Abstract

This paper describes landslide occurrences in debris materials, together with its engineering geological and geotechnical setting. The predictions from conventional geotechnical slope stability analyses, taking into account topography, hydrological, geotechnical and engineering geological effects, are compared with the observed pattern of instability. Physical and mechanical properties of eight (8) soil samples indicated that the failure materials mainly consist of poorly graded materials of sandy clay soils and characterized by low to intermediate plasticity, containing of normal clay (0.42 to 0.95), very high degree of swelling (5.63 to 10.35), variable low to high water content (11.95 % to 19.92 %), specific gravity ranges from 2.60 to 2.68, low permeability (6.68 X 10-4 to 1.52 X 10-4 cm/s), friction angle ( ) ranges from 18.50˚ to 34.20˚ and cohesion (C) ranges from 3.36 kN/m2 to 19.50 kN/m2 with very soft to soft of undrained shear strength (9.47 kN/m2 to 32.30 kN/m2). Geotechnical limit equilibrium stability analyses of entire slopes are rarely able to predict the smaller-scale initiation events leading to landslide occurrences, because the se are controlled by local topography, water runoff and groundwater conditions, weathered materials and engineering geological setting. Slope stability analysis shows that the factor of safety value is ranges from 0.805 to 0.817 (unstable). It is concluded that the failures was debris flow and resulted from a combination of factors. Engineering geological evaluation should be prioritized and take into consideration in the initial step in all infrastructure program. Development planning has to consider the geohazard and geoenvironmental management program. This engineering geological study may play a vital role in slope stability assessment to ensure public safety.

Highlights

  • The study area approximately located about twenty (20) km far from Kota Kinabalu City, Sabah (Figure 1)

  • Physical and engineering properties of eight (8) soil samples indicated that the failure materials mainly consist of poorly graded materials of sandy clay soils, which characterized by low to intermediate plasticity, containing of normal clay (0.42 to 0.95), very high degree of swelling (5.63 to 10.35), variable low to high water content (11.95 % to 19.92 %), specific gravity ranges from 2.60 to 2.68, low permeability (6.68 X 10-4 to 1.52 X 10-4 cm/s), friction angle ( ) ranges from 18.50 ̊ to 34.20 ̊ and cohesion (C) ranges from 3.36 kN/m2 to 19.50 kN/m2 with very soft to soft of undrained shear strength (9.47 kN/m2 to 32.30 kN/m2)

  • Slope stability analysis shows that the factor of safety value is ranges from 0.805 to 0.817 (Figures 10 & 11)

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Summary

Introduction

The study area approximately located about twenty (20) km far from Kota Kinabalu City, Sabah (Figure 1). In 30h June 2006, a large landslide occurred suddenly on embankment of road side at the Karambunai area, Kota Kinabalu. This landslide destroyed 3 residents and caused one fatality. After a few months from that incident, on 10th October 2006 a same large landslide occurred nearby (approximately one (1) kilometer from the Karambunai area) at hilly side of the Lok Bunuq area, Kota Kinabalu. This second landslide has been recorded occurred on previous year 2001, which destroyed 15 residents and caused 6 fatalities. These two (2) landslide incidents received wide media coverage and raised concern from the authorities and local population over the stability of the surrounding slopes

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