Stability analysis of an unsaturated soil slope considering rainfall infiltration based on the Green-Ampt model

Based on the principle of saturated infiltration and the Green-Ampt model, an unsaturated infiltration model for a soil slope surface was established for either constant moisture content, or depth-varying moisture content and the slope. Infiltration parameters in the partially saturated slope were revealed under sustained rainfall. Through analysis of the variation of initial moisture content in the slope, the ponding time, infiltration depth, and infiltration rate were deduced for an unsaturated soil slope subject to rainfall infiltration. There is no ponded water on the surface of the slope under sustained low-intensity rainfall. The results show that the infiltration parameters of an unsaturated slope are influenced by the initial moisture content and the wetting front saturation, the soil cohesion and rainfall intensity under sustained rainfall. More short-term slope failures can occur with the decrease of cohesion of the soil of the slope. The ponding time and infiltration depth differ considering constant or different initial moisture content respectively in the soil slope. Then, best-fit curves of the infiltration rate, ponding time, and infiltration depth to the wetting front saturation were obtained with constant or different initial moisture contents. And the slope failure time is roughly uniform when subject to a rainfall intensity I5 mm/h.     

含优势渗流层边坡降雨入渗下的可靠度分析

含优势渗流层边坡在降雨入渗的作用下其渗流场往往具有较高的不确定性,这给边坡的稳定性评价带来困难,通常采用概率的方法解决此类问题。针对含优势渗流层边坡降雨入渗下的可靠度问题,通过将应力分析中的点估计-有限元法引入到边坡渗流-稳定性分析,提出了考虑优势渗流层渗透特性不确定性的渗流概率分析和边坡可靠度分析方法;其次以广西某含碎石夹层土坡为例,分析了降雨入渗下碎石夹层的优势渗流效应及渗流概率,并基于此开展了该边坡降雨入渗下的可靠度分析。结果表明:①含优势渗流层边坡雨水沿优势渗流层渗入坡体内部的深度显著高于沿坡面渗入的深度;优势渗流层渗透特性的不确定性对渗流结果的影响较大,使得边坡稳定性分析具有较强的不确定性;②随着雨水入渗持时的增加,含优势渗流层边坡不同滑动面的失效概率总体呈现增加趋势,最危险滑动面的位置不断向边坡下部演化;依托工程滑动面位置的预测结果与工程实际吻合;③提出的概率分析方法适用于分析含优势渗流层边坡降雨入渗影响下的稳定性问题,而且具有计算量小的优势,可作这类边坡可靠度分析的一种新方法。      

Field experiment of rainfall infiltration on a soil slope and simulations based on a water-air two-phase flow model

Rainfall infiltration on a soil slope is usually an unsaturated seepage process that can be described by a water-air two-phase flow model. The effect of pore air pressure on rainfall infiltration has been widely recognized and validated by means of numerical simulations and laboratory experiments. However, whether a slope can actually seal pore air continues to be debated by researchers. In this study, a water-air two-phase flow model is used to simulate the rainfall infiltration process on a soil slope, and a field experiment is conducted to realistically test the sealing conditions of a slope. According to the numerical simulation, the areas of water and air flow in and out on the slope surface are relatively stable and can be classified as the "inhalation zone" and "overflow zone", respectively. Intermittent rainfall on the soil slope has an amplifying effect on pore air pressure because rainfall intensity is usually at the millimeter level, and it causes pore air pressure to reach the cm level. A field experiment was performed to determine whether a slope can realistically seal pore air and subsequently verify the regularity of rainfall infiltration. Air pressure sensors were buried in the slope to monitor the pore air pressures during the rainfall process. The monitoring results show that the pore air pressure in the slope changed, which indicates that the slope can seal air. Moreover, the amplification effects of intermittent rainfall on pore air pressure were observed for natural rainfall, which agrees well with the numerical simulation results.     

Reasonable selection of yield criteria for quantitative analysis of unsaturated soil slope stability

The yield criterion parameters of the soil material change with different values of the cohesion and the angle of friction because of sustained rainfall infiltration. Based on the Mohr-Coulomb(M-C) and Drucker-Prager(D-P) yield criteria, some reasonable yield criteria selections were discussed for quantitative analysis of unsaturated soil slope stability. Moreover, a critical point was found at the effective angle of friction equaling to 16.5° by transformation of parameters related to unsaturated soil under sustained rainfall. When the effective angle of friction more than 16.5° through parameter transformation of different yield criteria under natural condition, the calculation result of the safety factor was such that: f(DP1) f(M-C) f(equivalent M-C) f(DP2) f(DP3). While the effective angle of friction less than 16.5°, through parameter transformation, the safety factors were in the following order: f(DP1) f(M-C) f(DP2) f(equivalent M-C) f(DP3). The calculated results from a case study showed that the equivalent M-C yield criterion should be the best at evaluating soil slope stability before rainfall; the DP2 yield criterion should be selected to calculate the soil slope stability at the effective angle of friction less than 16.5° under sustained rainfall. The yield criterion should be selected or adjusted reasonably to calculate the safety factor of unsaturated soil slopes before and during sustained rainfall.     

Influence of excavation schemes on slope stability: A DEM

Slope failure due to improper excavation is one of common engineering disasters in China. To explore the failure mechanism of soil slope induced by toe excavation, especially to investigate the influence of excavation unloading path and rate on slope stability, a numerical slope model was built via particle flow code PFC2 D. The development of crack and strain during excavation were obtained and used to evaluate the deformation characteristics.Furthermore, excavation types representing different unloading paths and rates were compared in terms of crack number and strain level. Results indicate that crack number and strain level induced by horizontal column excavation are much greater than those of vertical column excavation and oblique excavation.The crack number and strain level increase with excavation unloading rate. Besides, the feasibility of taking the average strain of slope surface and the average value of maximum strain along monitoring lines to represent the global deformation characteristics were discussed. This study can provide a theoretical guidance for slope monitoring and preliminary optimal selection of excavation scheme in the design and construction of slope engineering.     

Influence of different soil properties on the failure behavior of deposit slope under earthquake after rainfall

In this study, the influence of soil properties on the failure behavior and mechanism of slope under earthquake after rainfall was studied with shaking table test in the laboratory, in which the failure process of slope and instant responses of water content and pore water pressure were tested. Based on the principle of similarity, a model test was designed. The experimental results showed that soil properties exhibit significant influence on failure mode and failure mechanism of slope. Local fl...     

Analysis of stability for Taizishang slope under condition of atomization rainfall of jet overflows

Taizishang slope of Qingjiang Reservoir in Huibei is within the range of atomization rainfall. The authors created the finite element model with ANSYS 10. 0 and used strength reduction FEM to calculate...     

Influence of polymer binder on the physical properties and stability of engineering spoil on a slope

An experiment was performed to study the influence of polymer binders on the physical properties,and stability against a simulated rainfall,of a slope consisting of engineering spoil.Results showed that low polymer binder concentrations(≤500g/m3) could enhance the air permeability and moisture-retaining capacity of the engineering spoil;however,adding more polymer binder made the hardness of the engineering spoil increase and then decline.With the increase of polymer binder concentrations,the surface(0-5cm) permeability of the engineering spoil decreased but the permeability of the lower layers(5-10cm) increased.Polymer binders might reduce runoff and sediment,but the effect becomes weaker with the increase of rainfall.The results of this study have significance for engineering practices.Further experiments are needed to study the effects of binders under other conditions,such as natural rainfall,different slopes,different rock types,different degrees and spoil weathering and different added material,and the chemical interaction between soil and polymer binders.     

Reliability analysis method applied in slope stability： slope prediction and forecast on stability analysis

Landslide is one kind of geologic hazards that often happens all over the world.It brings huge losses to human life and property;therefore,it is very important to research it.This study focused in combination between single and regional landslide,traditional slope stability analysis method and reliability analysis method.Meanwhile,methods of prediction of slopes and reliability analysis were discussed.     

Reliability analysis method applied in slope stability: slope prediction and forecast on stability analysis

Landslide is one kind of geologic hazards that often happens all over the world. It brings huge losses to human life and property; therefore, it is very important to research it. This study focused in combination between single and regional landslide, traditional slope stability analysis method and reliability analysis method. Meanwhile, methods of prediction of slopes and reliability analysis were discussed.     

Effect of the inclined weak interlayers on the rainfall response of a bedded rock slope

Engineering experience shows that outward dipping bedded rock slopes, especially including weak interlayers, are prone to slide under rainfall conditions. To investigate the effect of inclined weak interlayers at various levels of depth below the surface on the variation of displacements and stresses in bedded rock slopes, four geo-mechanical model tests with artificial rainfall have been conducted. Displacements, water content as well as earth pressure in the model were monitored by means of various FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) sensors. The results showed that the amount of displacement of a slope with a weak interlayer is 2.8 to 6.2 times larger than that of a slope without a weak interlayer during one rainfall event. Furthermore, the position of the weak interlayer in terms of depth below the surface has a significant effect on the zone of deformation in the model. In the slope with a high position weak interlayer, the recorded deformation was larger in the superficial layer of the model and smaller in the frontal portion than in the slope with a low position weak interlayer. The slope with two weak interlayers has the largest deformation at all locations of all test slopes. The slope without a weak interlayer was only saturated in its superficial layer, while the displacement decreased with depth. That was different from all slopes with a weak interlayer in which the largest displacement shifted from the superficial layer to the weak interlayer when rainfall persisted. Plastic deformation of the weak interlayer promoted the formation of cracks which caused more water to flow into the slope, thus causing larger deformation in the slope with weak interlayers. In addition, the slide thrust pressure showed a vibration phenomenon 0.5 to 1 hour ahead of an abrupt increase of the deformation, which was interpreted as a predictor for rainfall-induced failure of bedded rock slopes.     

Failure mechanisms of post-earthquake bedrock landslides in response to rainfall infiltration

Among the triggering factors of post-earthquake bedrock landslides,rainfall plays an important role.However,with slope variation,the mechanism of its effects on the failure of rock landslides is not clear.Here,from the viewpoint of fracture mechanics,and based on post-earthquake conditions,the mechanisms of crack propagation,water infiltration and development of the sliding surface were investigated.Then,according to the upper boundary theorem,the effects of water infiltrated into fractures on the stability of rock slopes were analyzed quantitatively.Finally,an example is presented to verify the theory.The results show that the propagation and coalescence of cracks and the lubrication of incipient sliding surfaces are the main causes of the failure of post-earthquake rock landslides in response to rainfall.     

Stress response characteristics of BFRP anchors on loess mudstone slope under rainfall conditions

To investigate the stress response characteristics and shear stress transfer mechanism of BFRP(basalt fiber reinforced plastics) anchors under rainfall conditions and to explore the reinforcement effect of BFRP anchors, a comparative indoor physical model test was conducted in this study using loess mudstone slope as a typical case, and multi-attribute response data, such as slope displacement, BFRP anchor strain and axial force, were obtained. Based on the variation law of slope displacement, i...     

基于一阶线性应变软化理论的边坡稳定性研究

在持续降雨或开挖卸荷作用下,土体的强度指标会发生劣化,但现今采用的边坡稳定性计算大多直接将其视为一个常数。为接近真实的边坡失稳破坏模式,基于瑞典条分法以及一阶线性应变软化机制,提出了一种边坡渐进破坏分析新方法,推导出应变软化型边坡极限平衡表达式,并获得了各破坏进度下边坡的安全系数。通过对模拟算例进行分析,证明了条分-软化法的可靠性,且计算结果表明渐进破坏过程中安全系数不仅取决于边坡的破坏方式与强度参数,还与岩土体的软化模量密切相关。同时,通过与滑坡实际案例的对比验算,证实其强度指标存在不同的衰减系数,即黏聚力的衰减系数大于摩擦角。从理论到应用,最终获得的条分-软化法,不仅考虑了岩土体的强度劣化效应以及滑动面的渐进发展,还能有效地服务于实际工程背景下边坡的稳定性分析,可以为滑坡的预防与治理提供指导建议。     

Numerical simulation on the stability of rock slope based on an improved SPH Method

The presence of random fissures has a great impact on rock slope stability. To investigate the failure modes and stability of rock slopes containing different types of pre-existing fissures, the fracture mark ξ was introduced to improve the kernel function in the traditional smoothed particle dynamics(SPH) method, and a novel numerical method, the improved kernel of smoothed particle hydrodynamics(IKSPH), was proposed to realise the microscopic damage characteristics of particles. The ‘random fissure generating method' has been proposed for random fissure generation, and the gravity increase method has been embedded into the IKSPH program, thereby realising the stability analysis of rock slopes considering crack propagation processes. A typical steep rock slope is taken as a numerical simulation example considering the random distributions of preexisting fissures, and its failure modes as well as the stability under different conditions were simulated. The results show that the failure processes of the rock slope contain propagations of microcracks and then macrocrack penetrations. When the fissure length is short, shallow collapse failure modes can be observed; when the fissure length is long, the deep layer slide occurs, and the slope stability decreases with an increase in fissure length. The micro and macrocrack surfaces are basically consistent with pre-existing fissure angles, and the safety factor is the least at a fissure angle of 30°. The greater the fissure density, the greater the number of macrocracks, and the stability decreases with an increase in the number of pre-existing fissures. The research results can provide some references for disaster protection and understanding the failure laws of rock slopes. Meanwhile, combining the geological survey results with the numerical simulations and developing a high-performance IKSPH program will be a future research direction.     

锚杆不确定性对加固边坡失稳概率的影响

为了探究锚杆不确定性对加固边坡失稳概率的影响,建立了施加锚杆后的边坡模型,通过以下两种途径来考虑锚杆的不确定性：其一是假定锚杆与锚固体之间接触面上的单位表面摩擦力为对数正态分布变量,其二是引入锚杆与锚固体之间接触面上的单位表面摩擦力衰减系数来考虑运营过程中锚杆的不确定性。采用极限平衡分析法并结合蒙特卡罗抽样法,计算并对比分析了两种途径下锚固边坡失稳概率变化曲线,最后以深圳假日酒店基坑边坡支护工程为例,证明所提方法的有效性。结果表明：对于途径一,在相同土体统计参数下,随着锚杆与锚固体之间接触面上单位表面摩擦力变异系数的增加,加固边坡的失稳概率缓慢增加,增幅介于18.03%～41.90%之间。对于途径二,随着锚杆衰减系数自1.0逐步减小至0,加固边坡失稳概率迅速增加,增幅介于55.64%～124.90%之间;在同一衰减系数下,加固边坡失稳概率随着锚杆衰减根数的增加而增大。研究结果可以为锚杆施工与运营期间的管理提供决策支持。     

Improvement of pseudo-static method for slope stability analysis

traditional In this paper, two drawbacks pseudo-static method （vertical of the slice method） in the slope stability evaluation have been studied. First, the sliding mass is divided into vertical slices according to this method, which is irrational to some extent in the seismic design of slope. Second, only peak ground acceleration （PGA） is considered, and the effects of shaking frequency and duration on slope stability are neglected. And then, based on the theory of elastic wave and the summarized geological model, this paper put forwards an improved method of pseudo-method by using the theory of elastic wave and Hilbert-Huang transform. The improved pseudostatic method gives reasonable considerations to the time-frequency effects of seismic wave and its rationality has been verified by the shaking table test. This method can evaluate the safety of a slope, the happening time and the scale of landslides. At the same time, this method also can improve the high accuracy of the evaluation of the safety of the slope.     

Deformation features and failure mechanism of steep rock slope under the mining activities and rainfall

Underground mining activities and rainfall have potential important influence on the initiation and reactivation of the slope deformations, especially on the steep rock slope. In this paper, using the discrete element method (UDEC), numerical simulation was carried out to investigate deformation features and the failure mechanism of the steep rock slope under mining activities and rainfall. A steep rock slope numerical model was created based on a case study at the Wulong area in Chongqing city, China. Mechanical parameters of the rock mass have been determined by situ measurements and laboratory measurements. A preliminary site monitoring system has been realized, aiming at getting structure movements and stresses of unstable rock masses at the most significant discontinuities. According to the numerical model calibrated based on the monitoring data, four types of operation conditions are designed to reveal the effect of mining excavation and extreme rainfall on the deformation of the steep rock slope.     

Effects of slope gradient on runoff from bare-fallow purple soil in China under natural rainfall conditions

Purple soil is highly susceptible for overland flow and surface erosion, therefore understanding surface runoff and soil erosion processes in the purple soil region are important to mitigate flooding and erosion hazards. Slope angle is an important parameter that affects the magnitude of runoff and thus surface erosion in hilly landscapes or bare land area. However, the effect of slope on runoff generation remains unclear in many different soils including Chinese purple soil. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between different slope gradients and surface runoff for bare-fallow purple soil, using 5 m × 1.5 m experimental plots under natural rainfall conditions. Four experimental plots(10°, 16°, 20° and 26°) were established in theYanting Agro-ecological Experimental Station of Chinese Academy of Science in central Sichuan Basin. The plot was equipped with water storage tank to monitor water level change. Field monitoring from July 1 to October 31, 2012 observed 42 rainfall events which produced surface runoff from the experimental plots. These water level changes were converted to runoff. The representative eight rainfall events were selected for further analysis, the relationship between slope and runoff coefficient were determined using ANOVA, F-test, and z-score analysis. The results indicated a strong correlation between rainfall and runoff in cumulative amount basis. The mean value of the measured runoff coefficient for four experimental plots was around 0.1. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between slope and runoff coefficient. We reviewed the relationship between slope and runoff in many previous studiesand calculated z-score to compare with our experimental results. The results of z-score analysis indicated that both positive and negative effects of slope on runoff coefficient were obtained, however a moderate gradient(16°-20° in this study) could be a threshold of runoff generation for many different soils including the Chinese purple soil.