Earthquake Effects on Slope Stability by Using Finite Element Method. Case Study: Brazzaville City, Republic of Congo
Noël Watha-Ndoudy
*
Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo.
Kempena Adolphe
Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo.
Obami Ondon Harmel
Mechanical, Energy and Engineering Laboratory, Higher National Polytechnic School, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo.
Mbilou Urbain Gampio
Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo.
Rafael Guardado Lacaba
Department of Geology, Faculty of Mines and Geology, Higher Institute of Mines and Metallurgy, Moa, Cuba.
Antonio Olimpio Gonçalves
Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Agostinho Neto University, Luanda, Angola.
Boudzoumou Florent
Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The slopes are affected by the variations of slope gradient combined with the driving forces including external actions such as earthquake forces, producing shear stresses in the slopes, which are opposed to the soil shear resistance. Therefore, landslides are one of the most important worries on the social and economic viewpoint and for the quality of life of a local people. The present study is carried out in Brazzaville City, Republic of Congo where the region in its southern part is recognised to be geologically active, due to its tectonic background which has some influence on surrounding slopes or embankments. Then, it was used the shear strength reduction method to assess the slopes stability by using pseudo-static and static methods. Effects of various parameters on slopes stability are discovered by achievement of numerous analyses. Two magnitudes effects of earthquake on slopes stability for different height, slope gradient and shear resistance parameters were assessed by using the finite element code. Slope stability was evaluated considering its factor of safety from the usage of strength reduction method.
Keywords: Earthquake, slope, landslides, finite element, strength reduction, environment