基于诱发机理的降雨型滑坡预警研究——以花岗岩风化壳二元结构斜坡为例

降雨型滑坡是我国主要的滑坡灾害类型,具有区域群集发生的特点,滑坡预警研究是防灾减灾的重要途径。传统的区域降雨型滑坡预报模型多采用统计结果建立降雨参数模型,对降雨诱发机理和斜坡失稳的力学机制考虑不足,预报可靠性和精度有限。本文以花岗岩风化壳地区某典型二元结构斜坡为原型,以实际勘查数据为基础,提取该斜坡结构特征,基于饱和-非饱和渗流理论,分析研究降雨入渗过程和斜坡失稳机制,建立典型斜坡的预警判据。1花岗岩风化壳地区典型二元结构斜坡为类土质斜坡,覆盖土层较厚,剖面上可分为两层,上层为坡积黏性土,土质松散,透水性强,下层为残积黏性土,土质相对致密,透水性较差。2采用不同降雨工况模拟分析降雨入渗过程。以50mm·d-1雨强为例,降雨持时30h以内时,降雨入渗主要集中在上层的坡积黏性土,斜坡前缘优先饱和,滑带开始出现积水现象;降雨持时40～50h时,斜坡表面降水持续入渗,在坡体后缘拉裂缝处,雨水沿着裂缝快速入渗坡体形成静水压力,增加坡体重量,增大下滑力,坡脚渗透路径短,最先饱和破坏,造成斜坡失稳。3监测斜坡不同部位（坡脚、中部、后缘）的孔隙水压力情况,随降雨入渗,斜坡土体孔隙水压力持续增大,由负趋近于零到大于零,斜坡土体由非饱和状态向饱和状态过渡,坡脚最先饱和,中部持续入渗,后缘土体饱和后,裂缝扩大致使大量雨水进入,使本已大量积水的滑带变形错动,斜坡失稳。4模拟分析得到斜坡失稳的不同降雨条件:中雨雨强（10mm·d-1）,历时约13d;大雨雨强（25mm·d-1）,历时约5d;暴雨雨强（50mm·d-1）,历时约2.2d;特大暴雨雨强（100mm·d-1）,历时约1.1d。在暴雨雨强时,降雨对该类斜坡的滞后作用约为5h。最后,建立了该类斜坡的临界降雨判据（I-D曲线）。     

基于模拟试验的强降雨条件下花岗岩残积土斜坡滑塌破坏机理分析

以东南沿海地区花岗岩残积土为代表性土样,以土体斜坡坡度、降雨强度为控制变量,设计了降雨滑坡模拟试验方案,在大雨、暴雨、大暴雨、特大暴雨等四种不同降雨等级条件下对四种不同坡度的斜坡模型进行了强降雨模拟试验,研究降雨强度和斜坡坡度对其滑塌破坏的影响特征。结果表明:降雨强度越大,发生深层破坏或浅层整体破坏的趋势越明显,其变形跨塌滑块尺寸越大,破坏范围越集中,破坏程度增强;同时土体裂纹出现的时间越早,斜坡滑塌破坏所需的降雨时长逐渐减少。随斜坡坡度的增大,破坏形式由滑落滑坡逐步转化散落崩塌破坏,其相应斜坡滑塌破坏所需的降雨时长减少。研究结论对揭示降雨引发残积土滑坡等地质灾害发生规律具有重要的理论和现实意义。     

Field investigation of deformation characteristics and stress mobilisation of a soil slope

Stress mobilisation and deformation of a slope are important for engineers to carry out reliable design of retaining systems. However, most case histories reported mainly on the response of pore water pressure (PWP), whereas knowledge about the stress deformation characteristics of slope is limited. In this study, a saprolitic soil slope was instrumented to monitor not only the responses of PWP but also horizontal stress and horizontal displacement. To assist in the interpretation of field data, a series of laboratory tests was conducted to characterise volume change behaviour of the soil taken from the site, under the effects of both net stress and suction. During a rainstorm event when positive PWP built up, a remarkably large displacement of 20 mm was recorded between 5.5- and 6-m depths, and the top 5 m of the slope exhibited translational downslope movement. This caused an increase in Bishop’s effective horizontal stress by 350 %, which reached a peak value close to 40 % of a Bishop’s effective passive stress. During the subsequent dry season when suction was recovered, an upslope rebound of 10 mm was recorded. Comparison of field and laboratory data reveals that the rebound was attributed to suction-induced soil shrinkage. This rebound led to a decrease in the Bishop’s effective horizontal stress previously built up during the storm event.     

Rain-triggered slope failure of the railway embankment at Malda,India

The common slope stability analysis is incapable of accurately forecasting shallow slides where suction pressures play a critical role. This realization is used for elaborate stability analyses which include soil suction to better predict rainfall-induced slides at railway embankment at Malda where three known cases of slope failures and train derailments occurred after heavy rainfall. The relationship between the soil–water content and the matric suction is established for the embankment soil. It is then used in the coupled analyses of seepage and slope stability to estimate performances of the embankment at different intensity and duration of rainfall. The numerical simulations are performed with the FE code Geo-Studio. The numerical results show significant reduction in the factor of safety of the railway embankment with the increase in the intensity and duration of rainfall. The effectiveness of the proposed mitigation measures including placement of 2 m-wide free draining rockfill across the slopes and drilling 5-m-long sheet pile wall at the toe of the embankment is studied numerically. The study confirms that the proposed mitigation measures effectively increase the factor of safety of the embankment and stabilizing it even in case of a heavy rainfall of 25 mm/h over 12 h.     

降雨条件下黄土边坡现场试验研究

黄土边坡的变形破坏多发生于降雨期间,由此也造成了大量的损失。为减小降雨诱发黄土滑坡的影响,开展降雨型滑坡现场实验研究,具有现实意义。本文选取泾阳一天然黄土边坡为研究对象,利用自行设计的模拟降雨系统,设计并进行了3组不同雨强下的大型黄土边坡人工模拟降雨试验,旨在研究不同雨强条件下天然黄土边坡的入渗规律及变形破坏模式。通过对边坡内埋设的土壤水分传感仪、土压力盒和张力计管的读数变化及试验现象进行分析,进而得出降雨条件下大型黄土边坡现场试验的变形破坏规律,总结出该类边坡的水分入渗规律和变形破坏模式。试验结果表明,边坡入渗呈现一定的规律:降雨条件下,坡肩入渗深度和速率最大,坡脚次之,坡面最小;同时,降雨强度越大,雨水入渗速率越快,入渗时间越长,边坡相同位置处体积含水率和土压力增大幅度越大,基质吸力减小的幅度越大。降雨条件下天然黄土边坡的变形破坏模式为:坡肩侵蚀及侵蚀扩展→坡面裂隙形成扩展→坡肩裂隙形成扩展→局部滑塌;若继续降雨,则坡肩局部裂隙逐渐贯通进而形成滑面,最终导致滑坡发生。     

The relative importance of soil crust and slope angle in runoff and soil loss: a case study in the hilly areas of the Loess Plateau, North China

Soil crust and slope angle are of important factors affecting runoff production and sediment yield. In the hilly areas of the Loess Plateau, North China, slope lands are distributed extensively and subjected to soil crusting; therefore, the research on the responses of runoff and soil loss to soil crust and slope angle is essential to soil and water conservation. In the study, five pairs of 1 m × 5 m plots with slope angles of 5°, 10°, 15°, 20° and 25° respectively, were established in Wangjiagou watershed, which was located at the Loess Plateau, China. Based on the two simulated rainfall events, uncrusted surface prior to the first simulated rainfall event, and crusted surface prior to the second rainfall event were distinguished. The runoff production and soil loss were measured at intervals of 5 min during the simulated events. It indicated that both soil crust and slope angle played an important role in runoff production and soil loss. With the reference slope angle of 5°, the relative importance of soil crust and slope angle in runoff production was calculated. It showed that soil crust effect on the total runoff volume decreased from 100 to ～40%, while slope angle effect increased from 0 to ～60% with increasing slope angle because soil crust less developed on the steeper slopes. Furthermore, soil crust effect was associated with rainfall duration. At the same slope angle, the relative importance of soil crust decreased with rainfall duration because new crust was formed on the uncrusted surface. The critical slope of erosion was also discussed. Soil loss increased with slope angle when the slope angle was less than 20°. Generally speaking, soil crust effect decreased with slope angle and/or rainfall duration.     

间歇型降雨对堆积层斜坡变形破坏的物理模拟研究

为研究间歇型降雨作用下缓倾堆积层斜坡的变形破坏特征,以樱桃沟滑坡为例,进行了降雨作用下斜坡变形破坏的物理模拟研究。试验结果表明：前期降雨作用下坡体变形特征表现为前缘滑移沉陷、中部滑移、后缘沉陷、坡体裂缝生成,且前缘裂缝扩张明显,后期降雨作用下坡脚区域首先发生滑塌,然后依次向后缘传递发生逐阶滑塌破坏;降雨入渗易在基岩面上储存,形成暂态地下水位、高孔隙水压力区域和坡向渗流场,基岩面附近土体饱水时间长,软化程度高,抗剪强度弱化显著,边坡易沿基覆界面土层发生滑坡;坡体滑动易发生在降雨间歇期,触发特征表现为雨后坡体暂态饱和区水分和坡表积水持续下渗,导致地下水位上升滞后于降雨,造成坡体内浮托力、渗透力和孔隙水压力增大,有效应力降低,诱发滑坡。     

乔灌木对台风暴雨型滑坡稳定性影响

在降雨工况下,乔灌木通过其根系对边坡体的加筋锚固和茎叶减少坡体被雨水冲刷,对边坡稳定性产生了积极作用。然而台风暴雨季节,台风又通过植被的摇曳使地表开裂,强化了降雨入渗效果,进一步使土体的基质吸力、黏聚力下降,使边坡的稳定性降低。为了探索台风暴雨季节乔灌木对边坡起到正向作用还是反向作用,文章通过室内模型试验和数值模拟进行量化分析,比较有无台风作用和不同强度台风作用对边坡稳定性的影响。结果表明：随着台风从无到有、由弱变强的过程中,边坡体内孔隙水压力和含水率发生突变的时间不断提前;同时施加台风暴雨耦合作用的滑坡相对于单纯降雨作用的滑坡,其滑坡破坏的面积与体积更大,且台风等级越强,坡体的破坏的面积体积区域越大。通过Geostudio数值模拟软件进行验证,比较模拟边坡的稳定性发现：在无台风作用下初始稳定性系数最大且下降速度最慢,台风作用次之,强台风作用下最差。     

Analysis of the landslide triggering mechanism during the storm of 20th–21st November 2000, in Northern Tuscany

A severe rainstorm of high intensity occurred on 20th–21st November 2000, in the region of Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy, which triggered, within the entire province, over 50 landslides. These landslides can be broadly defined as complex earth slides—earth flows, originating as rotational slides that develop downslope into a flow. In this paper, two such landslides have been investigated by modelling the process of rainwater infiltration, the variations in both the positive and negative pore water pressures and their effect on slope stability during the storm. For both sites, results from morphometric and geotechnical analyses were used as a direct input to the numerical modelling. A modified Chu, 1978 approach was used to estimate the surface infiltration rate by adapting the original Green and Ampt, 1911 equations for unsteady rainfall intensity in conjunction with the surficial water balance. For transient conditions, a finite element analysis was used to model the fluctuations in pore water pressure during the storm, with the computed surface infiltration rate as the surface boundary condition. This was then followed by the application of the limit equilibrium Morgenstern and Price, 1965 slope-stability method, using the temporal pore water pressure distributions derived from the seepage analysis. From this methodology, a trend for the factor of safety was produced for both landslide sites. These results indicate that the most critical time step for failure was a few hours following the rainfall peak.     

Analysis of an anti-dip landslide triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China

The Guantan landslide, with a total displaced mass of about 468 × 10⁴ m³, was triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and succeeding rainfall in Jushui Town, Sichuan Province, China. The landslide occurred on an anti-dip hard rock slope with a weak rock founding stratum of 200 m in thickness. To investigate the failure mechanism of the Guantan landslide, dynamic behaviors of hard and soft rock slopes were investigated by means of large scale shaking table tests. The laboratory models attempted to simulate the field geological conditions of the Guantan landslide. Sinusoidal waves and actual seismic waves measured from the Wenchuan Earthquake were applied on the slope models under 37 loading configurations. The experimental results indicated that deformation mainly developed at a shallow depth in the upper part of the hard rock slope and in the upper (near the crest) and lower (near the toe) parts of the soft rock slope. An equation for predicting the depth of sliding plane was proposed based on the location of the maximum horizontal acceleration. Finally, it was concluded that the failure process of the Guantan landslide occurred in three stages: (1) toppling failure caused by compression of the underlying soft rock strata, (2) formation of crushed hard rock and sliding surface in soft rock as the result of seismic shocks, particularly in the horizontal direction, and (3) aftershock rainfall accelerates the process of mass movement along the sliding plane.     

渗透性与降雨强度对堆积层滑坡稳定性的影响

本文基于非饱和渗流理论及非饱和土的Fredlund双应力变量强度理论,对一沿岩土接触面滑动的堆积层滑坡模型,分别进行了8种条件下的降雨入渗数值模拟试验,研究了不同土体渗透性及降雨强度对滑坡稳定性的影响。结果表明:(1)堆积层滑坡的稳定性与土体的渗透性有密切关系,在降雨后的短期内,土体渗透性越好,滑面孔隙水压力升高越明显,滑坡的稳定性降低程度越大;(2)降雨期间,埋深较浅的滑面,入渗雨水能够较快到达,对滑坡稳定性的影响较大;(3)在相同的降雨时间内,降雨强度越大,滑坡稳定性降低速率越快;(4)降雨强度影响着滑坡发生的滞后性,在降雨总量一定的条件下,若降雨强度较大,雨停后,滑坡稳定性继续下降的程度较大;(5)降雨总量控制着滑坡的最终稳定性。     

溯源侵蚀引发的拉裂-倾倒型黄土崩塌形成机制

溯源侵蚀是黄土丘陵区最强烈的动力地质作用。常导致沟头后退、坡脚掏蚀,进而引发崩塌灾害。文章通过对研究区崩塌灾害的统计分析,厘定出溯源侵蚀作用引发崩塌的典型类型为拉裂-倾倒型。该类型崩塌具有后壁陡直、粗糙、规模大、分布广、危害范围广,潜在危险性大等特点。分析认为溯源侵蚀引发拉裂-倾倒型崩塌是水力侵蚀和重力侵蚀耦合作用的结果。该类型崩塌的形成,主要是由于斜坡在地表水力侵蚀和重力作用下,坡体内拉应力分布区、剪应力分布区和强烈水力侵蚀区三个区发生了转化,经历了斜坡应力重新分布、拉应力的增大与范围扩大,剪应力状态改变与范围集中、坡顶拉张与孔隙水压力耦合作用下的崩塌体倾倒破坏三个阶段。控制和影响拉裂-倾倒型黄土崩塌稳定性主要因素包括:斜坡几何特征、土体物理力学参数及裂隙中的静水压力。随着土体含水率的上升,坡顶拉张裂缝深度加深,侵蚀凹槽深度加深,崩塌体稳定性逐渐降低。     

Study on the Instability Mechanisms and Monitoring Control of Stratified Rock Slope with Water-Rich Strata

Water is one of the leading factors in the sliding geological disasters of rock slope, and the harm of fissure water to slope rock mass more and more becomes one of the hotspot research problems in transportation infrastructure construction in mountainous area. Based on the current research status quo of effect of fissure water on rock mass, the interaction mechanisms of water and rock in stratified rock slope were analyzed by related theories such as rock mass mechanics, fluid mechanics and soil mechanics including softening dissolution, scour hole enlargement and padding effective stress, and the influence of water–rock interaction on slope sliding disasters. Then, the influence of rainfall on the displacement field distribution of slope was analyzed during one year of monitoring a typical,natural slope in the Sichuan–Chongqing region. Observations include surface displacement, deep displacement, water level and rainfall. Finally, a targeted reinforced disposal scheme was proposed that considered the rainfall effect. The results provide reference for the instability theory and treatment measures for a high-risk stratified slope.     

Evaluation of soil loss change after Grain for Green Project in the Loss Plateau: a case study of Yulin,China

Soil erosion is one of the serious and urgent issues in the Loss Plateau of China. Chinese government has implemented Grain for Green Project to restore the ecological environment since 1999. In order to explore the spatiotemporal evolution of erosion and sediment yield before and after Grain for Green Project in the Loss Plateau, annual soil loss of Yulin from 2000 to 2013 is estimated by Chinese Water Erosion on Hillslope Prediction Model in conjunction with Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems. This model has the characteristics of a simple algorithm and can be applied to predict erosion in the Loss Plateau. The result shows that vegetation cover increased significantly after Grain for Green Project, and the annual average value of NDVI increased from 0.20 to 0.33. The spatiotemporal variations of soil erosion are largely related to rainfall erosion distribution, slope, and land use type. The overall soil erosion categories in the south region are higher than those of the northwest. Mid slopes and valleys are the major topographic contributors to soil erosion. With the growth of slope gradient, soil erosion significantly increased. The soil loss has a decreasing tendency after Grain for Green Project. Although the rainfall of 2002 and 2013 is similar, the soil loss decreased from 5192.86 to 3598.94 t/(km² a), decreasing by 30.33%. It is also expressed that soil loss appears a reducing trend in the same degree of slope and elevation in 2002, 2007, and 2013. Under the simulation of the maximum and the minimum rainfall, soil erosion amount in 2013 decreased by 29.16 and 30.88%. The study proved that GFG has already achieved conservation of water and soil. The results indicate that the vegetation restoration as part of the Grain for Green Project on the Loss Plateau is effective.     

降雨诱发坡面型泥石流形成机理

基于野外调查和室内测试分析,依据岩土体破坏准则理论,结合典型坡面型泥石流进行剖析,从坡面型泥石流形成的影响因素、运动学特征、动力条件、形成与演化过程等方面,探讨了降雨诱发坡面型泥石流的形成机理。研究结果表明:坡面流以平移式滑动方式破坏为主,通常发生于残坡积土层厚度小(≤2.0 m)的陡坡地带(坡度≥40°),降雨是坡面型泥石流的主要触发因素,雨水入渗促使斜坡残坡积岩土体饱和软化,当土体含水率超过28%~30%,粘聚力、内摩擦角与含水率关系曲线都出现了明显的拐点,即饱和度超过75%时,其粘聚力和内摩擦角都发生急剧降低,斜坡土体由稳定状态向破坏状态演化。遇持续降雨(或暴雨)作用,此种残坡积土局部发生失稳下滑——流土,进而在动水压力作用下发生下泻造浆形成坡面泥石流。     

基于离心机模型试验的甘肃江顶崖古滑坡复活机理研究

位于白龙江断裂带的甘肃舟曲江顶崖古滑坡规模巨大,受断裂活动、降雨入渗与河流侵蚀和人类工程活动等因素影响,多次发生复活-堵塞白龙江灾害事件,造成极大危害。为研究江顶崖古滑坡的复活机理,本文在野外地质调查的基础上,重点开展了滑体在含水率为10%、15%和20%条件下的离心机模型试验。研究表明:在滑体含水率为10%情况下,试验结束后仅在坡体中后部产生少量裂缝,但滑坡体整体还处于稳定状态; 而在滑体含水率为15%和20%情况下,滑坡均发生了破坏,在滑体含水率分别为15%、20%情况下坡体失稳所需离心加速度分别为100g和50g。试验测试分析表明,江顶崖古滑坡为推移式滑坡,其变形先从坡体中后部开始,坡体中后部产生裂缝,随后裂缝逐渐向前缘扩展,最终裂缝贯通造成滑坡滑动破坏。滑坡体的变形过程主要分为3个阶段: ①变形启动阶段(裂缝开始形成阶段); ②变形加速阶段(裂缝加速发展阶段); ③失稳阶段。通过离心模拟试验,结合野外调查分析,认为江顶崖古滑坡复活的因素主要受降雨和孔隙水压力的影响,是受前缘河流侵蚀牵引、降雨入渗造成滑坡中后部推移的耦合滑动。     

Rainfall thresholds for landslide early warning system in Nakhon Si Thammarat

Transient seepage in unsaturated soil slope is one of the significant triggering factors in rainfall-induced landslides. Rainfall infiltration leads to the decrease in stabilizing effect because of increased positive pore-water pressures. SEEP/W and SLOPE/W used in this study have been widely employed to describe frameworks for understanding transient seepage in soil slope, and to perform slope stability analyses, respectively. The study area is in Sichon District in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern Thailand. A landslide there was investigated by modeling the process of rainfall infiltration under positive and negative pore-water pressures and their effects on slope stability. GIS (Geographic Information System) and geotechnical laboratory results were used as input parameters. The van Genuchten’s soil water characteristic curve and unsaturated permeability function were used to estimate surface infiltration rates. An average rainfall was derived from 30-year monthly rainfall data between 1981 and 2011 in this area reported by the Thailand Royal Irrigation Department. For transient condition, finite element analysis in SEEP/W was employed to model fluctuations in pore-water pressure during a rainfall, using the computed water infiltration rates as surface boundary conditions. SLOPE/W employing Bishop simplified method was then carried out to compute their factors of safety, and antecedent precipitation indices (API) calculated. Heterogeneous slope at the site became unstable at an average critical API (API_cr) of 380 mm, agreeing well with the actual value of 388 mm.     

土体-大气相互作用下土质边坡稳定性研究

土体-大气相互作用是指在多种气象要素共同驱动下,地表浅层土体与大气之间进行物质交换与能量传递的复杂过程.受全球气候变化影响,近年来极端气候事件频发.土体的工程性质在日益严峻的气候环境下发生剧烈变化,产生了大量滑坡灾害,给岩土和地质工程领域带来许多新挑战.系统总结了降雨、气温、空气湿度、风以及太阳辐射5个主要气象要素影响边坡稳定性的机制,分析了土体龟裂、地表植被和土体-大气相互作用之间的关联效应.通过介绍各因素在改变边坡稳定性过程中发挥的作用,构建了一个包括气象要素、土体龟裂以及地表植被的土体-大气相互作用分析体系.该体系为今后土体-大气相互作用下土质边坡稳定性研究确定了关键研究问题,所揭示的作用机理可为今后同类研究提供参考.针对该课题的研究现状,笔者提出了今后的研究方向和重点,包括土体-植被-大气相互作用的理论模型、气候作用下冻土坡体失稳机理、极端气候工程地质作用的生态调控措施三个方面.      

Study of shaking table test of seismic subsidence loess landslides induced by the coupling effect of earthquakes and rainfall

Light rain or moderate rain is the most common meteorological event in the rainy season in the loess area of China, so the probability of landslide hazards induced by the coupling effect of earthquakes and rainfall under the condition of light rain or moderate rain is relatively higher than that under heavy rain. To study the dynamic response characteristics and instability mechanism of loess slopes by the coupling effect of earthquakes and rainfall under the conditions of moderate rain and light rain, a low-angle slope model test of a large-scale shaking table after 10 mm of rainfall was carried out. By gradually increasing the dynamic loading, the evolution of the macroscopic deformation and the instability failure mode of the slope model are observed; the temporal and spatial trends of the amplification effect, acceleration spectrum, pore pressure and soil pressure are analyzed; and the failure mechanism of the slope is determined. The results showed that the amplification effect increased along the slope surface upward, and a strong amplification effect appeared at the front of the top of the slope. Because of the stronger dynamic stress action on the upper part of the slope, the immersed soil in the upper part of the slope experienced seismic subsidence deformation, the saturation in the seismic subsidence soil increased, and the water content temporarily increased locally. With the further increase in the loading intensity, a large number of tension cracks were generated in the seismic subsidence area, and water infiltrated down along the cracks and the wetting range expanded under dynamic action. The range of seismic subsidence and cracks further extended to the deep part of the slope. Under the reciprocating action of the subsequent ground motion, the swing amplitude of the soil mass in the seismic subsidence area, which is divided by a large number of cracks in the upper part of the slope, increased further, resulting in the further reduction in the residual strength of the seismic subsidence soil mass located at the crack tip due to the pull and shear action. Finally, under the combined action of gravity and dynamic force, the upper soil mass in the seismic subsidence area dragged the lower soil mass in the seismic subsidence area downward because the sliding force is greater than the residual strength of the soil mass, which induced a seismic subsidence-type loess landslide. Under the coupling effect of earthquakes and rainfall, the instability mode and mechanism of this landslide are significantly different from those of liquefaction-type landslides.

     

Experimental studies of groundwater pipe flow network characteristics in gravelly soil slopes

Piping flow networks have often been identified in hydrogeological field studies of gravelly soil slopes in the southern part of China. The present experimental studies have shown that under long-term groundwater seepage, piping flow networks gradually develop in the slope. Factors affecting the development of flow pipe seepage network included the grain size distribution, the degree of soil compaction, and soil depth. Piping seepage networks favorably form if the content of the gravel was high, the soil cohesion was low, the degree of the soil compaction was low, or the soil depth was shallow. Due to the enhanced permeability associated with the presence of flow pipe seepage network in gravelly soil slopes, groundwater can be effectively drained away. This can beneficially prevent the rise of groundwater level in the slope during raining seasons, hence reducing pore water pressure along the potential failure surface and increasing slope stability. Once the flow pipe seepage network was disturbed or damaged, the water level in the upper portion of the slope experienced a great rise, hence reducing the slope stability. Therefore, slope toe excavation and excessive loading at the slope crest should be avoided for slopes with well-developed flow pipe seepage network in order to preserve it.