Stability of slope along steep road in Abha, Asir Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Slope stability plays a vital role in steep mountainous slopes. The main aim of this study is to investigate the slope stability of an area located along a steep road in Abha, Asir Region, Saudi Arabia using numerical simulation software -FLAC -3D. The area is frequently facing problems of slope failure due to various factors, including heavy rainfall, faulting planes, shear zones, weak rocks, narrow road sections with horizontal and vertical curves, and anthropogenic activities as well. The geotechnical parameters required as input data is determined from laboratory testing. From the analysis it was observed that the maximum displacement computed in the slope in the x-direction is 0.0162 m and the specific maximum displacement computed in the slope in the z-direction is 0.166 m. The analysis of XX stress shows that the tensile stress occurred along the top of the slope and its value is 45.68 kPa. While analysis of YY stress shows that the tensile stress occurred along the top of the slope and its value is 15.43 kPa. Similarly, it can be seen from the figure of ZZ stress contour that the tensile stress occurred along the top of the slope with value of 15.75 kPa. It was observed that negligible deformation occurred in the y-direction. The places at which the value of factor of safety showed less than one confirms instability.