Stability analysis of potential failure zones along NH-305, India

Abstract

The national highway (NH-305) is crucial since it is used as the only alternative connectivity for transportation of goods and other materials for military purpose during the closure of other highway. A number of slope failures were reported in the past therefore hazard zonation map is prepared using five commonly used parameters to identify the potential susceptible areas of failure. This was followed by detailed field investigations for collection of rock engineering parameters and geomechanics classification. Several locations were identified from hazard zonation map and subsequent field investigations for stability analysis. Hazard zonation clearly demarcates the steep cut slopes along the right bank of river Sutlej as potential failure zones, which is also confirmed by low values of slope mass rating. Finite element method was later used to investigate the deformation mechanism associated with such slope failures. The safety factor value is on a higher side indicating the slopes to be stable but the displacement contours and shear strain concentration near the toe of the slope suggests otherwise.