Influence of Rock Slide Geometry on Stability Behavior during Reservoir Impounding
Source abstract
Abstract
Assessing the stability behavior of deep-seated rock slides in the surroundings of large dam reservoirs requires an understanding of the geometry, the kinematics, the groundwater situation, and the rock mass and shear zone properties. This study focuses on the influence of rock slide geometry on stability evolution during initial reservoir impounding. Therefore, nine different rock slide models, mainly taken from published case studies with a well-explored geometry, were analyzed. Based on the assumption that the rock slides are close to limit equilibrium in a no-reservoir scenario, reservoir impounding causes a reduction in the factor of safety (FoS). The results show a large impact of the water level for rotational slides where the majority of the rock mass is located at the lower part of the slope. This results in a maximum reduction in the FoS of up to 12%. In contrast to this, translational rock slides are less affected by reservoir impounding. The stability analysis shows that the change in FoS is strongly controlled by the kinematics of the rock slide and the geometry near the foot of the slope. Consequently, a comprehensive in situ investigation of the geometry and kinematics is necessary in order to reliably assess the influence of initial reservoir impounding.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Landslides and related hazards · Rock Mechanics and Modeling · Dam Engineering and Safety
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Institute of Applied Geology, Department of Civil Engineering and Natural Hazards, BOKU University, Peter Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
Institute of Structural Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering and Natural Hazards, BOKU University, Peter Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
References (39)
Show source-provided references
1. Riemer, W. (1992, January 10–14). Landslides and reservoirs. Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Landslides, Christchurch, New Zealand.
2. Moore, D.P. (1999, January 28). Rock slopes and reservoirs—Lessons learned. Proceedings of the 13th Annual Vancouver Geotechnical Society Symposium, Slope Stability and Landslides, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
3. Downie Slide: Numerical simulation of groundwater fluctuations influencing the behaviour of a massive landslide10.1007/s10064-013-0484-5 ↗
4. Observations and predictions of the behaviour of large, slow-moving landslides in schist, Clyde Dam reservoir, New Zealand10.1016/j.enggeo.2009.02.005 ↗
5. Genevois, R., and Tecca, P.R. (2013). The Vajont landslide: State-of-the-art. Ital. J. Eng. Geol. Environ., 15–39.
6. Monitoring of the Beauregard landslide (Aosta Valley, Italy) using advanced and conventional techniques10.1016/j.enggeo.2010.09.004 ↗
7. Large deformation analysis of a high steep slope relating to the Laxiwa Reservoir, China10.1007/s00603-016-0925-0 ↗
8. Satellite remote sensing-based detection of the deformation of a reservoir bank slope in Laxiwa Hydropower Station, China10.1007/s10346-012-0378-9 ↗
9. Watson, A.D., Psutka, J.F., Stewart, T.W., and Moore, D.P. (2007, January 27–31). Investigations and Monitoring of Rock Slopes at Checkerboard Creek and Little Chief Slide. Proceedings of the 1st Canada-U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium, Vancouver, BC, Canada.10.1201/NOE0415444019-c127 ↗
10. Investigations and monitoring of deep-seated rock slides in feasibility studies for dam reservoirs10.14712/23361980.2020.15 ↗
11. A global boom in hydropower dam construction10.1007/s00027-014-0377-0 ↗
12. Alonso, E.E., and Pinyol, N.M. (2010, January 23–25). Landslides in reservoirs and dam operations. Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress on Dam Maintenance and Rehabilitation, Zaragoza, Spain.10.1201/b10570-3 ↗
13. Miller, S.M., Barla, G., Piovano, G., and Barla, M. (July, January 29). Geotechnical and temporal risk assessment of a large slope deformation. Proceedings of the 42nd U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium (USRMS), San Francisco, CA, USA. Paper No. ARMA-08-032.
14. Criteria for rapid sliding I. A review of Vaiont case10.1016/j.enggeo.2010.04.018 ↗
15. Development and application of a quantitative risk assessment to a very slow moving rock slope and potential sudden acceleration10.1007/s10346-015-0609-y ↗
16. Eaton, J.W., Bateman, D., Hauberg, S., and Wehbring, R. (2023, December 01). GNU Octave Version 8.4.0 Manual: A High-Level Interactive Language for Numerical Computations. Available online: https://www.gnu.org/software/octave/doc/v8.4.0/.
17. (2016, May 01). AutoCAD, Version 2016. Available online: https://www.autodesk.com/.
18. (2018). Rocscience Slide2, Version 7—2D Limit Equilibrium Slope Stability Analysis, Rocscience Inc.. Available online: www.rocscience.com.
19. Abramson, L.W., Lee, T.S., Sharma, S., and Boyce, G.M. (2001). Slope Stability and Stabilization Methods, John Wiley & Sons.
20. Noverraz, F. (1996, January 17–21). Sagging or deep-seated creep: Fiction or reality?. Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Landslides, Trondheim, Norway.
21. Structure, mineralogy and geomechanical properties of shear zones of deep-seated rockslides in metamorphic rocks (Tyrol, Austria)10.1007/s00603-016-1113-y ↗
22. Structural constraints on deep-seated slope deformation kinematics10.1016/S0013-7952(00)00066-1 ↗
23. Chasing a complete understanding of the triggering mechanisms of a large rapidly evolving rockslide10.1007/s10346-013-0433-1 ↗
24. Long-term investigation of a deep-seated creeping landslide in crystalline rock, Part I. Geological and hydromechanical factors controlling the Campo Vallemaggia landslide10.1139/T07-043 ↗
25. Formation processes, geomechanical characterisation and buttressing effects at the toe of deep-seated rock slides in foliated metamorphic rock10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.03.030 ↗
26. Pore Pressure Distributions in Brittle Translational Rockslides
27. Detailed hydrogeological analysis of a deep-seated rockslide at the Gepatsch reservoir (Klasgarten, Austria)10.1007/s10040-015-1341-3 ↗
28. Imrie, A.S., Moore, D.P., and Enegren, E.G. (1992, January 10–14). Performance and maintenance of the drainage system at Downie Slide. Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Landslides, Christchurch, New Zealand.
29. Long-term investigation of a deep-seated creeping landslide in crystalline rock. Part II. Mitigation measures and numerical modelling of deep drainage at Campo Vallemaggia10.1139/T07-044 ↗
30. Influence of filling-drawdown cycles of the Vajont reservoir on Mt. Toc slope stability10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.03.004 ↗
31. Zangerl, C., Schneeberger, A., Steiner, G., and Mergili, M. (2020). GIS-based topographic reconstruction and geomechanical modelling of the Köfels Rock Slide. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 1–31.10.5194/nhess-2020-234 ↗
32. Precise radiocarbon dating of the giant Köfels landslide (Eastern Alps, Austria)10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.05.001 ↗
33. A reinterpretation of the Downie Slide (British Columbia, Canada) based on slope damage characterization and subsurface data interpretation10.1007/s10346-020-01601-5 ↗
34. Long term behaviour of the Beauregard dam (Italy) and its interaction with a deep-seated gravitational slope deformation
35. Hendron, A.J., and Patton, F.D. (1985). The Vaiont Slide. A Geotechnical Analysis Based on New Geologic Observations of the Failure Surface, Volume 1: Main Text, US Army Corps of Engineers.
36. New, simplified and improved interpretation of the Vaiont landslide mechanics10.1007/s10346-018-0998-9 ↗
37. Movement behaviour of the little chief slide10.1139/t10-091 ↗
38. The Varnes classification of landslide types, an update10.1007/s10346-013-0436-y ↗
39. ICOLD (2002). Reservoir Landslides-Guidelines for Investigation and Management, International Commission on Large Dams. Paris Bulletin 124.