Slope failures occur due to slope steepness, drainage of the soil and stream action, not enough vegetation sufficient to hold the soil, and human modification that was not to par favoring soil stability. These failures are classified by their downslope movement which includes landslides, landfalls, and slow slides. These movements impact a considerable range of landscapes and infrastructures resulting in deaths and destruction. Slope failures could be sudden or catastrophic. What could be measured in preventing slope failure Dallas TX?
Some of the causes of slope failures comprise of soil erosion caused by wind and water runoff. This removes the soil’s top layers making the slope steeper which increases the tangential component of the slope, thus more driving force for landslides. A steady seepage in the direction of the slope adds gravity forces making the slope vulnerable to soil instability caused by decreased pore water pressure. This condition is critical for a downstream slope. Another cause results from prolonged rain downpour which softens and erodes soils exposing existing cracks. Water runs into these cracks weakening the underlying layers leading to slope failures i.e. mudslides.
Earthquakes, on the other hand, produce energetic shear forces to the underlying rock and soil layers increasing pore water pressure, in turn, reducing available shear strength. Construction activities at the bottom of slopes increase the steepness of the slope thereby increasing the gravitational forces which may result in slope failures.
Measures can be taken in preventing slope failure Dallas TX. The consideration of good safety engineers can determine the stability of a slope by comparing the sheer tension of the soil to the shear stress established along the probable surface rupture. Soil stability involves the investigation of geology, groundwater, shear strength and surface drainage of is the soil in question. After soil stability determination, measures are applied and used to reduce or negate chances of slope failures. These include terracing and benching, friction piles, sheet piling, rock bolts, geo-grid, biotechnical stabilization, grating cribs, proper drainage, and retaining wall.
On fixing the drainage, the planned system must efficiently channel water away from the slope without affecting the slopes stability or causing erosion. If retaining walls are built supporting a slope, a weeping hole needs to be added or French drains to facilitate water drainage. If the slope is close to the property, a concrete retaining wall can be built on the lower part of the slope retain a considerable amount of soil.
These concrete walls suppress the collapse of the already held soil and check falling soil from reaching the built homes below them. Grating cribs are concrete frames laid on slopes within which plants are grown to guard the slope from erosion and weathering. A combination of grating cribs and ground anchors or allowing trees to grow between the concrete frames would reduce slope failures. Geo-grids of the other hand are cheap slope repair replacements where have gauge plastic sheet mesh material are mounted perpendicular to the retaining wall. These different layers a sandwiched amid compact layers and fastened to the retaining wall. Biotechnical slope stabilization is the use of plants and vegetation to stabilize a slope.
This is an advantageous method because plant roots hold the soil together preventing erosion and the vegetation slows down water flow. The alternation of deep root and shallow-rooted plants is ideal for it effectively stabilizes the slope. Some examples of shallow-rooted vegetation used as biotechnical slope stabilizers are clematis, daylilies, and shrubs. For deep-rooted plants include manzanitas and junipers. These five measures are ideal in preventing slope failure Dallas TX.