Sensitivity Analysis of Factors Affecting Stability of High and Steep Rocky Slopes in Seasonal Frozen Region: A Case Study of Huinan County

ABSTRACT Geological disasters caused by the instability of high and steep rocky slopes in seasonal frozen regions are often harmful, and the reasons for their instability vary. Therefore, it is particularly important to study the influencing factors of the stability of highly steep rocky slopes in seasonal frozen regions, and to explore the primary and secondary order of each influencing factor. Geological disasters are frequent in Huinan County, Tonghua City, Jilin Province, especially small‐ to medium‐scale high‐ steep rocky slopes landslides and avalanches, which seriously threaten the surrounding infrastructure construction and ecological environment. In this study, on the basis of field investigation and collected primary data, five typical high‐steep rock masses in Huinan County were selected as the research objects. Through literature research and mechanism analysis of rock slope, three first‐order influencing factors are identified, and then subdivided into 8 second‐order influencing factors. Numerical simulation through ABAQUS and sensitivity analysis using grey correlation analysis revealed that cohesion is the most sensitive factor, followed by internal friction angle, while freeze–thaw cycles are less sensitive, which suggests that priority should be given to increasing rock cohesion in the management of this type of slope. At the same time, it also provides the effective scientific basis for high and steep rocky slopes in the quaternary freezing zone for the protection and reinforcement projects.