taluds

Talud is a term used in geotechnical engineering and architecture to denote an inclined plane or surface. In geology and civil works, a talud is the inclined face of a slope, such as the side of a cut in rock or soil, or the exposed face of an embankment or quarry bench. Taludes can be natural slopes or constructed faces for roads, railways, excavations, or storage facilities. The stability of a talud depends on material strength, moisture, loading, and the slope angle, often described in relation to the material's angle of repose. Design and maintenance focus on preventing failure through drainage, reinforcement, slope grading, terracing, retaining structures, and vegetation.

In architecture, talud refers to a stylistic element in some Mesoamerican pyramids and platforms. The talud is an inward-leaning, inclined plane that forms the lower part of a facade, commonly paired with a vertical tablero panel above it. The combination creates a characteristic sloped-to-vertical rhythm visible on constructions built by civilizations such as Teotihuacan, Zapotec, and others. The talud-tablero arrangement has implications for construction technique, load distribution, and aesthetics, and it is a key indicator of certain architectural traditions.

Terminology varies by language, but in many contexts talud generally denotes any inclined surface associated with slopes, embankments, or decorative architectural faces. Modern practice adapts the concept for erosion control, hillside stabilization, and land formation, emphasizing drainage, materials, and monitoring to maintain stability.