Research Projects

Arunachal Pradesh in the north-eastern Himalayan region of India experiences frequent occurrences of landslides. This state falls under the high seismic zone V (BIS, 2002), which makes it highly vulnerable to earthquakes and related hazards. Many researchers have hinted at the weak structural framework of the geological strata, the hydrological conditions, and various anthropogenic activities as the major factors leading to slope failures. However, a concrete mechanism of the failures has been rarely presented before. In order to come up with an efficient solution to the problem of landslide hazard analysis and mitigation, the present study aims at the utilization of an integrated approach using various simulation techniques. Modelling the slope behaviour not only gives a clear depiction of any probable failure mechanism, but also hints at the type and intensity of the possible protection measures. These techniques can aid in the design of a comprehensive system for evaluation of slope instabilities. Over the years, numerical simulation approaches have gained worldwide importance in the fields of civil, mining, and geological engineering. Techniques like finite element methods and distinct element methods have been applied by various researchers for investigation of unstable slopes. However, the majority of the previous works had not placed enough significance on the representation of the exact failure zones. One other important aspect that has not been considered is the modification of the forces acting on the slope with the passage of time. The distinct element method is extremely beneficial for identification of the exact failure zones, and the estimation of their corresponding displacement values. In order to have better constraints on the factor of safety, we propose to record the Peak Ground Accelerations (PGAs) in the region of interest. The observed PGA values in the framework of distinct and finite element modelling will estimate the horizontal and vertical accelerations in terms of seismic coefficients, and further yield the pseudo-vertical and horizontal forces. Along with dynamic analyses, these methods can provide meaningful insights into the response of slopes to any unforeseen seismic forces. This integrated approach with two different simulation techniques can efficiently help in fruitful suggestions of easy and effective remedial measures which can ultimately help in improving the stability of slopes, and reducing any chance of failure in the long run. The study area extends from Bhalukpong to Bomdila in the West Kameng district covering a stretch of approximately 98 kilometers along the National Highway 13 in Arunachal Pradesh which has been cut through several rock and debris slopes. The sole idea of the project is the establishment of this coherent system which would be able to set a benchmark for stability assessment of road-cut slopes.

Road-cut slopes, FEM, DEM, Dynamic Analysis, Protection measures