A Case Study of Using Numerical Analysis to Assess the Slope Stability of National Freeways in Northern Taiwan
Taiwan is located at a junction of tectonic plates, which results in frequent earthquakes. Its terrain is mostly hilly, and its rainfall ranks among the highest in the world. Each of these elements affects the stability of slopes in various regions of Taiwan. Several slopes along Taiwan’s Freeway 1...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Hao-Wei Chiu Yi-Hao Tsai Chao-Wei Tang Chih-Yu Chu Shong-Loong Chen |
| author_facet | Hao-Wei Chiu Yi-Hao Tsai Chao-Wei Tang Chih-Yu Chu Shong-Loong Chen |
| author_sort | Hao-Wei Chiu |
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| description | Taiwan is located at a junction of tectonic plates, which results in frequent earthquakes. Its terrain is mostly hilly, and its rainfall ranks among the highest in the world. Each of these elements affects the stability of slopes in various regions of Taiwan. Several slopes along Taiwan’s Freeway 1 and 5 have experienced landslides and rockfalls. It is imperative that the slope stability of these national freeways be analyzed to avoid future slope collapses brought on by precipitation or other outside factors. Thus, three sites on Taiwan’s Freeway 1 and 5 were chosen for numerical slope stability analysis in this study. PLAXIS 2D CE (Version: 24.02.00.1144) finite element software was used in this study to simulate and analyze the safety of freeway slope protection projects. Displacements induced by normal and high groundwater levels were discussed. Moreover, a pseudo-static study of slope displacements under seismic conditions was performed. According to the results of the numerical study, the force operating on the slope was centered on the sliding surface when the groundwater level was normal, and it extended to the top when the groundwater level was high. By comparison, under seismic conditions, the force acting on the slope extended to the whole slope. Furthermore, the slope safety factor of Site 1 was greater than the design specification value in three different scenarios. This confirms that the slope protection project at Site 1 is effective. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d40d170247854493b3426e247fc51c072025-01-24T13:20:12ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-0115263510.3390/app15020635A Case Study of Using Numerical Analysis to Assess the Slope Stability of National Freeways in Northern TaiwanHao-Wei Chiu0Yi-Hao Tsai1Chao-Wei Tang2Chih-Yu Chu3Shong-Loong Chen4Department of Civil Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Sec. 3, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Taipei 10608, TaiwanDepartment of General Affairs, National Quemoy University, No. 1, University Rd., Jinning Township, Kinmen 89250, TaiwanDepartment of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Cheng Shiu University, No. 840, Chengching Rd., Niaosong District, Kaohsiung 83347, TaiwanARBEL Technical Consultants, Inc., No. 345, Zhonghe Rd., Yonghe District, New Taipei City 23447, TaiwanDepartment of Civil Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Sec. 3, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Taipei 10608, TaiwanTaiwan is located at a junction of tectonic plates, which results in frequent earthquakes. Its terrain is mostly hilly, and its rainfall ranks among the highest in the world. Each of these elements affects the stability of slopes in various regions of Taiwan. Several slopes along Taiwan’s Freeway 1 and 5 have experienced landslides and rockfalls. It is imperative that the slope stability of these national freeways be analyzed to avoid future slope collapses brought on by precipitation or other outside factors. Thus, three sites on Taiwan’s Freeway 1 and 5 were chosen for numerical slope stability analysis in this study. PLAXIS 2D CE (Version: 24.02.00.1144) finite element software was used in this study to simulate and analyze the safety of freeway slope protection projects. Displacements induced by normal and high groundwater levels were discussed. Moreover, a pseudo-static study of slope displacements under seismic conditions was performed. According to the results of the numerical study, the force operating on the slope was centered on the sliding surface when the groundwater level was normal, and it extended to the top when the groundwater level was high. By comparison, under seismic conditions, the force acting on the slope extended to the whole slope. Furthermore, the slope safety factor of Site 1 was greater than the design specification value in three different scenarios. This confirms that the slope protection project at Site 1 is effective.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/635slope stabilityslope safety factorgroundwater levelfinite elementpseudo-static analysis |
| spellingShingle | Hao-Wei Chiu Yi-Hao Tsai Chao-Wei Tang Chih-Yu Chu Shong-Loong Chen A Case Study of Using Numerical Analysis to Assess the Slope Stability of National Freeways in Northern Taiwan Applied Sciences slope stability slope safety factor groundwater level finite element pseudo-static analysis |
| title | A Case Study of Using Numerical Analysis to Assess the Slope Stability of National Freeways in Northern Taiwan |
| title_full | A Case Study of Using Numerical Analysis to Assess the Slope Stability of National Freeways in Northern Taiwan |
| title_fullStr | A Case Study of Using Numerical Analysis to Assess the Slope Stability of National Freeways in Northern Taiwan |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Case Study of Using Numerical Analysis to Assess the Slope Stability of National Freeways in Northern Taiwan |
| title_short | A Case Study of Using Numerical Analysis to Assess the Slope Stability of National Freeways in Northern Taiwan |
| title_sort | case study of using numerical analysis to assess the slope stability of national freeways in northern taiwan |
| topic | slope stability slope safety factor groundwater level finite element pseudo-static analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/635 |
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