An analytical solution for rainfall infiltration into an unsaturated infinite slope and its application to slope stability analysis

Surficial slope failures in residual soils are common in tropical and subtropical regions as a result of rainfall infiltration. This study develops an analytical solution for simulating rainfall infiltration into an infinite unsaturated soil slope. The analytical solution is based on the general partial differential equation for water flow through unsaturated soils. It can accept soil–water characteristic curve and unsaturated permeability function of the exponential form into account. Numerical simulations are conducted to verify the assumptions of the analytical solution and demonstrate that the proposed analytical solution is acceptable for the coarse soils with low air entry values. The pore‐water pressure (pwp) distributions obtained from the analytical solution can be incorporated into a limit equilibrium method to do infinite slope stability analysis for a rain‐induced shallow slip. The analysis method takes into account the influence of the water content change on unit weight and hence on factor of safety. A series of analytical parametric analyses have been performed using the developed model. The analyses indicate that when the residual soil slope, consisting of a completely decomposed granite layer underlain by a less permeable layer, is subjected to a continuous heavy rainfall, the loss of negative pwp and the reduction in factor of safety were found to be most significant for the shallow soil layer and during the first 12 h. The antecedent and subsequent rainfall intensity, depth of a less permeable layer and slope angle all have a significant influence on the pwp response and hence the slope stability. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Slope stability analysis using a physically based model: a case study from A Luoi district in Thua Thien-Hue Province,Vietnam

A case study of slope stability mapping is presented for the A Luoi district situated in the mountainous western part of Thua Thien-Hue Province in Central Vietnam, where slope failures occur frequently and seriously affect local living conditions. The methodology is based on the infinite slope stability model, which calculates a safety factor as the ratio between shear strength and shear stress. The triggering mechanism for slope instability considered in the analysis is the maximum daily precipitation recorded in a 28-year period (1976–2003) taking into account runoff and infiltration predicted with a hydrological model. All necessary physical parameters are derived from topography, soil texture, and land use, in GIS-raster grid format with pixel size of 30 by 30 m. Results of the analysis are compared with a slope failure inventory map of 2001, showing that more than 86.9 % of the existing slope failures are well predicted by the physically based slope stability model. It can be concluded that the larger part of the study area is prone to landsliding. The resulting slope stability map is useful for further research and land-use planning, but for precise prediction of future slope failures, more effort is needed with respect to spatial variation of causative factors and analysis techniques.     

生态酯类材料砂土改良及工程护坡应用

为提高砂土边坡的稳定性并实现生态护坡,采用生态酯类材料——纳米水性黏合剂对砂土进行改良,通过凝胶渗透色谱法和热重法分别对纳米水性黏合剂的相对分子质量及分布、热稳定性等进行了测试与分析;通过设计并开展不同纳米水性黏合剂掺入量条件下砂土的无侧限抗压强度试验和直接剪切试验,研究了砂土的强度改良效果与规律;通过崩解试验和边坡冲刷模型试验,研究了砂土的遇水稳定性和坡面抗冲刷能力的改良效果与规律,并进一步分析了砂土改良及生态护坡机制。结果表明,纳米水性黏合剂能提高砂土的强度、水稳定性及坡面抗冲刷能力。随黏合剂掺入量的增加,砂土的无侧限抗压强度和黏聚力增大,黏聚力的增加幅度可达46%～77%,而内摩擦角变化较小;砂土的崩解系数和峰值崩解速率减小,最大崩解速率出现的时间越发滞后;坡面冲刷率降低约68%～86%。边坡防护工程实际应用效果表明,纳米水性黏合剂的固土效果好,作用时间长,促进植被生长,实现了边坡的长效生态防护。     

Cut Slope Design Recommendations for Sub-Horizontal Hard Sedimentary Rock Units in Ohio, USA

Although most cut slopes in Ohio consist of inter-layered, sub-horizontal units of hard and soft sedimentary rocks (sandstone, limestone, dolostone, shale, claystone, mudstone), slopes consisting of relatively thick hard rock units are not uncommon. Design of stable cut slopes in hard rock units needs to consider rock mass strength and orientation of discontinuities with respect to slope face. Results of kinematic stability analyses show that hard-rock cut slopes are less likely to have conventional plane and wedge failures, caused by unfavorable orientation of discontinuities. The main cause of failure is identified to be the undercutting-induced toppling, which is not amenable to traditional kinematic or rock mass strength-based analyses. Therefore, to recommend a suitable slope angle, numerical models, using UDEC software, were employed to study how various slope angles affect the process of undercutting-induced toppling failures. The UDEC models showed a slope angle of 45° (1H:1 V) to be the most stable angle. However, a 63° (0.5H:1 V) slope angle can significantly reduce the potential for such failures and is therefore more appropriate than the widely used angle of 76° (0.25H:1 V).     

Progress in stability analysis of submarine slopes considering dissociation of gas hydrates

Gas hydrates have the potential to be a new energy source and a submarine geohazard. Though researchers generally agree about the association between gas hydrate dissociation and submarine slope failures, the processes and mechanism of submarine slope failure caused by gas hydrate dissociation are not clearly understood. In the last few years, some authors have tried to analyse submarine slope stability by considering the existence and dissociation of gas hydrate, and a few researchers have presented quantitative models. This paper presents a review of the various causes of submarine slope failures associated with gas hydrate dissociation. Also, analysis models of submarine slope stability associated with gas hydrate dissociation that are documented from the literatures including the infinite slope model, wedge model, slump and retrogressive failure model are interpreted and illustrated, respectively.     

基于冻融交界面直剪试验的冻土斜坡失稳过程研究

为了探讨多年冻土区自然斜坡失稳机制,开展了不同含水率黏土、粉土、砂土的土-冰交界面直接剪切试验和相应融土的直接剪切试验。结果表明,砂土和砂土-冰冻融交界面剪切应力-变形特性主要表现为弹性变形,且剪应力存在明显峰值;粉土、黏土及相应的冻融交界面在很小的变形范围内表现为塑性变形,且剪应力无峰值。水分对砂土活动层抗剪强度影响较弱,表现为水分增高,内摩擦角小幅降低。水分对粉黏土活动层抗剪强度影响剧烈,表现为水分增高,粉黏土黏聚力急剧减小。研究发现,冻土区斜坡失稳更易发生于细颗粒粉黏土中。相对于粉土,粉土-冰冻融交界面抵抗剪切变形的能力更强,粉土斜坡潜在滑动面更易发育在冻融交界面上层附近;相对于黏土,黏土-冰冻融交界面抵抗剪切变形的能力更弱,黏土斜坡更易在冻融交界面处发生滑动。同时,细粒土斜坡极易在达到最大融化深度前提前失稳,斜坡坡度越高,失稳时间越提前。融化期活动层水分增多导致潜在滑动面黏聚力降低是细粒土冻土斜坡失稳的最主要原因,孔隙水压对冻土斜坡具有一定影响,在稳定性评价时要考虑活动层水位的影响。     

用局部强度折减法进行边坡稳定性分析

边坡的变形与其稳定性具有内在的必然联系,因而可以通过变形场来对边坡的稳定性进行判断。传统的强度折减法基于理想弹塑性模型对所有单元进行强度折减,所求解出来的变形场并不能很好地反映出边坡失稳时的真实变形。实际上,边坡的失稳是由于局部土体的强度降低所致的,因此提出只对局部土体单元进行强度折减、其他土体单元保持原有强度不变的局部强度折减法,本构模型采用变模量弹塑性模型。工程实例计算分析表明,基于变模量弹塑性模型的局部强度折减法对边坡进行稳定性分析是可行的。     

Analysis and Design of an Underground Portal in Lateritic Soils

This paper presents a case study of the analysis and design of slopes for the portal of an underground crude oil storage cavern site. The site selected for the slope study is characterized by residual soils and granitic rock formations, located in the southwestern part of India. It is observed that in tropical residual soils, most hillslope failures are caused by rainfall and thus it is important to consider hydrological conditions when attempting to analyze the stability of slopes in such material. Combinations of shallow slopes with lower overburden and high steep hillslope with large overburden were considered in the present study along with varying combinations of lateritic soils and weathered rock formations. The paper discusses the various investigations carried out to define the geotechnical properties of lateritic soil and weathered rock, followed by numerical modelling and remedial measures adopted to ensure the stability of slopes during design and construction phase. Since analysis and design procedures for such residual soils are not well established, comprehensive geological and geotechnical investigations were carried out prior to numerical model development for carrying out finite element studies in order to ascertain long term stability of slopes under differing ground conditions. The results of the stability analysis indicated that slope under existing condition were potentially unstable under rainy conditions and specific supporting measures were planned to ensure stability. Several alternatives were examined for improving the stability of slope taking into consideration existing facilities, space available for mobilization of equipments and environmental conditions in reference to specific project requirements. The convergence pattern obtained from geotechnical monitoring using optical targets along the slopes did not showed any alarming movement for over a year.     

Discontinuity controlled probabilistic slope failure risk maps of the Altindag (settlement) region in Turkey

The evaluation of potential rock slope problems using stereographic projection techniques known as kinematic analysis is one of the most important parts of a slope stability investigation to be carried out in jointed rock media. In conventional stereoprojection techniques for the assessment of possible rock slope failures, the peak orientations of joints together with the slope geometry and the friction angle of the weakness planes are used. Other possible joint orientations which may be encountered in the rock media are ignored, although they belong to the group of joint peak orientations. In this study, nearly vertical jointed andesites cropped out at the Altindag settlement region in Ankara were studied in order to evaluate the relevance of this ignored discontinuity orientation data on slope stability. As a result, probabilistic risk maps for planar, toppling and wedge failures were produced using the kinematic rules and digital elevation model of the study area. The comparison of the distribution of the actual failures in the area and the probabilistic risk maps prepared for the study area revealed that all of the identified failures are found to be located in the higher risk zones on the probabilistic risk maps.     

Simulation of landslide-induced surges and analysis of impact on dam based on stability evaluation of reservoir bank slope

Instability of bank slopes and their failures in reservoirs have become an increasing concern in evaluating potential hazards of hydraulic projects in China as larger hydropower engineering projects have been in operation in the past decade. To provide a quantitative evaluation of such hazards, an evaluation framework has been presented to analyze bank slope stability, identify potential slope failure bed surfaces, and evaluate wave impacts of landslide-induced surges in reservoirs. In this joint analysis framework, reservoir bank slope instability and potential failure surfaces are determined with TFINE model, a nonlinear Finite Element Method (FEM) program using Deformation Reinforcement Theory; the motion of slope failures and resulting surge waves in reservoirs and potential flooding are simulated with COMCOT tsunami simulation package. The work flow and feasibility of this analysis framework are demonstrated through a case study of Guopu slope in Laxiwa reservoir in Southwest China. Three potential failures of Guopu slope are identified through stability analysis and the modeling results of indicate that the potential landslide failures would generate waves with maximum amplitude of 20.9 m in the reservoir, but unlikely causing significant damage to the dam.     

Characterisation of a volcanic residual soil and its implications for large landslide phenomena: application to Tenerife,Canary Islands

Large landslides are common processes during the evolution of volcanoes and individual events can exceed several cubic kilometres in volume. Volcanic slope failures are a significant risk for the neighbouring population due to their huge volumes and great runout distances. Around the Canary archipelago, a total of seventeen deposits of large landslides have been found, and on Tenerife, seven large landslides have affected the subaerial and submarine morphology during the last ∼6 Ma. However, the causes of such mass movements are still poorly understood. This work analyses the events around the Canary Islands and focuses on the ones that occurred on Tenerife in order to obtain new insights into the mechanisms of large volcanic landslides. The study is divided into a first part that includes site investigations examining the general features favouring large-scale failures at volcanoes. The second part describes the laboratory tests used to analyse a residual soil that may be the potential slip surface of the slides on Tenerife. The site investigation revealed that regional tectonics and the climate have a significant influence on the spatial distribution of the landslides. Moreover, morphological and geological features such as deep fluvial canyons, a high coastal cliff and persistent dike intrusion may favour the initiation of slope failure. A typical residual soil sample from the lateral scarp of the La Orotava amphitheatre on Tenerife was studied by carrying out standard laboratory tests. The microstructure was analysed using environmental scanning electron microscopy and a particular bonding was found. This bonding was also detected by the geotechnical tests. Consolidation tests and direct shear tests revealed that the mechanical behaviour of the residual soil changes greatly if the bonding of the soil is broken. The bonded structure generally fails when the effective normal stress surpasses the yield strength of the bonding. In the case of large volcanic landslides with thicknesses up to several hundred meters, the high overburden easily exceeds this yield strength and generates a broken bonding. Therefore, volcanic residual soils, such as the one analysed in this study, are perfect candidates for the potential failure surfaces of large volcanic landslides. Referring to the La Orotava events, we assume that residual soil layers and morphological, geological and climatic features reduced the slope stability to critical conditions, whereas a strong earthquake associated with a caldera collapse episode may have finally triggered the landslide. The results obtained indicate that the residual soils play an important role in affecting the stability of volcano slopes and their destabilising influence significantly favours large-scale sliding. We suggest that the results obtained from this study can be applied to other locations since volcanic residual soils are common in volcanic areas.     

Prediction of slope stability using artificial neural network (case study: Noabad, Mazandaran, Iran)

Investigations of failures of soil masses are subjects touching both geology and engineering. These investigations call the joint efforts of engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers. Geotechnical engineers have to pay particular attention to geology, ground water, and shear strength of soils in assessing slope stability. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are very sophisticated modeling techniques, capable of modeling extremely complex functions. In particular, neural networks are nonlinear. In this research, with respect to the above advantages, ANN systems consisting of multilayer perceptron networks are developed to predict slope stability in a specified location, based on the available site investigation data from Noabad, Mazandaran, Iran. Several important parameters, including total stress, effective stress, angle of slope, coefficient of cohesion, internal friction angle, and horizontal coefficient of earthquake, were used as the input parameters, while the slope stability was the output parameter. The results are compared with the classical methods of limit equilibrium to check the ANN model’s validity.     

花岗岩类土质边坡工程特性及加固方法研究

华南、华东南地区具有厚度可达上百米的花岗岩风化残积层。高等级公路、铁路的规模建设在该地区形成了大量的花岗岩类土质高边坡。深入认识该类边坡的工程特性并提出有效的针对性边坡加固方法,对该地区公路、铁路的安全建设和正常运营具有重要意义。为了更有效指导该类边坡的稳定性分析及边坡设计,本文深入调查分析了广东和广西境内4条高等级公路沿线的44处花岗岩类土质边坡特征及其稳定性,认为控制该类边坡稳定性的因素主要有:土体的均匀性、岩脉(墙)及花岗岩球状硬核的分布情况、坡体中保留的结构面是否对坡体稳定性起控制作用。继而依据这些因素把花岗岩类土质边坡划分为岩脉(墙)隔挡型边坡、网状结构型边坡、外倾结构型边坡、浮石型边坡4种类型。深入分析了每种类型边坡的坡体结构特征、稳定特性,针对性地提出了边坡稳定性分析中应重点考虑的因素。认为花岗岩类土质边坡的土质及坡体结构特征,造成了该类边坡开挖临时自稳性较好,但具有较强的开挖卸荷效应和较弱的抗冲刷能力。最后针对每种类型的花岗岩类土质边坡,提出了相应的设计方案建议。基于花岗岩类土质边坡良好的临时自稳性,认为可进行陡开挖强支护设计,同时强调逐级开挖逐级支护、加强坡面防冲刷、边坡护脚及压顶、边坡截排水等设计建议。     

The assessment of slope stability along NH-22 in Rampur-Jhakri Area,Himachal Pradesh

The present paper demonstrates the assessment of slope stability analysis between Rampur to Jhakri road section along National Highway (NH-22), Himachal Pradesh, India. The different types of slope failures have affected most part of slopes which causes considerable loss of life and property, inconveniences such as disruption of traffic along highways. The poorly designed rock slopes for road widening or construction purposes may weaken the stability of the slopes. A detail field investigation has been carried out to collect the representative rock samples for determination of physico-mechanical properties of rock and joint data for kinematic analysis. The rocks exposed in the area are highly jointed quartzite and quartz-mica schist of Rampur-Larji Group of Palaeoproterozoic age. The continuous slope mass rating (CSMR) technique has been applied for the assessment of slope stability analysis at five vulnerable locations and the results shows slopes are partially stable to unstable. Kinematic analysis mainly shows wedge type of failure along with few toppling and planar failures. The existing slope required immediate treatment to prevent the failure for its long term stability.     

Deep-Seated Slope Failures Induced by Inappropriate Cutting in China

Given insufficient geological investigation and inadequate interpretation of geological settings, remedial works for localized cut slope collapses may induce large-scale failures and cause remarkable damage, as well as economical loss. A number of recent reports have addressed individual large-scale failures due to inappropriate cutting, but the systematic classification of failure patterns has received less attention. In this study, a re-profiling triggered landslide is described in detail. The deep slip surface is located by field measurements; then, the stability of the slope before and after cutting is assessed with the limit equilibrium method. Three types of slopes prone to deep-seated failures are introduced: the loose deposits type, the ancient landslide type, and the deep adverse discontinuities type. The mechanism of each failure pattern is illustrated with a case study. The stability analyses indicate that inappropriate slope profiling may greatly reduce the factor of safety (FS) of a slope. Recommendations are given for mitigating the deep-seated landslide induced by inappropriate cutting, and a case history of successful measures is presented.     

Effectiveness of horizontal drains for slope stability

Horizontal drains have been commonly used in stabilising unsaturated residual soil slopes. This study examines the effectiveness of horizontal drains in stabilising residual soil slopes against rainfall-induced slope failures under a tropical climate. The study includes field instrumentation at two residual soil slopes complemented with a parametric study relating to drain position. Field monitoring results indicate that rainfall infiltration is limited to a certain depth below which infiltration becomes insignificant. This zone tends to be unsuitable for horizontal drains. Horizontal drains were found to be most effective when located at the base of a slope. The parametric study indicated conditions under which horizontal drains are effective or ineffective in improving the stability of a slope. It was also found that horizontal drains have little role in minimising infiltration in an unsaturated residual soil slope. Benefits of using horizontal drains can be obtained through the lowering of the water table.     

Charnockite bedrock,Chennai coast,Tamil Nadu: Micromorphology and geochemical signatures in stages of the weathering processes

Occurrences of landslide are most common and critical issue in North-East India. The various types of slope failures have been affected most part of slopes and road section between Malidor to Sonapur area (approx 30 Km) along NH-44 within Jaintia hills district, Meghalaya, India. These slope failures causes considerable loss of life and property along with many inconveniences such as disruption of traffic along highways. The unscientific excavations of rock slopes for road widening or construction purposes may weaken the stability of the slopes. The rocks exposed in the area are highly jointed sandstone and shale of Barail Group of Oligocene age. The Sonapur landslide is most dangerous and destructive rock fall-cum debris flow. The present study includes the kinematic analysis of the slope to assess the potential failure directions as the rocks are highly jointed in some parts of road cut sections. The continuous slope mass rating (CSMR) technique has been applied for slope stability analysis at five vulnerable locations. Kinematic analysis indicates mainly wedge type of failure along with few toppling and planar failures. These failure required immediate treatment to prevent the slide and long term stability of the slope.     

Relationship between groundwater flow estimated by soil temperature and slope failures caused by heavy rainfall, Shikoku Island, southwestern Japan

Most of the slope failure disasters in a humid area such as that of Japan are caused by heavy rain. However, even for the case of heavy rainfall that occurs once in every 10 years, total area of slope failures seldom exceeds 10% of a watershed. From this background, we focused on the vein-like groundwater flows that increase pore-water pressure, and clarified the relationship between distributions of slope failures and groundwater veins. In this study, a 1-m-depth ground temperature survey and water-chemistry analyses at springs and boreholes were conducted in Zentoku area of Shikoku Island, southwestern Japan, to grasp the distribution of groundwater veins and their sources. Subsequently, slope-stability was analyzed to investigate the relationship between groundwater veins and slope failures at study sites. These results lead to the following conclusions: The slope failures appear to concentrate around shallow groundwater veins and groundwater veins rising from deep layers. This means that slope failures caused by these groundwater veins in addition to rainfall. Two types of groundwater originate in the deep layers: one has short storage time as indicated by the fact that dissolved substances are low; the other is stored for a lengthy period as noted by a high concentration of dissolved substances. By combining the results of stability analyses and distribution of groundwater veins, it is suggested that prediction of zones with high potential for slope failure can be more accurate.     

大降雨条件下气压力对边坡稳定的影响研究

对于大面积浅层风化土边坡,当下部含有浅水位或不透水基岩层时大降雨将导致下部气体被封闭。随着湿润峰的下移,气压不断增大。封闭气压力不仅降低了雨水在边坡土体的入渗率,而且对边坡的稳定有显著影响。通过分析封闭气压力的形成和相关理论,提出取 大小的气压力头来研究边坡的稳定性（Hc为一水头值,与土体孔隙尺寸分布有关; hd为土体进气值水头）。结合非饱和土的Mohr-Coulomb破坏准则和极限平衡法,将封闭气压力引入到边坡的稳定分析中,建立了考虑气压力影响下的稳定分析模型。与传统的不考虑气压力的稳定分析方法作对比,提出了气压力影响率概念。研究表明,封闭气压力显著降低了边坡的安全系数,传统的无限边坡稳定计算方法偏于危险。研究结果对无限边坡的强降雨安全预报具有较好的指导作用。     

深基坑复合喷锚支护技术探讨

工程实践表明,复合喷锚支护是一种有效的深基坑支护型式,它可用于土层条件差、安全性要求高、变形控制严格的基坑工程中。复合支护中锚杆为主要受力构件,竖向花管为辅助受力构件,可起到限制、减小土体变形的作用。由于竖向注浆花管的加入,花管及注浆体抗剪作用加强,使基坑的整体稳定性得以大幅度提高。探讨了复合喷锚支护整体稳定性分析方法,建议将滑动区域分为加固土和原土两部分,将锚管注浆形成的注浆体等效为一层加固土,按喷锚支护模型计算复合喷锚支护整体稳定性。