A CRITICAL STATE APPROACH TO STABILITY OF

CLAY SHALE FOR DESIGN STRUCTURES OF THE

SENTUL HILL, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

Putera Agung, M.A1, Damianto, B2, Pramusandi, S

1,2,3
Civil Engineering of State Polytechnic of Jakarta (PNJ) – UI Campus (16425)
e-mail :putera_agung2002@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
As our population continues to increase and available land becomes scarcer, land development
becomes more challenging day by day. There are more government regulations and impact fees than
ever before, and usually a host of local restrictions that adds to development difficulty. The
development industry faces increasing challenges about where, when, and how development projects,
such as residential subdivisions, will be allowed to proceed of housing development project. One of the
technical issues that will be discussed here is the issue of land preparation to avoid slide disaster. The
planners of land for housing in Indonesia often measure the strength of the foundation soil regardless
of soil behavior that will occur in the future. As a result of the current climate change, soil clay shale
layers experiencing destruction due to land clearing for housing would be a serious problem in the
future. The paper presents the results of detailed geotechnical and laboratory investigations which
served as the basis for the model of a sliding clay shale layers, an unstable slope in the interest area of
designed structures at the Sentul Hill, West Java. Based on geotechnical profile, slope stability
analyses applied manual and application program methods. As for the input data of stability analyses
the data results of unconfined compression and triaxial tests along with the modified Michalowski
(1995) failure criterion were used, then all analyses were compared with PLAXIS & SLOPE W
application program. The critical failure was also accurately determined by means of inclination
measurements and mineralogy of clay shale. Research results show the average safety factor of slope
stability equals 1.12.
Keywords : critical state; clay shale; slope stability.

ABSTRAK
Penduduk kita terus meningkat dan lahan yang tersedia menjadi langka, pengembangan lahan
menjadi lebih menantang dari hari ke hari. Ada peraturan pemerintah lebih dan biaya dampak
daripada sebelumnya, dan biasanya sejumlah pembatasan lokal yang menambah kesulitan
pembangunan. Pengembangan industri menghadapi peningkatan tantangan tentang di mana, kapan,
dan bagaimana proyek-proyek pembangunan, seperti subdivisi perumahan, akan diizinkan untuk
melanjutkan proyek pembangunan rumah. Salah satu masalah teknis yang akan dibahas di sini
adalah masalah persiapan lahan untuk menghindari bencana longsor. Para perencana lahan bagi
perumahan di Indonesia sering mengukur kekuatan tanah pondasi tanpa mempertimbangkan perilaku
tanah yang akan terjadi di masa depan. Akibat perubahan iklim saat ini, lapisan tanah clay shale yang
mengalami pengrusakan akibat pembukaan lahan bagi perumahan akan menjadi masalah serius di
kemudian hari. Makalah ini menyajikan hasil – hasil penyelidikan detail geoteknik dan laboratorium
yang bertujuan sebagai dasar dari model suatu bidang longsor dari lapisan – lapisan clay shale, suatu
lereng tak stabil di daerah yang ditinjau dimana struktur bangunannya telah didesain di Bukit Sentul,
Jawa Barat. Berdasarkan penampang tanah secara geoteknik, analisis – analisis kestabilan lereng
menggunakan metode manual dan aplikasi program. Sebagai data masukkan dari analisis kestabilan
digunakan data hasil pengujian kuat tekan bebas dan triaksial sesuai dengan kriteria keruntuhan
Michalowski (1995), kemudian seluruh analisis dibandingkan dengan program aplikasi PLAXIS dan
SLOPE W. Bidang keruntuhan kritis juga ditentukan secara akurat oleh pengukuran rata – rata
iklinasi dan mineral pembentuk clay shale. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan rata – rata faktor keamanan
dari kestabilan lereng adalah berkisar 1,12.
Kata kunci: kondisi kritis; clay shale; kestabilan lereng.
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, the term of intermediate
geotechnical material has been
introduced to describe earth materials
that do not fit well into the description
of either soil or rock (Smith et al, 2006).
Overconsolidated clays and clay shales
are a part of the family of this term. The
key difference between other
sedimentary rocks and overconsolidated
clays and clay shales is that these
materials can make such a transition
from rock or intermediate geotechnical
material to soil within the life of a civil
engineering project. A distinguishing
feature of this classification is that,
while they exist in nature in a rock-like
form, when disturbed they can regress
back to a soil-like material within the
life span of a project. The dilemma of
selecting shear strength values for
design of specific projects is that these
strength values are subject to change,
i.e., decrease, during the life of the
project. Unfortunately, the technical
capability of predicting the rate of
strength loss with time does not exist
today, and because of the complexity of
the variables affecting to the time-loss
relationship, it is unlikely that reliable
relationship will be developed in the
near future and further study.
Study area is located at near the
Indocement Hill. Wijaya (2004) carried
out previous soil investigation and slope
stability analysis around this area. Study
results indicated that natural slopes of
Sentul Hill is the outcome of
weathering process of clay shale layer
of clay with a thickness varying
between 2 – 4 m. Below the clay layer
there is a layer of clay shale having a
value of unconfined compression test
(qu) varying between 23 – 149 kg/cm2.
Stability analysis applied Michalowski
method (1995) and included the level of
resistance factor (durability) of shale
clay layer. According to the study
results, durability values vary between
low to high based on Gamble (1971).
Additional geotechnical investigations
to this study conducted at this area as
shown in Figure 1. Moreover, there are
two additional boreholes in the total
depth of 20.0 m were carried out.
Figure 2 shows the typical data at the
point of boring log of Sentul Hill.
Figure 2 also identifies cemented clayey
silt, hard condition, and gray at the
depth from 5.0 to 10.0 m with average
layer thickness of 2 to 4 m. Number of
blow of standard penetration test or N –
SPT value is > 60. Field characteristic
data of hard cemented clayey silt layer
is appropriated with study reports from
Wijaya (2004) and classification of clay
shale layer at study area is clear. Grain
distribution and Atterberg Limit tests of
clay shale from Sentul Hill are shown in
Figure 3. Figure 3 shows the layer of
clay shale consisted of a mixture of clay
and silt. From Atterberg Limits test,
liquid limit (LL) values are found
between 112.8 to 117.6% and plasticity
index (IP) values of 59.8 to 66.8%.
Specific gravity (Gs) of clay shale at the
location of study is 2.62.
Generally, clay shale material
investigated at Sentul Hill, Indonesia is
similar to Bisaccia located
approximately 100 km from the city of
Naples, Italy. In Bisaccia hillside
location consists of cemented
conglomerates derived from tectonic
processes such as volcanic clay shale
with platisitas index (LL = 110% to
190% and IP = 60% to 70%) (Picarelli
et al, 2006).
In geotechnical engineering way, shear
strength parameter are usually written
using Mohr – Coulomb failure criterion,
Figure 4 shows the Mohr – Coulomb
circles and shear strength characteristics
from Sentul Hill. Determination of the
clay shale strength parameters were
carried out by the laboratory works of
unconfined compression and triaxial
tests (Table 1). Extremely high values
of unconfined compression test were
established with the undisturbed and
remolded samples of clay shale (quu =
300 – 454 kPa; qur = 135.5 – 343.3
kPa). True triaxial test data (ASTM
D.2850–95) were indicated by
undisturbed samples tests (c = 25.5 –
44.1 kPa, = 12.9o – 17.2o) containing
clay and silt fractions and typical
characteristic of Mohr circle results.
Stark and Duncan (1991) investigated
stiff and desiccated clay. They showed
that shear strength of the clay decreases
rapidly to the fully softened strength
when the clay is soaked. When the clay
is subjected to a cyclic loading, the
strength decreases gradually from the
fully softened to its residual value.
Skempton (1977) concludes that heavily
over consolidated clay is usually firm
and stable and has comparatively high
shear strength in its original condition.
Chemical changes along exposed
fissured (weathering) cause reduction of
the shear strength. Depending on the
progress of weathering, weak zones are
developed in a potentially unstable
slope. In the most stressed areas, small
movements begin to develop that leads
to further reduction of shear strength
and slope instability.
Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock
formed from clays compacted together
by pressure. Shale is generally
characterized by thin laminae breaking
with an irregular curve fracture, often
splintery and usually parallel to the
often – indistinguishable bedding plane
(Wikipedia, 2007). The main
engineering behaviors of shale is that it
is very hard, however, once it is
exposed to sunrays, air, and water
within a relatively short time it will
become soft clays (mud).
In this paper, mineralogical-
petrographic are only discussed in
macroscopic investigations on the same
samples as triaxial shear tests, However,
the macroscopic investigation cannot
represent a significant anisotropy of the
clay shale as classified as soft rock.
From some literatures, laminae of soft
rock consist on one part of mineral
particles of predominantly clayey, and
on the other part of predominantly silty
size. In the clayey part, cracking
systems appear mostly longitudinally to
the stratification, being followed also by
predominant primary slaty, whereas in
the silty part the cracking systems
appear transversally or obliquely on the
stratification. Further microcospic
investigations of clay shale at study area
are required to investigate the shearing
in laboratory conditions occurred
alongside the weakened planes.
RESEARCH METHOD
Strength of the soil is described by the
Mohr – Coulomb yield condition as a
function of the cohesion (c), and the
internal friction angle (. A common
definition of the factor of safety (F) is
the ratio of the shear strength of the soil
to the shear stress necessary to maintain
limit equilibrium (Michalowski, 1995).
c 
F  (1)
cd d
where cd and d are the soil strength
parameters necessary only to maintain
the structure in limit equilibrium. They
are sometimes referred to as
‘‘mobilized’’ strength parameters.
To present the results in a
dimensionless manner, the method
introduced a stability number defined
as:
c c
N d  (2)
H  HF
For the purpose of presenting the
influence of the pore water on the
stability of slopes, the distribution of the
pore water pressure is described by
coefficient ru defined by Bishop and
Morgenstern (1960) as:
ru 
u
(3)
H
where u = magnitude of the pore water
pressure, = soil unit weight, and h =
depth of the point on the failure surface
below the slope surface. Stability charts
for slopes with ru equal to 0; 0.25; and
0.50 are presented in Fig. 5. The data in
the charts in Figure 5 was created by
Michalowski (2002).
Analysis for slope stability of clay shale
also used 2 (two) applications software,
such as: Plaxis and Slope W. Later, all
results are compared with manual
analysis using Michalowski method to
determine the smallest of safety factor
(F). All methods of application software
used Fellenius, 1936; Bishop, 1955;
Janbu, 1973; Fredlund et al, 1981;
Morgenstern & Price, 1965).
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Slope stability analysis of clay shale
layers at Sentul Hill were analyzed
using Michalowski method (1995).
Based on recent and previous data soil
investigation, upper clay layer of natural
slopes of Sentul Hill is the result of
weathering of clay shale with a
thickness varying between 2 – 4 m. At
the bottom layer there is a clay shale
layer which has a value of unconfined
compression test (qu) varied between
300 – 454 kPa. Table 2 shows all slope
stability analysis at study area.
In this study, detail measurements for
slope inclination using inclinometer did
not performed, so that subsequent
stability analyses for the shear zone the
lowest results of shear strength from
laboratory investigations for
undisturbed samples were taken into
account. Influence of durability of clay
shale layers as were not considered on
stability analysis since there is no data
of clay shale durability testing results.
For one case, a profile of clay shale
layer at Sentul Hill (Figure 6) was used
for slope stability analysis using the
Michalowski method (1995).
Existing conditions of natural slope of
Sentul Hill are between 3.8° and 28.6°.
Parameter weight volume and shear
strength can be seen in Table 1. Value
of c / .H. tan  for the slope conditions
are found between 0.3 to 0.5. All slopes
were subjected to pore pressures
equivalent to those described by ru =
0.50.
From study analysis, Michalowski
method illustrates that the relative
boundary analysis gives a better
perspective and is one way in
explaining the behavior and stability
level of natural slopes from clay shale
layers. Analysis of the limits on
Michalowski method provides
information on the area that slopes
Sentul Hill is in a stable or safe
condition. It is based on a critical high
slope is much higher than the actual
condition. The overall stability of slope
shows the value of safety factor (F)
between 1.64 and 2.75.
Analysis results carried out by PLAXIS
software shows in Table 3. From
distance between 50 and 200 m, the
results of this application program that
safety factor (F) were range between
1.72 and 2.56 as shown as Fig. 6.
Furthermore, for SLOPE W analyses
obtained safety factor (F) closes to 1.55
as presented in Table 4.4 and Fig. 7 (a
to d).
CONCLUSION
Research on natural slope of Bukit
Sentul is one part of the main study for
clay shale behavior in Indonesia. This
paper only focused to the stability
analysis using one of advanced methods
available. In geotechnical engineering
way, slope stability analysis used the
parameter cohesive shear strengths (c)
and angles of friction () based on the
laboratory triaxial data. Several
analyses applied the advanced of
Michalowski method and indicated the
natural slopes at study area in safe or
stable condition and regardless of
durability rate of clay shale layers as in
the study results from Wijaya (2004).
However, advanced research is required
to continue this study. More studies are
required to determine classification of
clay shale in the group of intermediate
geotechnical material. Approach to the
analysis of soil strength parameters (c
and ) should also be reviewed from the
aspects of an engineering – geological
of rocks, although geotechnical
engineering aspects were implemented
using Mohr – Coulomb failure criterion
and indicated factually the natural
slopes in the study area in a safe
condition. However, triaxial data used
for slope stability analysis cannot reflect
yet the actual condition of the shear
strength of clay shale layer since the
material more indicates as the rock mass
behavior. In addition, clay shale is often
less than the peak bulk strength
measured in the laboratory when the
first – time slides. The answer of safety
factor (F) was given so far to this
question and not always satisfactory,
probably because different mechanisms,
often contemporaneously acting.
Despite experience supports this
observation, the mechanics of this
phenomenon is not completely clear.
Wijaya (2004) suggested that durability
factor for Sentul Hill could vary
between low to high based on the
Gamble (1971), however, the value of
durability determined by unconfined
compression test must be compared
with uniaxial compression test results.
For slope stability analysis, several
methods implemented to approach the
in situ real conditions at study area and
to employ powerful formulations to
satisfy this imperative. These
formulations have taken a great
importance, especially in their
stochastic form. Michalowski method
can be relevance to the real problem at
study area and should be supported by a
factor of durability of clay shale.
REFERENCES
[1] Gamble, J. C. , 1971, Durability –
plasticity classification of shales and
other argillaceous rocks, Ph. D.
Thesis, University of Illinois at
Urbana.
[2] Michalowski, R. L. (1995). Stability
Charts for Uniform Slopes. Journal
of Geotechnical and
Geoenvironmental Engineering,
Vol. 128, No. 4, pp. 351 – 355.
[3] Michalowski, R. L. (1995). Slope
stability analysis: a kinematical
approach. Geotechnique, 45 (2), pp.
283 –293.
[4] Picarelli. L., Urciuoli. G.,
Mandolini.A., Ramondini . M.
(2006). Softening and instability of
natural slopes in highly fissured
plastic clay shales. Natural Hazards
Earth System Sciences Journal, 6,
pp. 529–539.
[5] Stark, T. D. and Duncan, J. M.
(1991). Mechanism of strength loss
in stiff clays, Journal of
Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 117,
No. 1.
[6] Skempton, A. W. (1997). Slope
Stability of Cuttings in Brown Clay,
Tokyo.
[7] Smith, R. E., Jahangir, M. A.,
Rinker W.C. (2006). Selection of
Design Strengths for
Overconsolidated Clays and Clay
Shales. 40th Symposium on
 Engineering Geology and
Geotechnical Engineering, Utah
State University, Logan, UT, May,
pp. 24-26.
[8] Widjaja. B. (2004). Analisis Batas
Untuk Kestabilan Lereng. Jurnal
Teknik Sipil, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 19 –
28.
[9] Wikipedia (2007). The Free
Encyclopedia, Florida, U.S.A.
 Figure 1. Study area for clay shale

Figure 2. Typical cross section of boring log at Sentul Hill

Figure 3. Typical properties of clay shale based on laboratory test
 Figure 4. Mohr circles and shear strength characteristics

Table 1. Strength and deformation parameters

Laboratory estimated range values

Point of Depth Unconfined compression test Triaxial test (UU)
Bor-Log (m) quu (undisturbed) qur (remolded)
St  (o) c (kPa)
(kPa) (kPa)
1.50 – 2.00 247.10 188.70 1.30 17.2 26.5
1 3.50 – 4.00 189.7 157.7 1.20 12.9 32.4
5.50 – 6.00 403.3 343.3 1.20 13.0 34.3
1.50 – 2.00 154.7 135.5 1.10 14.4 25.5
2
3.50 – 5.00 425.6 329.5 1.30 16.3 44.1

Figure 5. Stability charts for uniform slopes (Michalowski, 2002)

 Figure 6. Typical profile of clay shales layers between DB. 1 and DB. 2

Table 2. Stability level of Sentul Hill

Distance  c  H  Slope
Section c / . H . tan  F tan  F
(m) (o) (kN/m2) (kN/m3) (m) (o) condition
50 12.8 25.5 15.2 11.4 14.4 0.5 7.1 1.82 Safe
1 100 9.3 25.5 18.3 16.4 14.4 0.3 7.2 1.84 Safe
150 11.8 44.1 18.3 30.8 16.3 0.3 6.8 2.75 Safe
50 13.7 44.1 18.3 12.2 16.3 0.5 5.4 1.98 Safe
100 7.3 34.3 14.8 12.8 13.0 0.5 10.7 2.47 Safe
2
150 7.4 32.4 14.8 19.6 12.9 0.5 10.9 2.60 Safe
200 5.8 26.5 17.1 20.2 17.2 0.5 11.3 2.49 Safe
50 13.2 44.1 14.8 11.7 16.3 0.5 5.6 1.64 Safe
100 9.8 44.1 15.2 17.2 16.3 0.5 7.3 2.13 Safe
150 11.6 44.1 17.1 30.7 16.3 0.3 8.2 2.40 Safe
Overall 200 9.0 44.1 17.1 31.6 16.3 0.3 7.0 2.04 Safe
250 7.4 34.3 18.3 32.4 13.0 0.3 10.3 2.38 Safe
300 7.4 34.3 18.3 38.8 13.0 0.2 10.1 2.33 Safe
350 6.4 34.3 18.3 39.3 13.0 0.2 10.8 2.49 Safe
 Table 3. Results of slope stability analysis using PLAXIS

Distance F Slope
(m) condition
50.0 2.56 Safe
100.0 2.28 Safe
150 1.74 Safe
200 1.76 Safe
> 350 1.72 Safe

Figure 6. Typical results of slope stability analysis using PLAXIS

Table 4. Results of slope stability analysis using SLOPE W

Distance Analysis methods Slope

(m) Ordinary Bishop Janbu Morgenstern - Price condition
50.0 2.97 2.36 2.81 2.30 Safe
100.0 2.35 2.32 2.09 2.29 Safe
150 2.01 1.93 1.86 1.98 Safe
200 1.56 1.70 1.56 1.71 Safe
> 350 1.55 1.70 1.55 1.71 Safe
 a. Ordinary method

b. Bishop method

c. Janbu method

Figure 7. Typical results of slope stability analysis using SLOPE W for Ordinary
Method
 d. Morgenstren – Price method

Figure 7. Typical results of slope stability analysis using SLOPE W for Ordinary
Method

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