Water infiltration characteristics of unsaturated soil slope and its effect on suction and stability

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.     

松散堆积土边坡充气排水方法

坡体地下水是影响边坡稳定的主要因素,将水排出往往能够阻止滑坡的启动。通过应用基本理论和模型试验对高压充气法应用在边坡排水工程中的可行性进行研究分析。结果表明：将高压充气排水法应用在边坡排水工程中是可行的,且适用于土体中最大孔径大于5.0 μm的边坡;气驱水过程存在初始充气气压且存在上限值;气排水速度与土体渗透系数和充气气压成正比、与水头高度和孔隙通道半径成反比;气排水过程中土体大孔隙通道内产生优先流现象。     

Geotechnical characterization of a landslide in a Blue Clay slope

This paper describes the results of an experimental, as well as theoretical, analysis of a landslide in a clay slope at the margin of a small town of Southern Italy, whose reactivation of 1998 caused severe damages to some structures. To protect the upslope urban area, an anchored diaphragm wall and a drainage system were constructed in 2001. In the meantime, in order to understand the processes which caused the reactivation, a Department of the Basilicata Administrative Region provided financial support to a geotechnical investigation. Laboratory tests on undisturbed and reconstituted specimens, in situ pore pressure and deep displacement measurements were carried out. Both experimental and theoretical in situ water content (and porosity) profiles were determined. Theoretical analyses of pore pressure distribution and stability analyses were carried out. The influence of the drainage system on the slope safety factor was evaluated. Experimental and theoretical data suggest that a first time process occurred in the lower part of the landslide system. The upper part moved on pre-existing surfaces on which an average shear strength close to the residual strength was available. Noticeable water content increase was found around some of these surfaces. Erosion at the toe of the landslide was the probable cause of reactivation. The analysis of the drain system effectiveness suggests that drainage has not significantly influenced pore pressures on the considered slip surfaces yet, mainly because of the very low permeability of the clay.     

Study of horizontal drain effect on slope stability

Slope failure usually occurs when soil particles are unable to build a strong bond with each other and become loose because of the presence of water. Water pressure weakens the ties between the particles and they tend to slip. Therefore, this study focused on the use of horizontal drains to reduce water entry and control the ground water level as a method of slope stabilization. Several previous studies have shown that the use of horizontal drains to lower the water level in soil is one of the fastest and cheapest slope stabilization methods. The main objective of this study is to analyze the effect of horizontal drains on slope stability. Information on slope condition during the landslides which happened at Precinct 9, Putrajaya, Malaysia was used for analytical simulation. Seep/W and Slope/W analyses were carried out with GeoStudio version 2007 software. Slopes with and without horizontal drains were then compared in terms of groundwater level and factor of safety (FOS) values. Scenarios were created for seven types of soil namely: residual, clay, silt, loam, sandy loam, sandy clay loam, and silt clay loam for a case wise analysis. The effect of daily steady rainfall and realcondition rainfall was studied. These cases were studied to find the effectiveness of horizontal drains as a slope stabilization tool. The results revealed that when a drain was installed on a slope, the groundwater level dropped immediately and the safety factor of the slope increased. Sandy loam (sL) soil was identified as the best candidate for a horizontal drain. Its highly saturated hydraulic conductivity Ks facilitated groundwater drain through the horizontal drain effectively. Silt clay loam (scL) soil was identified as the least effective candidate.     

降雨条件下顺倾向煤系地层边坡稳定性的影响研究

煤系地层具有岩层软硬不均,层间胶结较差,风化速度快,遇水易软化,结构易破坏导致强度丧失等特点,特别是夹层中炭质泥岩或页岩具有强度低、易活化、易变性和渗透系数相对较小的特点,这决定了其对整体边坡的稳定性具有控制作用。文章分析了煤系地层边坡饱和、非饱和渗流降雨条件（降雨强度）、土性参数（夹层饱和渗透系数）以及边坡形状尺寸（坡脚、夹层倾角、夹层埋深）等因素对边坡渗流特点及稳定性的影响,发现软弱夹层与上下岩体渗透性差异性对边坡稳定性影响明显;软弱夹层埋置越浅,边坡越易失稳;降雨强度越大,边坡越易沿软弱夹层发生滑坡;并非坡脚越大降雨之后边坡的安全系数降低幅度就大,而是随着夹层倾角的增大,边坡的安全系数逐渐降低,边坡越易沿软弱夹层发生滑坡,这些认识对煤系地层边坡的设计和治理有重要的参考意义。      

降雨条件下酉阳大涵边坡滑动机制研究

以某厚堆积层滑坡为例,基于非饱和土力学理论,利用有限元方法,对雨水入渗条件下坡体的渗流及动态稳定性进行了计算和分析,研究了水分在坡体内的运移对边坡稳定性的时间效应。结果表明：边坡堆积体结构松散,土体强度差,边坡前缘坡降大,坡脚的开挖,为滑坡形成提供了便利条件;强降雨条件下使得坡脚附近首先发生变形失稳,牵引坡体后缘产生张拉裂。雨水沿坡面入渗,在坡体内形成渗流场,弱化岩土体参数,同时坡面形成饱和径流,使滑坡体前缘产生向下的渗透力,促使前缘坡体发生滑动,进而引发分级坡体产生滑移;强降雨初始阶段,滑坡体安全系数降低较快,很容易发生滑坡。该研究揭示了降雨入渗诱发厚堆积层边坡滑动机制,并以此建议采取以截、排、堵措施对边坡进行排水,同时设置嵌岩锚索抗滑桩及进行削坡清方措施对边坡进行综合治理,通过稳定性计算,效果良好。     

降雨入渗对土坡稳定性影响分析

在饱和-非饱和渗流理论基础上,从降雨强度、前期降雨总量、不同的土坡坡度以及是否考虑植被护坡等方面对大气降雨条件下土坡的稳定性进行了探讨.分析结果表明,在土体饱和渗透系数一定的条件下,强降雨对土坡稳定系数影响显著;土坡越陡,降雨强度大小对土坡安全性影响就俞显突出;土坡表层植物根系的存在影响非饱和区渗流场分布,可以延缓非饱和区含水量的增大,土坡稳定系数得到提高.     

考虑涂抹区渗透系数变化的非饱和土砂井地基固结特性分析

在以往对非饱和土砂井地基固结理论研究中,均将涂抹区与非涂抹区土体渗透系数视为相等,这与实际工程并不相符。本文将考虑涂抹区土体渗透系数的变化,分析其对超孔隙气、水压力消散规律的影响。基于Fredlund一维固结理论以及Darcy定律和Fick定律,对有限厚度线弹性非饱和土砂井地基,在大面积均布瞬时荷载作用下,考虑涂抹区土体渗透系数的变化,利用Laplace变换并引入Bessel函数推导出Laplace变换下的解,再通过Crump方法编程实现Laplace逆变换得到超孔隙气压力、超孔隙水压力的半解析解。利用典型算例进行计算,分别得到在不同半径、不同涂抹区半径和不同涂抹程度的情况下,超孔隙气压力、超孔隙水压力随时间的变化规律。得出考虑涂抹作用时,超孔隙气、水压力的消散速度降低;涂抹区半径越大、涂抹程度越高速度越慢,反之消散越快。本研究丰富了非饱和土砂井固结理论,对非饱和土砂井固结特性的研究具有一定的工程参考价值。     

考虑前期降雨过程的边坡稳定性分析

基于三峡库区实测降雨资料,研究了不同初始条件对不同土体边坡稳定性影响,建议了能够反映边坡含水状态的初始条件选取方法。在此基础上,采用非饱和渗流分析方法研究了前期降雨对不同土体边坡稳定性影响,以典型的砂土和黏土边坡为例初步探索了前期降雨对边坡稳定性影响规律。结果表明：初始条件对不同土体边坡稳定性影响不同;建议将多年平均降雨量对应的稳态渗流场作为初始条件进行非饱和渗流分析。边坡土体渗透系数越低,边坡稳定性受前期降雨的影响越大、影响时间也越长。砂土和黏土边坡稳定性分析时建议至少考虑15 d以上的前期降雨,对于砂土边坡还应根据这15 d前面5 d的降雨情况确定是否需要增加计算天数。短历时高强度前期降雨对砂土边坡稳定性影响更大,而长历时低强度前期降雨对黏土边坡稳定性影响更大。累积前期降雨量可以作为判断边坡最小安全系数出现时刻的依据。砂土边坡出现最小安全系数时刻与10 d累积前期降雨量最大的时刻较为吻合,而黏土边坡则与15 d累积前期降雨量最大的时刻较为吻合。     

Two-dimensional probabilistic infiltration analysis with a spatially varying permeability function

The permeability function for a soil may change spatially due to uncertainties in soil fabric. The main objective of this paper is to investigate how the spatial variability of permeability function propagates to the variability of the pore-water pressures and groundwater table in a slope as well as the stability of the slope. A random field analysis method is explored by assigning discrete random values to a 2D space and controlling the density of random field grid to improve the calculation accuracy. Sequences of random numbers are generated using fast Fourier transform. In a given heterogeneous slope subject to steady-state rainfall infiltration, a parametric study shows that the matric suctions are 0.5–1.25 times those in a homogeneous slope when the correlation length of log-permeability varies from 0.4 to 50 times the slope height. The groundwater table is no longer unique with a spatially variable permeability function. There exists a critical correlation length approximately five times the slope height at which the change in the groundwater table is maximal and the mean factor of safety is minimal. The mean factor of safety of the heterogeneous slopes is smaller than that of a homogenous slope with mean input parameters. The spatial variability of soil influences the range of the calculated factor of safety significantly but does not influence the mean factor of safety substantially.     

水平定向钻进在边坡坡体排水中的应用

边坡稳定受许多的因素影响,在很多时候,如何有效地排除坡体水是成功治理边坡的关键。水平钻孔排水作为边坡处治的一种常见排水措施,具有许多优点。而采用水平定向钻孔技术能克服传统施工工艺的不足,是值得推广的一种施工工艺。本文分析了影响水平孔稳定的一些因素,并提出了解决问题的一些办法。     

福清核电厂边坡工程高压旋喷与帷幕灌浆止水施工技术

福清核电厂排水暗渠工程现场无大范围开挖条件,下卧土层中又含有块石和抛石,成桩困难,无法达到止水的目的,因此,探索应用了高压旋喷与帷幕灌浆止水工艺相结合,采用高压旋喷桩边坡支护,帷幕灌浆止水防渗。工程实践表明,这两种方法在施工速度、安全施工与文明施工以及经济效益方面取得了良好的效果,对于今后类似工程地质条件下的工程项目,具有一定的参考价值。     

Variation with time of the factor of safety of slopes excavated in unsaturated soils

While the evolution with time of the factor of safety against slope failure is well understood for excavations performed under fully saturated conditions, this evolution has not been extensively studied for excavations carried out in unsaturated soils. The objective of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the factor of safety and time for an excavation performed in an unsaturated silty soil, employing the finite element method. A hypothetical boundary value problem is considered and two types of analyses performed; in the first one, unsaturated soil behaviour is modelled through appropriate constitutive and soil–water retention curve models, whereas in the second one full saturation is assumed. The effect that the saturated soil permeability, its variation with suction, the increase of apparent cohesion due to suction, the depth of the groundwater table and the hydraulic hysteresis have on the results of the unsaturated analysis is examined in a parametric study. The analyses results demonstrate that for unsaturated soils the factor of safety may increase with time, in contrast to what is commonly accepted to be the case in fully saturated soils. Furthermore, it is not possible to know in advance which one of the two types of analysis performed (i.e. the saturated or the unsaturated) will produce conservative results. It is, therefore, advisable to perform unsaturated analysis in geotechnical practice, when dealing with excavations in such soils.     

Influences of reservoir water level drawdown on slope stability and reliability analysis

To investigate the influences of reservoir water level drawdown on slope stability, a series of numerical simulations were carried out to examine the impacts of slope angle, slope permeability and water drawdown speed on the pore water pressure (PWP) change during seepage, as well as the factor of safety (Fs) of the slope. Based on the numerical results, an estimation model relating the factor of safety to the influential factors mentioned above was developed. The model expression indicates that there are interaction effects between the slope angle, the drawdown speed and the slope permeability, with regard to the influences on slope stability. Furthermore, in view of the uncertainty characteristics of the slope permeability, reliability assessment was performed to examine the influences of those key parameters mentioned above on the probability of slope failure.     

Numerical model of antecedent rainfall effect on slope stability at a hillslope of weathered granitic soil formation

Modeling rainwater infiltration in slopes is vital to the analysis of slope failure induced by heavy rainfall. Although the significance of rainwater infiltration in causing landslides is widely recognized, there have been different conclusions as to the relative roles of antecedent rainfall to slope failure. In this study, a numerical model was developed to estimate the effect of antecedent rainfall on an unsaturated slope, the formation of a saturated zone, and the change in slope stability under weak rainfall and rainstorm event. Results showed that under a rainstorm event, slope failure occurred at comparably similar time although the antecedent rainfall drainage periods prior to the major rainfall were different (i.e., 24-h, 48-h and 96-h). However, under weak rainfall condition, differences of the antecedent rainfall drainage periods have significant effect on development of pore-water pressure. A higher initial soil moisture conditions caused faster increase in pore water pressure and thus decreasing the safety factor of the slope eventually increasing likelihood of slope failure.     

水位下降条件下黏性土边坡稳定性的图表法

库（河）岸边坡由于坡体迎水面水位下降经常造成坡体稳定性降低,建立快速评估水位变化条件下的边坡稳定性分析方法具有重要的工程实用价值。基于库（河）水位下降过程及坡体内非稳定渗流条件,通过对ABAQUS程序进行二次开发,发展了考虑地表水-地下水联动作用下的黏性土边坡强度折减有限元分析方法;在分析边坡土性参数、相对渗透比值、边界条件对边坡稳定性影响的基础上,建立了考虑土性参数、相对渗透比值、库水位下降比、坡角等一体化的相对稳定安全系数综合图表表示方法。该方法能够简便、快捷地查出实际涉水边坡在不同工况下的稳定安全系数及设计边坡坡比,可作为现有图表法的有益补充。     

考虑含水率影响的压实黄土路堤稳定性研究

压实黄土路堤是主要的路基型式之一,由降雨引起的压实黄土含水率增大导致的高填方路堤边坡失稳时有发生。通过对山－平（山阴至平鲁）高速公路黄土路堤填料进行室内击实试验和三轴压缩试验,分析了填土含水率对填土密度、干密度及填土抗剪强度的影响。结果表明,含水率对黄土填料密度和干密度的影响都较大;随着含水率的变化,填土黏聚力和内摩擦角呈现一增一减的变化规律。根据试验结果,采用FLAC3D建立现场试验段加筋路堤数值模型,基于强度折减法分析4种加筋工况下含水率对黄土填土路堤稳定性的影响表明,随着填土含水率的增大,路堤安全系数不断减小,路堤稳定性降低;路堤安全系数随土工格栅铺设层数的增加而增大,在路堤中铺设土工格栅能够提高路堤整体性,很好地防止路堤失稳。     

降雨过程中边坡临界滑动场

降雨入渗过程中孔隙水压力的升高与基质吸力的降低引起边坡稳定性的下降,是导致边坡滑塌的主要诱导因素。利用饱和-非饱和渗流有限元计算得到的孔隙水压力场,基于Fredlund提出的非饱和土抗剪强度理论,对边坡临界滑动场进行改进,提出可以考虑降雨过程的边坡临界滑动场数值模拟方法,能够方便、快速地计算出边坡局部、整体安全系数和相对应的临界滑动面在降雨过程中的变化历程。将该法用于一个典型均质边坡和一个非均质边坡在降雨过程中的稳定性计算,分析降雨持续时间、降雨强度和非饱和强度参数取值等因素对边坡稳定性的影响,并将计算结果与其他方法进行比较,结果表明临界滑动场方法能搜索任意形状最危险滑面,计算的安全系数合理。     

Probabilistic failure analysis of infinite slopes under random rainfall processes and spatially variable soil

Rainfall-induced landslides occur during or immediately after rainfall events in which the pore water pressure builds up, leading to shallow slope failure. Thereby, low permeability layers result in high gradients in pore water pressure. The spatial variability of the soil permeability influences the probability such low permeability layers, and hence the probability of slope failure. In this paper, we investigate the influence of the vertical variability of soil permeability on the slope reliability, accounting for the randomness of rainfall processes. We model the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil with a one-dimensional random field. The random rainfall events are characterised by their duration and intensity and are modelled through self-similar random processes. The transient infiltration process is represented by Richards equation, which is evaluated numerically. The reliability analysis of the infinite slope is based on the factor of safety concept for evaluating slope stability. To cope with the large number of random variables arising from the discretization of the random field and the rainfall process, we evaluate the slope reliability through Subset Simulation, which is an adaptive Monte Carlo method known to be especially efficient for reliability analysis of such high-dimensional problems. Numerical investigations show higher probability of slope failure with increased spatial variability of the saturated hydraulic conductivity and with more uniform rainfall patterns.     

膨胀变形对膨胀土边坡稳定性的影响

当采用合理的强度参数时,根据常规极限平衡或极限分析方法的计算结果,很难解释一些膨胀土边坡会在极缓的坡度下发生失稳破坏的原因。事实上,由于膨胀土遇水后会发生显著的变形,在饱和区与非饱和区交界面附近会出现很大的剪应力。因此,在膨胀土边坡的稳定分析中,需要考虑这种因素的影响。根据塑性力学的上限定理,严格地导出了考虑膨胀应力作功的功能平衡方程。根据强度储备定义的安全系数即隐含在这一方程中,它可以通过迭代方法求解。边坡稳定的上限分析在数值上是利用了单元集成法来完成的。这不仅能方便地利用应力分析的成果,而且能进行滑裂面的优化,从而找到最小的安全系数。对一个坡度为1:4的膨胀土边坡的稳定计算结果表明,膨胀变形会使边坡的安全系数显著减小。当考虑膨胀时,优化得到的破坏模式是在浅层出现一个局部的滑动,它会牵动其上部的土体也相继出现局部滑动,这正好符合膨胀土滑坡时所常见的牵引性的特征。