Proceedings of the International Symposium
Design of cut slopes preventing tensile failure
in a pyroclastic flow deposit "Shirasu"
r.v AMANOUCHI & K.GOTOH
Kuyshu University, Fukuoka, Japan
H.MURATA
Kagoshima Technical College, Kagoshima-Ken,
1 INTRODUCTION
A PYroclastic flow deposit Shirasu, widely
diStributed in southern Kyushu of Japan, is
~f properties like a weak rock in its un-
isturbed state and there has never arisen
any rotational shear-sliding failure in cut
slopes. In dealing with its cut slopes,
two kinds of problems could never been
aVoidable in the traditional steep slopes;
One is the gully erosion due to heavy rains
~nd the other is the tensile failure.
bowever, the former damage has in fact
een prevented now by applying scrupulous
drainage arrangements while the latter has
not so made clear on its prevention
deslgn• - tively small in the vicinity of the slope
The authors have published an analytical
Study by means of the finite element
method with particular reference to the
tensile failure in cut slopes of Shirasu
Only in case of statical condition
(Yamanouchi et al 1975). Also they have
PUblished a study of the failure mechanism on,
undisturbed samples of Shirasu applying th~
~oCk mechanics approach (Yamanouchi &
urata 1979).
Thi
d s paper describes the analysis and
esign of cut slopes for preventing the
~ensile failure incorporating the past
asic studies into both cases of ordinary
and earthquake times. In carrying out the
analysis the finite element method and the
Seismic coefficient method are jointly
uSed besides adopting the Griffith cri-
terion as the tensile failure criterion.
,Therebythe authors showed not only a useful
~Xplanation 0;
the actually causing tensile
ailure but also the desirable design
method of the cut slopes. These prove the
rationality of the KyuShU Expressway
reCently built in the Shirasu area in
which 45 degree slope angle was adopted
on Weak Rock / Tokyo /21·24 September 1981
Japan
with scrupulous drainage w0rks.
2 METHOD OF ANALYSIS
The authors have carried out static and dynamic
finite element analyses by assuming the
natural Shirasu ground with a cut-off slope
to be an isotropic and homogeneous elastic
body. The cut-off slope as discussed in
the present analysis was of the gentle slope
0
of 45 0
,the intermediate slope of 60 and ,
0
the steep slopes of 80 and 900
The •
analysis domain for the finite element
method is given as shown by Figure 1.
Moreover, the element size was made rela-
taking into consideration of the possi-
bility of stress concentration. In
addition, the boundaries to the domain
were given far enough from the slope in
order to avoid their interference with
the concerned area at present. Besides these,
the lateral movement was confined at the
lateral boundary and the lower boundary was
perfectly fixed.
e-45·.60·,80·.90·
..I
Figure 1. Analysis domain and boundary
conditions for F.E .M~_analysis
of cut~off Shirasu slope.
The analyses were carried out on the three
kinds of--Shirasu identified and- classified
with their hardness (Yarnanouchf,er al 1980)';
s6ft 8hil"asu;"semi-hard Shirasu and hard
867
Table 1. Elastic constants of Shirasu vertical coefficient kv = 0.1 were adopted.
used for analyses. Concerning the input,method in the seismic
force, here is considered the case when the
Soft Semi-hard Hard vertical force acts upward or downward
Kind of Shirasu
Shi:rasu Shir>Qsu. Shirosu reciprocally besides the horizontal force
Soil hardness
H (mm) 20 - 25 25 -30 30- 33 acts toward the inside of the slope.
y
Apparent unit
weight yt(kN/m') 12.5 13.0 13.7
3 RESULTS OF ANALYSIS
Young's modulus
8(220) 11 (450) 22(770)
Ee (MPa )
3.1 Distribution of maximum shear stress
Poisson fS ratio
0.41(0.35) 0.38(0.35) 0.33(0.35)
v
e In Figure 3, the maximum shear stress is
Apparent cohesion
cf(kPa)
30 42 80 traced after equivalent points on the
semi-hard Shirasu slope which slope
Angle of shear
38 41 45 angle is either 45° or 90°. As seen from
resistance 4>f (")
the figure, the maximum shear stress more con-
Tensile strength centrates at the part near the toe than itS
8 22
. Dt(kPa)
static condition when the earthquake force
Note: Numerals in parentheses are dynamic values. acts on the 'slope,and it becomes largest when
the vertical force acts downward. In the
gentle slope of 8=45°, there appears such·
a concentration of the maximum shear stress
at the slope toe as seldom seen under a

(l-k )W T IH~105 <MPa/m)

max
u 8=90·
W
(l+ku)W

Figure 2. Key figure for seismic coef-

ficient method.

shi.raeu, Elastic co.nstants of' these

3S\
4.0

5~
5.0 4.0 3.
materials are given in Table 1 depending on
the results obtained from the triaxial
compression test for static values and by .0
the seismic method for dynamic ones,re- 4.
spectively. Table 1 also shows the unit 5.
weight, shear strength constants and tensile
strength of each sort of the Shirasu material.
5.0
~4'0
Figure 2 illustrates the key figure for the 7.0 6.0 5.0
Seismic
seismic coefficient method. As being clear force 2.0
from the figure, each element is subject to o.~ 3.0

~~:':"'~:"
the horizontal and vertical forces, which
dre obtained by multiplying the horizontal
and vertical seismic coefficients to its
own weight. The introduc tion of the
vertical seismic force was based on the
~~ ~~6.0
fact that the vertical component of a 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 . 8.0 7.0
seismic wave gave a major effect on the o Seismic
stress state in the ground (Idriss & Seed force
1966). In the case when the finite element 0.\
0.3-r
method is used, the seismic coefficient can 6.8
4.
be taken optionally, but it was assumed
here for simplicity that the values to all 5.0
elements are constant. That is, the hori- 5.0
zontal coefficient kh = 0.3 which was ~ 7.0 6.0
estimated at the time of 1968 Ebino earth-
quake (Research Committee on Shirasu, Figure 3. Maximum shear stress contours
Japanese Society of SM & FE 1968) and the in case of semi-hard Shirasu.

868
Static condition. The magnitude uf it is, the action of the principal stress of com-
however, much smaller than that in the steep pression in' the parallel direction to slope
slope of 8=90° and not only under a static surface which causes cracks there. This
Condition but also at the time of earth- phenomenon can be found not only under a
quake the possibility of causing shear static condition but also at the time of
failure in the neighborhood of the slope earthquake and applies to soft and hard
toe is presumably higher in the steep Shirasu qualitatively.
slope. This fact is applicable to cases
of soft and hard Shirasu, and the magnitude
o·fthe maximum shear stress becomes large 3.3 Tensile stress zone and magnitude
at the toe part wi th the increase in the
tensile strength of Shirasu. Figure 6 shows tensile stress extent and its
maximum value concerning semi-hard Shirasu.
In the figure, it should be indicated as
3.2 Distribution of principal stresses a remarkable characteristics that, in the
gentle' slope of 8=45°, there occurs no
Figure 4 shows the principal stresses tensile stress even at the.time of earth-
distribution in the gentle and steep slopes quake, just like under a static condition.
of semi-hard Shirasu under a static con- This result is the same in cases of soft
dition. As clearly seen by the figure, and hard Shirasu. As seen from the figure,
the major principal stress arises as
~ompression in all parts of the ground and
~ts direction is parallel to the slope
surface near the slope independently of
the slope angle. On the con trary, the 1. 21
minor principal stress arises as com-
pression only in the gentle slope while the
tensile stress in the steep slope extending
8_90°
toward the normal direction to the slope
Surface. Therefore, as shown by Figure 5,
the principal stress of tension acts at
the steep slope in the normal directio~ to
the slope surface and the stress accompanies

,-~:TI~Tensile
"'"-";'
stress zone
X Position of max
tensile stress
and its value
(10' /H in MPa/m

"
\~~

Figure 4. Principal stresses distribution

iJ\, . 0.17 e-so-
in case of semi-hard Shirasu
8_45° 8_60°
under static condition. ~ Seismic
force

OJ
0.3
1. 37

8-90°

Figure 6. Relation between magnitude of

Figure 5. Interaction of major and minor tensile stress zone and slope
principal stresses in steep angle in case of semi-hard
slope. shi.raeu,

869
the tensile stress extent at the time of 3.4 Non-cracking critical height
earthquake does not change in its extension,
differing in the magnitude at any angle of To the slope height where the maximum
slope independently of the input method ir tensile stress in the slope becomes equal
the seismic force. In case of the slope to the tensile strength and consequently
of 8=60°, there is merely the occurrence a crack arises there, the authors named ,it
of tensile stress only at the slop-e "non-cracking critical height" Hct' This
shoulder under a static condition, but
at the time of earthquake the domain of
tensile stress extends to 'almost all 2.0
over the slope, showing the maximum value
at the slope toe. When the slope becomes --- Static
steep of 8=80° and 90° on the slope angle, ---- Sei!"lmic
the tensile stress extent extends not only 1.6 (kh-0.3. kv:O.l)
over the entire surface of the slope but
also toward the inner part of the slope
at the time of earthquake more than in case
1.2
of static condition. The tensile stress Toe
in the steep slope is the maximum especial-
ly when the vertical seismic force acts /
downward. /
/
0.8 /
/
Figure 7 shows the relation between the ~ /
/
.~
magnitude of tensile stress at the parts ~
c /
/

of slope toe and slope shoulder, and the ~ 0.4 /

/
slope angle in case of semi-hard Shirasu. /
/
In the figure, the value at the time of /
/
earthquake is plotted in the case when the <!.--
seismic force acts downward. As easily under- o _ --7

50 60 70 80 90
45
stood from the figure, the tensile stress Slope angle 8(")
at the time of earthquake shows the same
tendency as that under a static condition. Figure 7. Relation between magnitude of
That is, the tensile stress at the slope tensile stress ~nd slope angle
shoulder slightly increases with the in case of semi-hard Shirasu.
increase in slope angle, whereas the
tensile stress at the slope toe increases
remarkably, showing a much larger value
than that under a static condition. -20
Tensile failure in the slope at the time
of earthquake is, therefore, hardly o
possible to occur in a gentle slope, but
~ -15
in a steep slope the above said danger is
presumed to be greater at the toe part ~b
than in case of static condition. This ~
result is applicable to cases of soft and -10
hard Shirasu.
---Static
2.0 ____ ...5e ismic
In Figure 8, the magnitudes of principal ~ (k -0.3.kv•0.l)
h
stresses at the slope toe in the steep '"
0.

slope are plotted against the tensile

strength of Shirasu. It is clear
u
C
.~~ 1.5
--- ---
that the minor principal stress (tensile 0.-;:
.e:
stress) which acts in the direction normal
to the slop~ surface increases with the o
1.0
---
increase in tensile strength at the time
of earthquake besides the major principal -~
stress (compressive stress) of a large
value acting upon the slope in the
parallel direction as shown by Figure 5. 5 10 20 50
The circumstances readily lead to cause Tensile st r eng th a t( kPal
tensile failure in a steep slope at the
time of earthquake more than in case of Figure 8. Relation between magnitudes of
static condition. principal stresses at toe part
and tensile strength of Shirasu.

870
critical height can be calculated by the heights of the three kinds of Shirasu. decrease
fOllowing equation. more compared with that of static case.

C\
H ----- (1)
ct (atd/H)max 4 DESIGN OF CUT SLOPES

~ere, at: the censile strength possessed On the basis of the results discussed as
y ShirQsu, (atd/H)max: the maximum tensile above, the tensile failure can be pre-
Stress occurring in the slope divided by vented by the following methods (Yamanouchi
~ slope height. The non-cracking critical et al 1981).
teights obtained in such a way are shown The cut-off slope is advisable to be
a the slope angle with respect to the designed in a type of gentle as much as
three kinds of ShirQsu in Figure 9. As possible. From this viewpoint, the recent
~e:n by the figure, the slope of hard Kyushu Expressway is proved its rationality
0
h"rQsu is in the non-cracking state until in which the gentle cut-off slope of 45
~he slope height becomes about 20 m even was for the first time adopted with
l.ncase of 8=90 On the contrary, the
0
•
scrupulous drainage works in the ShirQsu
non-cracking critical height is consider- distributed area.
ably low in the slope of soft and IYhen the traditional steep cut-off slope
~emi-hard ShirQsu compared with hard is forced to adopt, the shoulder part is
hirQsu. As for the slope angle, the desirable to be cut for reducing the magni-
Slope of 8=60 is anticipated
0
to tude of tensile stress and its extent, as
occur a tensile failure at the shown by Figure 10.
shoulder part while its non-cracking In the steep slope, reinforcement of the
critical height is much higher than that toe part of the slope with some retaining
Of a steep slope and reaches about 30 m works is effective for reducing the tensile
eVen in the slope of soft ShirQsu of the stress and the maximum shear stress.
Smallest tensile strength. At the time of In case of the high moisture content in
earthquake, the non-cracking critical the cut-off slope, not only the tensile
strength of ShirQsu is decreased but also
the magnitude of tensile stress is increased
200 and its zone is enlarged resulting in the
remarkable loss of the slope stability.
Hence, seepage from the back plateau ground
adjacent to the slope should be prevented
100 by spraying some asphalt or mortar or
providing some drain ditches there.

-!! 50
w
5 CONCLUSIONS
u
:z:
w
.c
The following conclusions can be drawn from
ec a series of the study carried out from the
"-c~ viewpoint of the tensile failure both at
20
~ ordinary and earthquake times .
w
~• (1) The maximum shear stres~ concentrates
"~ at the slope toe at the time of earthquake
..
u

.;;
10 more than in case of static condition, and
its magnitude is large at the steep slope
""u and in case of hard ShirQsu •
•~ 0
U
I
(2) In the gentle slope of 45 there
,

0
0
>:

---Static

----Seismic (kh-0.3.kv·0.l)

1
45 50 60 70 80 90
Slope angle B(· }

Figure 9. Relation between non-cracking

critical height and slope angle. Figure 10. Steep slope with cut shoulder.

871
occurs no tensile stress even at the time
of earthquake like under a static condition
independently of the kind of Shirasu.
(3) The tensile stress at each part of the
slope, except the toe part, increases only
slightly when the slope angle is larger
than about 60· while the tensile stress at
the slope toe increases with the increase
in slope angle, and its value is larger at
the ,time of earthquake and in case of hard
Shirasu than under a static condition.
(4) As the countermeasure against the
tensile failure in the slope,the gentle
slope should be recommended, and it is
also effective to cut the shoulder part or
to provide some retaining works at,the toe
part to prevent the tensile failure.

6 REFERENCES

Idriss, I.M. & H.B.Seed 1966, The

response of earth banks during earth-
quakes, Univ. of California, Berkeley,
California, 22p.
Research Committee on Shirasu, Japanese
Society of Soil Mech. & Found. Engg.
1968, Ebino earthquake and geomechanical
damages, Tsuchi-to-Kiso 16:47-59.
Yamanouchi, T., K.Gotoh & H.Murata 1975,
Stability of cut slopes of Shirasu, Proc.
5th Asian Reg. Conf. Soil Mech. & Found.
Engg., Bangalore, 1:45-49.
Yamanouchi, T. & H.Murata 1979, Failure
mechanism of the undisturbed samples of
a pumice flow soil "Shirasu", Proc. 6th
Asian Reg. Conf. Soil Mech. & Found.
Engg., Singapore, 1:107-110.
Yamanouchi, T., K.Gotoh & H.Murata 1980,
Stability of cut slopes in a pumice soil
deposit with particular reference to
tensile failure, Proc. 3rd Australia-
New Zealand Conf. Geomech., Wellington,
2:115-120.
Yamanouchi, T., R.Mochinaga, K.Gotoh &
H.Murata 1981, Studies of cut-off slopes
in a pumice-flow soil deposit and their
applications to the design standards for
an expressway, Case History Volume,
Japanese Society of Soil Mech. & Found.
Engg ,, 371-430.

872