Introduction: The article presents research results on the analysis of slope instability processes, conducted at the Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia in 2019. Problem: Slope instability processes are permanently present in the state of Boyacá – Colombia. The stability analysis through the application of conventional limit equilibrium methods does not reflect the real conditions of mechanical resistance of the materials found. Aim: Analyze slope instability processes utilizing the finite element method in two critical spots located on the road that connects the city of Tunja with the town of Miraflores. Methods: Start with the search and compilation of information from critical spots with relevant geotechnical characterization on roads in the state, thereby permitting the identification of two unstable critical spots. With the use of geological, geotechnical and hydrological information, the mechanical behavior of the materials is modelled through the software Slide and Midas GTS NX. Results: The estimation of material stability through the finite element method shows more reliable results compared to the actual behavior of the studied locations and compared to the methods based on limit equilibrium. Conclusion:The use of this numerical simulation technique is recommended to replace conventional methods, being an affordable and effective tool for the analysis of instability processes. Originality: Most analyses of instability processes conducted in the state of Boyacá – Colombiado not use the finite element method. Limitations: The estimation of material stability is based on a constitutive model for soil and another for rock.

Este trabajo considera una amplia base de análisis teóricos y simulaciones numéricas con el propósito de profundizar en el conocimiento del proceso de pérdida de estabilidad mecánica en materiales granulares. De esta manera, se pretende comprender los mecanismos de surgimiento de los diferentes tipos de inestabilidad y la aparición final de los modos de falla difusa y localizada. Entre los diferentes aspectos relacionados con el problema de aparición de la falla material, a tener en cuenta para evaluar la conexión con el proceso de inestabilidad, se consideran la relación de vacíos y el estado de esfuerzo iniciales, la variabilidad espacial del material, la relación entre las trayectorias de esfuerzos y la evolución de la anisotropía de fábrica, los cuales inciden en la tendencia contractante-dilatante del material, además de su condición de drenaje.Por primera vez es propuesto un marco unificado de inestabilidad en condición multiaxial, lo que permite establecer que la falla material obedece a un esquema evolutivo de eventos de inestabilidad. Con este enfoque se puede detectar el surgimiento de los procesos de inestabilidad bajo cualquier condición de dilatancia y de drenaje del material granular, a través del seguimiento del comportamiento de variables de estado elastoplásticas tales como el módulo de endurecimiento generalizado y los coeficientes de dilatancia y fricción.

This literature review article is a product of the Research Project “Relation Between Climate Variability with Mass Removal Processes. Tunja-Páez case study”, developed in the Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia in the year 2020. Introduction: This article focuses on the review of research studies and advances made during the last decade regarding the influence of climatic variability on the dynamics of slopes. Objective: To determine the influence of climatic variability in areas that present slope instability in the Tunja-Páez road corridor located in the department of Boyacá. Methods: A systematic review of information from books, manuals, reports, guides, and scientific articles on climate change, climate variability, mass removal processes, meteorological variables, and their influence on the resilience and adaptation of infrastructure related to containment and slope drainage projects. Results: The studies indicate criteria that relate temperature, precipitation and seismic activity with the occurrence of mass movements. Conclusion: Climatic anomalies in terms of precipitation and temperature has allowed research methodologies using probabilistic models to be developed for estimating the occurrence of said phenomena in future scenarios. Originality: The presented literature indicates the influence of climatic variability in the resulting mass removal processes as evidenced in studies at the global and national level. Limitations: This article scientific studies have been compiled that contrast the problems in the stability of slopes of the Tunja-Páez road corridor, without going into the details of these problems.