Search

SP 4 - Stability of rock slopes

Integration of geological and geomechanical aspects are essential for assessing hazard and risk related to large rock-slope failures.

Project overview

A significant rock-slope failure at the top of the Oppstadhornet mountain, west of Molde in Møre & Romsdal. The slide involves a volume of more than 20 million m3. Parts of the slide are active, and if the failure develops into a rock avalanche, it will create damaging tsunamis.

Satellite data and swath bathymetry from Tafjord, showing the location of rock-avalanche deposits onshore and in the fjord

The sub-project will focus on risks related to large rock-slope failures. Rock avalanches and related tsunamis represent one of Norway's most severe natural hazards. Over the last 100 years, more than 170 people have lost their lives only in northern West Norway. Also, on a global basis, such events have caused significant disasters.

The project seeks to integrate geological and geotechnical/geomechanical aspects of geohazard related to rock-slope failures and is organized as a corporation between all the ICG partners. Two Ph.D. students are integrated into the project, focusing on geological models, numerical modeling, and kinematics of rock-slope failures.

The projects have focused on the study of rock-slope failures in western and northern Norway and include several aspects related to rock-slope failures and stability (Blikra et al., 2004; Braathen et al., 2004; Bhasin & Kaynia, 2004; Bhasin et al., 2004; Dahle, 2004; Panthi & Nilsen, in press).

The project personnel is also directly involved in projects related to risk analysis and investigations and monitoring of high-risk objects in the counties. Much of the work has been linked to investigating and monitoring the Åknes failure, where significant external funding will be available. This will include geological and geophysical investigations, drilling with instrumentation and logging, and installation of different monitoring systems and modeling approaches related to stability, slide dynamics, and tsunamis.

Themes

  1. Methods for quantification of rockslide hazard
  2. Geological model development and stability analysis
  3. Monitoring and deformation processes
    - Microseismic monitoring
  4. Rockslide dynamics and empirical modeling

Key personnel

  • NGU
    - Reginald Hermanns (project manager)
    - Thierry Oppikofer
    - Ian Henderson
  • NGI
    - Rajinder Bhasin
    - Ulrik Domaas
    - Vidar Kveldsvik (PhD)
  • NTNU
    - Bjørn Nilsen
  • NORSAR
    - Michael Roth
  • University of Bergen/NGU
    - Alvar Braathen

International corporations

  • Geological Survey of Canada
  • ETH-Zürich
  • University of Milano

Publication and reports

See the list of Publications and reports from this Sub-Project.