Final answer:
Inadequate lateral support can lead to wall deflection. This occurs due to conditions such as soil erosion, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, which weaken slopes and can cause structural failures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Inadequate lateral support of a structure can lead to various issues, such as the inward deflection of walls, also known as wall deflection. Conditions that may result in inadequate lateral support include natural processes like soil erosion and extreme events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Soil erosion can occur due to the action of rivers, glaciers, or ocean waves creating over-steepened slopes. Additionally, heavy rains and snowmelt can saturate rock and soil slopes, leading to a weakened structure and potential failure. Earthquakes can create stresses that destabilize slopes and make them fail, especially those of magnitude 4.0 and greater. Volcanic eruptions, with their production of loose ash deposits and debris flows, can also stress slopes. Lastly, man-made structures and accumulation of materials can add excess weight to slopes, leading to failure.