commonly a result of building roads and structures without adequate grading of slopes, poorly planned alteration of drainage patterns, and disturbing old landslides. …

Man-made features such as cut slopes, fill slopes, rock slopes, retaining walls, etc. are collectively known as “Slopes”.

Human activity is one of the causes of mass movement. Increased human activity would increase the driving forces of mass movement. The density of the human activity, such as infrastracture, plus the pull of gravity would increase the likelihood of a landslide or a mudslide, or weaken a part of the slope.

Landslides and avalanches are the most dramatic, sudden, and dangerous examples of earth materials moved by gravity. Landslides are sudden falls of rock, whereas avalanches are sudden falls of snow.

More on this later.

• Composition of Slope Material. Another factor that determines mass wasting is the slope’s material.
• Weight and Friction of Slope. A third factor that influences whether a slope will fail is the load or weight of that slope.
• Regional Climate Conditions.
• Water Content within Slopes.
• Gravity.

Such factors include: weathering or erosional debris cover on slopes, which is usually liable to mass movement; the character and structure of rocks, such as resistant permeable beds prone to sliding because of underlying impermeable rocks; the removal of the vegetation cover, which increases the slope’s susceptibility …

Gravity is the main force responsible for mass movements. Gravity is a force that acts everywhere on the Earth’s surface, pulling everything in a direction toward the center of the Earth.

Mass movement is the movement of loose material (regolith) down a slope under the influence of gravity. Precipitation influences mass movement because water makes the regolith heavier and acts as a lubricant. This means that the regolith can move easily and quickly down a slope. Gradient also influences mass movement.

erosion by rivers, glaciers, or ocean waves create oversteepened slopes. rock and soil slopes are weakened through saturation by snowmelt or heavy rains. earthquakes create stresses that make weak slopes fail. earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 and greater have been known to trigger landslides.

Slopes fail occur when gravitational forces exceed the strength of the rock or soil which comprise the slope. This often occurs when a slope is over steepened, a heavy load is placed at the top of the slope, or material at the base of the slope is removed.

talus

When large rocks become dislodged and drop down a steep slope, the mass movement is called a FALL.

Rockfalls

Erosion is the dislodging of sediments that initiates their movement. Particles may then be moved away by sediment transport agents such as wind, water, glaciers, etc. Mass movement refers to earth materials moving downslope under the influence of gravity, as in rockslides, mudflows, slumps, etc.

Creep. Creep is the slow downslope movement of material under gravity. It generally occurs over large areas.

Construction works, legal and illegal mining, as well as the unregulated cutting of hills (carving out land on a slope) caused most of the human-induced landslides.

Landslide Warning Signs Springs, seeps, or saturated ground in areas that have not typically been wet before. New cracks or unusual bulges in the ground, street pavements or sidewalks. Soil moving away from foundations. Ancillary structures such as decks and patios tilting and/or moving relative to the main house.

The most common natural landslide triggers are described in this chapter, including intense rainfall, rapid snowmelt, water-level change, volcanic erup- tion, and earthquake shaking, and examples are pro- vided in which observations or measurements have documented the relationship between triggers and landslides.