The Empirical Prediction of the Critical Area of Road Embankment Landslide Using Limit Equilibrium Method

Abstract

This study presents the empirical prediction of the critical area for road embankment landslide. Limit equilibrium method which can also be referred to as LEM was used to obtain the factor of safety, circular centre of landslide, moment of resistance and other landslide variables. The variables used in this study were the typical soil subgrade and embankment dimension. A conclusion obtained from this study is that the safety factor is not the only determinant of the amount of embankment reinforcement needs. Other variables namely the center of landslide and delta moment resistance were also very decisive. The smallest safety factor did not necessarily result in the number of critical reinforcement requirements of landslide reinforce. In addition, the landslide area which produced the largest amount of reinforcing needs was different for each variable used in this study. This research also produced some empirical formula to determine the landslide area which produces the highest number of geotextiles from 180 trials in each variation. The empirical formula is expected to assist the designer for reinforcement needs in road embankment.