Pile as a remedial measure for slope stability against vehicle induced blast loading on hill-roads

The present study is aimed at mitigating the detrimental effects of vehicle induced surface blast on the upward slope. The role of pile foundations as a mitigation measure to reduce blast effects is not yet well understood and is therefore investigated in the present study. The lower portion of the pile can act as an anchor, providing stiffness to the upper half. The presence of a pile at a particular location increases the stiffness of that sub-domain. This may result in fewer surface deformations than in the no-pile condition. But at the same time, it can cause substantial movement and deformation of the piles. Pile should be appropriately designed to minimize the pile deformation at the top and flexural stresses. This study presents a quantitative analysis of a sloping domain incorporating piles as a mitigation measure. The pile length, out-of-plane spacing (s), relative soil density, and ground slope are identified as critical parameters governing the system response. A parametric study was conducted to demonstrate their influence. Lateral displacement and PPV of surface points and the pile head are considered response parameters. With an increase in the slope angle, overburden on the right side increases, offering greater passive resistance and resulting in a drop in surface displacements at the toe. At smaller pile spacing, the equivalent pile stiffness increases, leading to a decrease in surface displacement.