Slope failures during the construction stage at Musandam independent power plant, Oman

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022-01-07

Authors

Rita Leal Sousa (Author) Other; José E. Menezes (Author) FEUP; Luís Ribeiro e Sousa (Author) FEUP; Karim Karam (Author) Other; Helder I. Chaminé (Author) Other; Charbel A. Samra (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Arabian Journal of Geosciences

Vol. 15 No. 1

Pages: 1-19

ISSN: 1866-7511

Publisher: Springer Nature

Other information

DOI: 10.1007/s12517-021-09353-9

Abstract (EN): Slope instabilities present significant geotechnical problems involving a variety of geomaterials in different geological and climatic environments. These phenomena, which can be natural or man-made, are difficult to predict because their initiation depends on many factors. Man-made slopes are expected in a large number of civil and mining engineering works. In civil works, slopes are common in construction of highways and railways, dams for hydropower and water supply, and urban and industrial developments. In mining engineering, they are mainly associated with open-pit mines. The work presents an overview of rock slope stability, including the impact of weathering and erosion. In Oman, the case of a large slope failure that occurred during the Musandam Independent Power construction Plant (MIPP) is used to illustrate learning lessons. A comprehensive study of slope failure was performed by developing finite element numerical models both prior and post-implementation of stabilization measures that included rock bolts, shotcrete and other measures. A safety analysis was performed with a probabilistic approach following different methodologies. Also, a sensitive study was presented considering the bedding plane orientation and considering extreme conditions like seismic loading.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 19