Stability Analysis of Riverbank Slopes Under Fluctuating Water Levels: A Case Study on Martapura River
Abstract
This study investigates the stability of natural slopes along the Martapura River, particularly in areas adjacent to roadways, with a focus on assessing the impact of river water level fluctuations on slope safety factors. The analysis was performed using SLOPE/W, a GeoStudio module, based on the widely adopted limit equilibrium method. Several hydrological scenarios, including dry, normal, rapid rise, and rapid drawdown conditions, were simulated to evaluate their influence on slope behavior. The results demonstrate that both river and groundwater level variations significantly affect slope stability. Rising groundwater levels increase pore water pressure, reduce effective stress, and lower the factor of safety (FS) from 1.118 under dry conditions to 1.102 in the normal-water scenario (−1.4%). In contrast, a sudden increase in river level induces a temporary stabilizing effect, elevating the FS to 1.473 (+33.7% relative to normal), before stabilizing at 1.323. The most critical condition arises during rapid drawdown, where a sudden drop in river level while groundwater remains high leads to elevated pore pressure, loss of hydrostatic support, and a significant FS reduction to 0.929 (−30%), posing a risk of slope failure. Moreover, the hydrologic hysteresis between river and groundwater responses, mainly governed by soil permeability, emerges as a key factor influencing slope stability dynamics. These findings highlight the importance of integrating hydrological variability into slope monitoring and risk mitigation strategies. Kata kunci: slope stability, water level, hydrologic hysteresis, safety factor.References
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