Slope stability analysis during an earthquake in flow-slide affected area of Jono Oge

Abstract

On September 28th, 2018, the earthquake with a moment magnitude (Mw) 7.5 due to strike-slip Palu-Koro Fault in Central Sulawesi caused a major geological failure. In the Jono Oge area, the earthquake-induced liquefaction and flow-slide occurred on relatively flat ground with an average slope of 2%. In this paper, the safety factor for slope stability analysis was determined by shear strength reduction caused by the earthquake at the potentially liquefied soil layer, varying peak ground acceleration values, and groundwater level conditions. This analysis evaluated the potential of ground movement occurrence in Jono Oge with the condition of soil layer pre and post the Palu-Donggala earthquake that happened in 2018 using GeoStudio Slope/W geotechnical software. The analysis was conducted on the cross-section of the soil layer based on three boreholes incorporating standard penetration test (SPT) data on the study area. The analysis results showed ground movement potential because of the seismic loads and groundwater level conditions. The lower the safety factor of slope stability, the higher the ground movement potential in flow-slide affected area. This ground movement potential could trigger the occurrence of flow-slide in Jono Oge area.