Water infiltration characteristics of unsaturated soil slope and its effect on suction and stability |
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Authors: | Bujang B K Huat Faisal HJ Ali T H Low |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Civil Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, 43400, Malaysia;(2) Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia |
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Abstract: | Rainfall has been considered the cause of the majority of slope failures and landslides that happened in regions experiencing
high seasonal rainfalls. The mechanism of the failures was mainly due to the lost of matric suction of soils by rainwater.
This paper presents the results of a laboratory model study on the effect of slope angle and surface cover on water infiltration
into soil and soil matric suction. A field infiltration test is carried out for comparison. A parametric study is also done
to examine the effect of permeability ratio, development of perched water table and rainfall intensity on the factor of safety
against instability of a soil slope. Results of the model study show that different surface covers on slopes have an effect
on the water infiltration. Generally the covered surface (grass or geosynthetic net) has a lower infiltration rate compared
with the bare (no cover) surface. On the effect of slope angle, it was observed that water infiltration decrease with increase
in the slope steepness. With regards to the movement of the wetting front, it appears that water infiltration is more at the
toe compared with the top of the model slope. Based on the parametric study, it is found factor of safety of the slope against
instability drops for slope with higher ratio of permeability for the permeable and impermeable stratum. As the perched water
table is formed, the factor of safety decreased. The rainfall intensity also has a marked effect on the slope factor of safety.
The higher the intensity of the rainfall, the higher is the infiltration rate into the soil, hence the lower is the factor
of safety against slope instability. |
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Keywords: | landslide rainfall slope stability suction unsaturated soil water infiltration |
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