In the sprawling urban landscape of Jakarta Garden City, the construction of a new international school has sparked a critical conversation about slope stability and safety. The project, requiring substantial embankment soil, has highlighted the potential for landslides due to significant elevation differences. This is where Merdy Evalina Silaban, a researcher from the Building Construction Technology Study Program at the Engineering Department of Astra Polytechnic, steps in. Her recent study, published in Jurnal Pensil, delves into the stability analysis of embankment soil slopes, offering insights that could reshape how we approach similar challenges in the construction industry.
The initial analysis of the slope conditions, both with the Fellenius method and Plaxis software, revealed a safety factor of around 1.24. “This value is considered unsafe,” Silaban explained, “because the minimum safety factor for slope stability, according to SNI 8460:2017 standards, is 1.5.” This finding underscores the necessity for reinforcement alternatives to ensure the safety and longevity of the project.
Silaban explored two reinforcement methods: cantilever retaining walls and geotextile reinforcement. The cantilever retaining walls showed promising results, with safety factor values ranging from 1.657 to 3 for various failure modes. The global failure analysis, aided by Plaxis, yielded a safety factor of 1.9753, indicating that the retaining wall design is robust and reliable. However, the geosynthetic reinforcement, while also safe, had slightly lower safety factors, with a value of 1.556 in the stability analysis and 1.7088 in the Plaxis analysis.
The implications of this research extend far beyond the borders of Jakarta Garden City. As urbanization continues to rise, so does the need for stable and safe construction practices, especially in areas with significant elevation changes. The findings from Silaban’s study could influence future developments in the field, encouraging engineers and architects to prioritize slope stability and explore innovative reinforcement methods.
The cantilever retaining walls, in particular, offer a compelling solution for projects with similar challenges. Their high safety factor values and overall reliability make them a strong candidate for ensuring the structural integrity of embankment soils. As Silaban noted, “The use of cantilever retaining walls is safer and could be a game-changer in how we approach slope stability in construction projects.”
The research, published in Jurnal Pensil, which translates to “Pencil Journal” in English, is a beacon of progress in the construction industry. It underscores the importance of thorough analysis and innovative solutions in ensuring the safety and stability of construction projects. As we look to the future, it is clear that the lessons learned from this study will shape the way we build, ensuring that our structures stand the test of time and the challenges of nature.
