MASS WASTING
SEM 2 2017/2018
Mass Wasting
• The downslope transfer of material through
the direct action of gravity
• Component of erosion and transport of
sediment
• Follows weathering, which weakens and
breaks the rock
Dynamics of a slope system
FACTORS AFFECTING SLOPE
STABILITY
1. Amount of Mass and Slope Angle
2. Amount of H2O in the Material
3. Local Geology
1. Amount of Mass and Slope Angle
Controls on Mass Wasting
• Requires weathering of rock or unconsolidated material
• Primary driving force is GRAVITY
• Force mechanics: For the rock to move downslope; force (A) has to
be greater than the resistance force (R) holding it up, e.g. friction.
• Slope angle influences force (A); the greater the angle the greater the
force
Stresses Acting on Slope
• Normal load (force, stress)
Resisting Force • Friction
Factor of Safety = -------------------- • Cohesion
Driving Force •Weight
•Slope angle
Factors affecting Slope Stability
• Affecting RF • Affecting DF
(Resisting Force ) (Driving Force )
– Rock and Soil – Earthquakes
Strength – Tectonics
– Structure – Removal of support
– Weathering – Addition of Mass or
– Water Pressure
– Vegetation – Human Action
Angle of Repose
(Relate to slope Angle)
• The maximum slope at which loose, cohesionless
material is stable
Angle of Repose
(Saturation of the material)
• The steepest angle • Function of
material can create – Particle size: higher for larger particles
yet remain stable – Particle shape: higher for angular shape
– Shear Strength: higher for high shear strength
– Moisture Content
Upsetting Stability
• Increase the slope
• Decrease the shear strength
• Increase the effect of gravity
Angle of Repose Determined By
• Particle size
(higher for large particles)
• Particle shape
(higher for angular shapes)
• Shear strength
(higher for high shear strength)
2. Amount of
Water Content of Slope Materials
– moderate shear strength
H2O in the
Material
– highest shear strength;
high resistive force
Saturation of
Material – least shear strength; easily
flows
• Addition of water
• Lubricates the material
(decreases cohesion)
• Adds weight (increases down
slope force)
• Increases pore pressure
(increases down slope force
and decreases cohesion)
3. Local Geology Weak rock layers dipping in the same
direction as surface slope
Soil Strength
14
Smith and Pun. How does earth work?
Structure: Bedding
15
Smith and Pun. How does earth work?
Structure: Foliation and Stability
16
Keller. 2000. Environmental Geology, 8ed.
Weathering leading to Rock fall 2003
17
Smith and Pun. How does earth work?
Secondary Controls
Factors that either weaken cohesion forces or
increase downslope force
1. Saturation of the material
2. Over-steepening of the slope
3. Slope Modification
4. Ground vibrations
5. Expansion/contraction cycles of soil/regolith
Mass Wasting Triggers
Human-Induced
• Undercutting of the base of slope.
• Loading (extra mass) the upper part of a slope.
• Increase in moisture content.
• Removal of vegetation
Natural
• Strong earthquake shaking.
• Explosive volcanic eruptions
• Torrential rainfall
Over-steepening of the Slope
• Can be human-induced or by natural
processes – increases the downslope
force.
• Stream undercutting a valley wall
(headward erosion, bank erosion, etc.).
• Waves cutting cliffs on a shoreline.
• Construction of roads, buildings, homes
etc.
Slope Modification
• Removal of Vegetation
– Roots of plants and trees hold
regolith together
– Plants and trees remove water
from the soil
– Removal decrease cohesive
force
• Building of structures
– Depending upon the structure
and the location, either a
decrease in cohesive force
&/or increase down slope
force due to added weight will
occur
Ground Vibrations
• Earthquakes – decrease cohesion forces
– Initiates movement (it is easier for a particle to move than it is
to begin to move)
– Liquefaction induced slides
• Human induced – blasting for construction, large equipment, etc.
Expansion/Contraction Cycles
• Movement of material
due to
– Wetting and drying
cycles
– Freeze-thaw cycles
Classification of Mass Wasting
• Type of Material • Type of Motion
– Bedrock - Rock – Fall – free-fall of detached
– Unconsolidated particles, slope steep
material - Debris enough that material falls
• Soil to base
• Regolith – Slide – material remains
cohesive and moves along
• Sediment a well-defined surface
• Rate of movement – Flow – material moves
– mm/yr downslope as a viscous
– km/hr flow (most are saturated
with water)
1. Material Type: rock or unconsolidated (mud, soil)
2. Nature of Motion: flow, slide, or fall
3. Velocity: slow, moderate, fast
Relative Velocity of Slope Processes
Slow Fast
ROCK SLOPE
STABILITY
WEATHERING PROFILE
b) In reality, the weathering profile may
a) A schematic vertical section through a be more complex, resulting from
weathering profile structures in the rock mass.
SLOPE FAILURES
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
Creep
• Slow downslope movement – mm/yr
• Process so slow one cannot observe it
in action
• Expansion/contraction cycles play a key
role
• Enhanced by burrowing organisms,
periods of prolonged rains or snow,
Debris Flow
• Mixture of rocks, mud, &
water
• Moves as a viscous fluid
• Common after heavy rains
• Rapid movement – up to 50
km/hr, the more water
present the faster the rate of
movement
• Common in semi-arid regions
and along volcanoes (lahars)
Earthflow
• A type of debris flow, generally move
slower
• Found on hill sides
• Can remain active over periods of years
Slump
• Slow to rapid movement
• Material moves as a coherent
unit along a curved surface
(spoon-shaped)
• Blocks of material rotate
• Debris flows commonly
associated with slump
Land-Rock Slide
• Movement of material along a defined slippage plane
• Sudden and rapid movement
• Large blocks of rock detach along bedding planes, joints,
fractures, etc.
• Occur on steep slopes
• Can be triggered by rain falls or ground vibration
• Fastest and most destructive type of mass wasting
Rock Fall (Rock Avalanche)
• Sudden and rapid free fall
movement of rock
• Occur on steep slopes
• Forms talus piles
• Can grade into a rockslide if
material greater a slope
greater than the angle of
repose
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
EXAMPLE: E-W HIGHWAY, GERIK-JELI
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
Geology: variables locally; sedimentary,
metamorphic, metavolcanics and granites; all rocks
are tectonically deformed
Slope failures: ranging from shallow to deep
slides, earth wedges, earth slabs, earth topples,
earth falls, preferrential erosion, and composite
failures.
Causing factors: relict structures, water, vibration,
material strength, and poor slope design.
E-W Highway, Gerik-Jeli……..
Wedge-type failure due to intersection of
major relict joints in CW (grade V) granite,
resulted in boulder falls and “landslide”
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
Planar (earth sheet) failure associated
with ravelling of phyllitic shales, in grade
IV-V metasedimentary rocks.
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
Tg. Siang Road, Johor
Geology: multiply deformed, foliated and
folded metasedimentary rocks.
Slope failures: shallow landslips,
preferential erosions, ravelling, earth slabs,
earth falls and topples.
Causing factors: relict structures, water,
and material properties.
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
BANGI-SEMENYIH BYPASS,
SELANGOR
Geology: bedded, foliated
and jointed metasedimentary
rocks, phyllite-metasandstone
interbeds.
Slope failures: deep
“landslides” (earth
wedge+planar slides)
Causing factors: relict
bedding/foliation and joints; water
as triggering factor (+ vibration of
heavy truck?).
POS SELIM – C. HIGHLAND ROAD
Various type of failures of slopes cut in HW-
CW granite and schists.
In most cases, relict discontinuities play
very important role in determining the mode
and size of the failures.
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
..Bukit Lanjan Landslide, NKVE
• The failure is also
attributed to relict
structures, where the
slope failure initially
took place within the
weathered rocks. The
failed mass caused
additional burden to
the rock slope below
and thus triggered
massive rock fall.
This slope failure had caused 6 months
closure of the highway, which is amongst
the busiest stretch of the highway in the
Kelang Valley, near Kuala Lumpur.
Paya Terubung Landslide,
Penang.
A case similar to those of Bukit Lanjan??,….
The materials involved are largely
weathered (HW-CW) granite and the failure
was controlled by relict
structures/discontinuity?
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
Credit To Dr. Tajul Anuar
Landslide Triggers
(A Few Examples)
Type of Trigger Natural Human
Removal of Support Erosion Excavation
Water disposal,
Addition of Moisture Rainfall, Snowmelt
Improper grading
Removal of Vegetation Forest fires Timbering
Volcanic ash,
Addition of Weight Placement of fill
Landslides, Snow
(Used like "removal Grading fill steeper
Oversteepening
of support") than its repose angle
Earthquakes, Blasting, Heavy
Vibrations
Thunder equipment
Landslide Considerations:
Gradient Risk starts at only 15o
Soil / Bedrock Clay soils / shale bedrock are the worst
Moisture Pore pressure, Lubrication, Weight
Vegetation Roots anchor soil, remove water
Support Must be maintained
Weight Drives the slide, compression of substrate
Vibrations Result in a loss of friction
Oversteepening Exceeding the angle of repose
Mass Wasting Hazard Reduction
1. Land use planning
2. Hazard mapping
3. Intelligent engineering
Engineering Techniques (Intelligent Engineering)
Vegetating Surfaces Proper Slope Grading
Engineering Techniques
Proper Slope Grading
Engineering Techniques
Retaining Walls
Engineering Techniques
Rock Bolts
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
How to Recognizing Problem Areas
• Curved trees
• Stuck windows
• Stuck doors
• Leaning walls
• Plaster cracks
• Foundation cracks
• Damaged chimneys
• Leaning poles
• Scarps
• Toes
• Seeps
• Pavement damage
Landslide Diagnosis "A"
Landslide Diagnosis "B"
Landslide Diagnosis "C"
Landslide Diagnosis "D"
EVALUATION
EVALUATION