Development of a Slope Stability Program for Transmission Towers

Abstract

Many transmission towers are located in mountainous areas due to ground utilization limitations. Slope failures and damage to transmission towers located on slopes are mainly generated by heavy rainfalls, geological factors, and the presence of a foundation. These disasters can cause not only serious economic losses but also casualties. Therefore, it is important to simulate the stability of a slope, including the foundation of the transmission tower to be place on it, before construction. Several slope stability programs have been developed (e.g., GeoStudio, Talen); however, numerical simulations of the slope stability considering a reinforced foundation with existing commercial programs are insufficient. In this study, the KISS (KAIST Integrated Slope Stability) program, which considers the effects of the presence of a transmission tower foundation, was introduced and used to analyze an actual testbed site in Gyeonggi province in Korea. Moreover, the optimal position of the foundation is suggested based on a parametric study. It is expected that the developed program can be used to prevent slope failures and reduce human and economic losses.