On the Stability of Unsaturated Loess Slope under Tunneling Condition

Abstract:

As a unique mode of soil erosion, loess cavities often act as the critical factor to the stability of the highway slopes of unsaturated loess. In this paper, the unsaturated loess slope stabilities are comparatively studied in different cases through the developed program of the strength reduction FEM, such as loess cavities in different position, single- & twin cavities, occurrence and loss of matric suction etc. The work done in this paper revealed the mechanism how the tunneling and the matric suction have effect on the stability of unsaturated loess slope to some extent. The results not only indicate that the loess cavities favor to maintain the stability of slope with the cavities located near the slope's crest, while the loess cavities reduce the stability of slope with the cavities located near the slope's toe, but also disclose that the safety factor of the unsaturated loess slope increases and the potential sliding surface move downward with considering the matric suction and vice versa. In addition, the twin cavities near the slope's toe have the obvious negative effects on slope's stability.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 233-235)
• Pages: 2678-2681
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.233-235.2678
• Online since: May 2011
• Authors: Xi An Li, Rong Jian Li, Gao Feng Che, Wen Zheng, Liang Li
• Keywords: Cavity, Loess, Matric Suction, Slope, Stability

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