The effectiveness of two capillary barriers on a 10% slope

Summary Capillary barriers, consisting of fine-over-coarse soil layers, are being considered as an alternative cover component for waste-disposal facilities, especially in dry climates. Infiltrating water is removed from the fine layer by evaporation or transpiration, or percolation into the coarse layer (failure). If the fine-coarse interface is sloped, water in the fine layer can also drain laterally under unsaturated conditions. The effectiveness of two capillary barriers in laterally diverting water was tested. The barriers were 7 m long and 1.2 m thick, built on a 10% slope. One had a homogeneous fine layer, while the fine layer of the other was layered to increase its ability to divert water laterally. The barriers were first subjected to constant infiltration (10 mm/day) followed by exposure to ambient climatic conditions. The layered capillary barrier was successful in laterally diverting water near the interface and did not permit any water to enter the coarse layer. In contrast, the homogeneous capillary barrier failed over its entire length. These results indicate that a significant lateral diversion capacity can be designed into capillary barriers, greatly increasing their effectiveness.     

复杂水力路径下非饱和流动的数值分析

多孔介质中的流动问题,与孔隙介质的特性,含水量状态以及含水量的变化历史密切相关。基于毛细循环滞回理论模型,考虑含水量变化历史对土水特征关系的影响,在开发的U-DYSAC2有限元程序中进行了相应的数值实施。在试验给定的初边值条件下进行了非饱和渗流模拟分析,并将模拟结果与实测数据比较,表明在压力边界条件反复变化下,考虑滞回效应能获得更接近实测的结果,证实该模型在模拟各种循环变化条件下非饱和土渗流初边值问题的适用性与必要性。对入渗重分布反复变化条件下非饱和土柱流动的数值模拟表明,考虑滞回与不考虑滞回条件下,含水量、孔隙水压力和湿峰的迁移的预测在入渗后的重分布过程差异较大。考虑滞回效应时,土柱上部的脱湿速率、下部的吸湿速率比不考虑滞回时要低。从而证实了非饱和多孔介质中的土水状态依赖于含水量变化,而且强烈依赖于土体的水力路径变化。因此,循环边界条件变化下,毛细滞回效应在非饱和渗流模拟中的影响显著,必须加以考虑。     

Monitoring the Performance of Unsaturated Soil Slopes

Field monitoring is necessary for the geotechnical engineer to verify design assumptions. More importantly, the field data may also be assembled into a comprehensive case record that is available for use when checking validity of any analytical and numerical models. The ongoing process of back-analysis in unsaturated soil engineering can help to refine and improve our understanding, providing guidance for future designs, where the effects of soil suction and hydraulic hysteresis are still being explored. A range of recent field studies of the mechanisms of rainfall infiltration into slopes is presented. In addition, some physical simulations of unsaturated soil slopes subjected to rainfall, rising ground water table and changes of moisture in centrifuge model tests are reported.     

Design of Inclined Covers with Capillary Barrier Effect

A design procedure is proposed to minimize water infiltration into landfills by optimizing the water diversion length of inclined covers with capillary barrier effect (CCBE). This design procedure is based on a conceptual, mathematical and numerical approach and aims at selecting materials and optimizing layer thickness. Selection among candidate materials is made based on their hydraulic conductivity functions and on a threshold infiltration rate imposed on the designer. The capillary break layer (CBL; bottom layer) is characterized by a weak capillarity, while the moisture retention layer (MRL; upper layer) is characterized by a compromise between strong capillarity and high hydraulic conductivity. The thickness of the CBL corresponds to the height where suction reaches its maximum value for a given infiltration rate. This height can be calculated using the Kisch [Géotechnique 9 (1959)] model. The optimal thickness of the MRL is determined by applying an adaptation of the Ross [Water Resources Research 26 (1990)] model. The results obtained using the proposed design procedure were compared to those obtained from numerical simulations performed using a finite element unsaturated seepage software. The procedure was applied for two cover systems; one where deinking by-products (DBP) were used as MRL and sand as CBL and another where sand was used as MRL and gravel as CBL. Using this procedure, it has been shown that an infiltration control system composed of thin layers of sand over gravel is highly efficient in terms of diversion length and that its efficiency can be enhanced by placing a hydraulic barrier – such as a layer of DBP – above the MRL.     

Rainfall-induced landslides by deficit field matric suction in unsaturated soil slopes

Landslides are mainly triggered by decrease in the matric suction with deepening the wetting band by rainfall infiltrations. This paper reports rainfall-induced landslides in partially saturated soil slopes through a field study. A comprehensive analysis on Umyeonsan (Mt.) landslides in 2011 was highlighted. The incident involves the collapse of unsaturated soil slopes under extreme-rainfall event. Fundamental studies on the mechanism and the cause of landslides were carried out. A number of technical findings are of interest, including the failure mechanism of a depth of soil and effect of groundwater flow, the downward movement of wetting band and the increase of groundwater level. Based on this, an integrated analysis methodology for a rainfall-induced landslide is proposed in this paper that incorporates the field matric suction for obtaining hydraulic parameters of unsaturated soil. The field matric suction is shown to govern the rate of change in the water infiltration for the landslide analysis with respect to an antecedent rainfall. Special attention was given to a one-dimensional infiltration model to determine the wetting band depth in the absence of the field matric suction. The results indicate that landslide activities were primarily dependent on rainfall infiltration, soil properties, slope geometries, vegetation, and groundwater table positions. The proposed methodology has clearly demonstrated both shallow and deep-seated landslides and shows good agreement with the results of landslide investigations.     

均质非饱和边坡降雨入渗解析解及在黄土边坡的应用

降雨诱发的黄土边坡失稳非常普遍。建立黄土边坡渗流场计算模型,基于非饱和土渗流控制方程。采用VG函数和Gardner函数分别描述土-水特征曲线和渗透系数曲线,利用行波约化和级数展开法推导降雨入渗解析解。利用数值反演法将模型试验数据对土-水参数拟合,证明了该解析解的有效性。对比分析试验值与解析解在不同工况下体积含水率分布规律,分析结果表明：边坡试验模型中的浅层测点体积含水率试验值与解析解较为接近,试验值在浸润锋下移的过程中所达到的体积含水率峰值相比解析解较小;边坡试验模型中的深层测点体积含水率试验值与解析解在前期存在一定误差,深层测点体积含水率解析解在初期增长速度相较于试验值较快,主要原因是较深土层浸润锋的滞后性。     

Response parameters for characterization of infiltration

Rainwater infiltration is of particular interest with respect to slope stability hazard management. The process of rainfall infiltration into unsaturated soil is complex due to the number of soil parameters involved and the random nature of moisture flux boundary conditions. In this paper, the effect of rainfall intensity on infiltration is investigated through the use of finite element seepage modeling for a 5 m high soil column subjected to various rainfall intensities. The numerical modeling study identified three response parameters that can be used to describe one-dimensional infiltration into an unsaturated soil. The response parameters are the depth of wetting front, the matric suction reduction depth, and the sectional infiltration rate. The practical application of the rainfall response parameters in slope stability analysis is illustrated.     

降雨入渗对路堤边坡稳定性研究

基于非饱和土单变量的有效应力理论,建立了非饱和水-气两相的流体-固体耦合方程,在考虑地表径流-地下渗流和流体-固体双耦合的情况下,以达成线K240+10~70段因降雨产生的边坡破坏为工程实例,对计算理论模型进行了数值验证,同时对各种影响边坡稳定性因素进行了数值计算,对其破坏范围、降雨引起的破坏深度和入渗深度进行了分析,综合各种影响因素,其中降雨强度和历时及长期强度的影响最为明显。     

毛细水作用下非饱和土压缩过程的微观非连续变形数值分析

研究非饱和土微结构的动态演化规律对认识非饱和土宏观物理力学行为的本质有重要意义。然而目前岩土学界对此尚不清楚。文章提出利用毛细水算法进行非饱和土压缩数值试验,研究其宏观变形过程中土水作用与孔隙的演变规律。首先参考黄土骨架颗粒的形态和优势颗粒的大小,建立了540 μm×400 μm理想的非饱和土微观结构模型;其次利用毛细水模型计算某一含水率下水分分布及毛细力,并将此毛细力施加于土粒之间;然后施加外荷载,对含水率为5%、10%、18%的3个模型土样进行压缩模拟。模拟结果表明：模拟获得的压缩曲线与同工况试验曲线表现出了相同的变化规律,表明该模拟一定程度上能够反映土体在压缩过程中的宏观变形特征;在压缩过程中,随土体的变形,饱和度和基质吸力分别呈上升和下降趋势,且变化程度与含水率有关,表现为含水率越高,饱和度涨幅越大,而基质吸力却在土样干燥和近饱和时降幅较大;土体孔隙结构的演化形式与体积含水率有关,低含水率时孔隙以收缩变形为主,高含水率时以大孔隙压密为更小类型的孔隙为主。模拟结果可作为实验结果的有益补充,加深对土体宏观变形行为的认识。     

Physical and numerical modelling of infiltration from drainage holes for perforated storm sewer

In cities, the existence of impervious structures, such as road pavements, parking lots, footpaths, sidewalks, and roofs, can limit the magnitude of rainfall infiltration greatly. Stormwater run-off in storm sewer often dominates, which can cause problems of urban flooding easily during heave rainfalls. In rain and sewage diversion, perforated storm sewer is proposed to enable the occurrence of stormwater infiltration into the ground, which can change the prolonged drought-like condition. Model-scale laboratory tests are conducted to assess the infiltration process of water through drainage holes around the sewer circumference. The experimental data are also used to calibrate a numerical model, after which numerical parametric analysis is carried out. It is found that the feature of drainage holes only influences the wetting front in the initial stage of infiltration. In the end, the egg-shaped contour of wetting front with greater influencing zone below the sewer is obtained. The cumulative infiltration with time can be described by an infiltration model, which is positively correlated with the diameter and the number of drainage holes. The optimal opening ratio is recommended as 0.25%, which can provide the most effective drainage capacity.

     

Effect of soil disturbance on recharging fluxes: case study on the Snake River Plain,Idaho National Laboratory,USA

Soil structural disturbance influences the downward flow of water that percolates deep enough to become aquifer recharge. Data from identical experiments in an undisturbed silt-loam soil and in an adjacent simulated waste trench composed of the same soil material, but disturbed, included (1) laboratory- and field-measured unsaturated hydraulic properties and (2) field-measured transient water content profiles through 24 h of ponded infiltration and 75 d of redistribution. In undisturbed soil, wetting fronts were highly diffuse above 2 m depth, and did not go much deeper than 2 m. Darcian analysis suggests an average recharge rate less than 2 mm/year. In disturbed soil, wetting fronts were sharp and initial infiltration slower; water moved slowly below 2 m without obvious impediment. Richards’ equation simulations with realistic conditions predicted sharp wetting fronts, as observed for disturbed soil. Such simulations were adequate for undisturbed soil only if started from a post-initial moisture distribution that included about 3 h of infiltration. These late-started simulations remained good, however, through the 76 d of data. Overall results suggest the net effect of soil disturbance, although it reduces preferential flow, may be to increase recharge by disrupting layer contrasts.     

采煤沉陷对风沙区土壤非饱和水分入渗的影响

为研究采煤沉陷后风沙区土壤水分入渗变化规律,通过定水头注水结合入渗湿润峰测定的方法,对毛乌素沙地南缘补连塔矿区沉陷于2004、2005年的2个沉陷区土壤水分非饱和入渗变化进行研究,结果表明,垂直入渗观测时段(入渗开始后0~175 min)后期,与坡面剖面相比,丘间低地较多剖面垂直湿润峰的间距明显较大,垂直入渗持续能力较强。2004年沉陷区坡面未裂处平均垂直入渗速率、第175 min垂直入渗深度显著超过对照区坡面(P<0.05),2005年沉陷区坡面未裂处平均侧渗速率显著超过对照区坡面(P<0.05)。沉陷区丘间低地垂直入渗速率在入渗10 min左右前期升高后期降低,侧渗速率在入渗10~12 min的前期升高后期降低;沉陷区坡面垂直入渗速率、侧渗速率在大部分观测时段内升高。因子分析表明沉陷区入渗特征是丘间低地垂直入渗偏强,坡面侧渗偏强。     

Numerical simulation of crack formation process in clays during drying and wetting

Clays generally crack upon drying and the cracks gradually close up because of expansion of the clays induced by rainfall infiltration. Based on the concept of air drainage ratio, we introduce an improved simplified consolidation theory for unsaturated soils and apply it to solve the crack formation problem. We present initial conditions, special consideration, and finite-element (FEM) formulations for simulation of cracks under axisymmetric conditions. Similar to finding solutions for sand-well consolidation problems, a prism of clays surrounded by polygonal distributed cracks is simplified as a cylinder. Numerical simulations using the FEM formulations are performed on the processes of crack occurrence, propagation, and closure during drying and wetting. To investigate the influence of air drainage ratio distribution, three different schemes are adopted for computation. It is found that the behaviour of cracks in clays during drying and wetting can be well represented using the approach proposed in the paper. The simplified consolidation theory used in the paper for unsaturated soils is more suitable for crack analysis than the general consolidation theory currently applied.     

降雨入渗条件下非饱和土边坡稳定分析

针对降雨入渗土坡的稳定问题,建立一个考虑水力渗透系数特征曲线、土-水特征曲线以及修正的Mohr-Coulomb破坏准则的非饱和土流固耦合有限元计算模型,进行雨水入渗下非饱和土边坡渗流场和应力场耦合的数值模拟,得到非饱和土边坡变形与应力的若干重要规律。研究成果为降雨入渗条件下非饱和土边坡的稳定分析提供了基础。     

降雨对均质各向异性土质边坡稳定性的影响

采用有限元法分析了非饱和均质各向异性土坡中的降雨渗透过程和土水相互作用的变化过程,使用修改的Mohr-Coulomb破坏准则考虑非饱和土的抗剪强度,根据基质吸力变化引起抗破坏强度变化的原理,寻找最危险的滑移面位置,计算最小稳定安全系数,研究了土坡遭受降雨渗透时的安全稳定问题。实例分析结果表明,该法在评判降雨时非饱和土坡的稳定性方面是合理可行的。同时分析数据表明裂隙的存在对土质边坡稳定性的影响是显著的,在对雨水入渗的土边坡稳定性分析时,必须考虑裂隙的影响。     

基于HYDRUS-2D的渗滤池回灌地下水数值模拟研究

人工回灌是提高水资源利用水平的重要工程措施。深入研究渗滤池回灌过程机理,基于Hydrus-2D,结合具体渗滤池回灌算例,建立渗滤池回灌的二维饱和-非饱和渗流数值模型。模拟结果表明：回灌水入渗形成的＂湿润峰＂逐渐向饱和带移动,同时饱和带的浸润线逐渐上升,形成不断扩大的饱和区,直到形成一个连续的饱和带。回灌水出流速率经过了迅速增大到一峰值后快速减小,然后又缓慢变小的过程,回灌水入渗速率随时间变化的这一特征与Green-Ampt入渗模型的结论是一致的。     

饱和度-压力曲线法预测柴油在毛细带中形成的透镜体厚度

轻非水相液体（LNAPL）进入到地下环境中,首先在非饱和带进行垂向迁移,到达毛细带后在地下水面以上形成饱和透镜体。准确预测LNAPL渗漏在毛细带形成的透镜体厚度,对于LNAPL的去除及污染含水层的修复具有重要的指导意义。通过模拟实验测定了水-油两相吸湿及脱湿曲线,采用水-油饱和度-压力曲线拟合出了吸湿及脱湿进入压力。根据透镜体达到稳定状态时脱湿、吸湿压力水头之间的关系,建立了透镜体厚度的预测计算方法,并以中砂和粗砂为例,预测出实验条件下柴油在毛细带形成透镜体稳定时的厚度分别为4.61 cm和1.29 cm。通过室内模拟槽实验,测得柴油在中砂和粗砂中迁移时形成的透镜体厚度分别为5.30 cm和1.50 cm。预测与实验结果的相对误差分别为13.0%和14.0%。误差产生的主要原因为脱湿与吸湿曲线是在非干燥情况下测得,从而导致预测的透镜体厚度偏小。     

Influence of rainfall-induced wetting on the stability of slopes in weathered soils

Shallow failures of slopes in weathered soil are caused by infiltration due to prolonged rainfall. These failures are mainly triggered by the deepening of the wetting band accompanied by a decrease in matric suction induced by the water infiltration. This paper reports trends of rainfall-induced wetting band depth in two types of weathered soils that are commonly found in Korea. Both theoretical and numerical analyses for wetting band depth are presented based on the soil–water characteristic curve obtained using filter paper as well as tensiometer tests. It is found that the magnitude of wetting front suction plays a key role in the stability of slopes in weathered soils. Theoretical analysis based on modified Green and Ampt model tends to underestimate the wetting band depth for typical Korean weathered soils. It was also deduced that for Korean weathered soils, the factor of safety drops rapidly once the wetting band depth of 1.2 m reached.     

Performances of two instrumented laboratory models for the study of rainfall infiltration into unsaturated soils

Rainfall infiltration and suction variation in unsaturated soils must be taken into consideration in the analysis of most slope stability problems, particularly in the tropical regions where the annual precipitation is high. The process of rainfall infiltration into unsaturated soils is an extremely complex problem attributed to the non-linearity of the hydraulic property functions of the unsaturated soils. This paper describes in detail two instrumented laboratory models, i.e. one-dimensional soil column, and two-dimensional slope model used to provide experimental evidences for the transient suction variations in the unsaturated soils under certain rainfall conditions. The performances of the laboratory models were tested on four typical types of residual soils, i.e. sand-gravel, silty gravel, sandy silt, and silt (kaolin), and a two-layered soil system, i.e. sandy silt underlain by silty gravel. The results showed that the suction distributions for the single-layered homogeneous soils obtained from the simpler one-dimensional soil column were almost identical to that of two-dimensional slope model. However, the two-dimensional slope model should be employed for the two-layered soil system because of the dominant effect of the lateral flow mechanism. The capillary barrier effect was observed when a less permeable soil layer was underlain by a more permeable soil layer. The minimum suction value in soil is governed by the rainfall intensity, rainfall duration, and the saturated permeability of soil. The infiltration rate of the fine-grained soils that subjected to shrink and crack was independent of the soil permeability, but was significantly governed by the preferential flows developed in the soils.     

Incorporating hydro-mechanical coupling in an analysis of the effects of rainfall patterns on unsaturated soil slope stability

Rainfall-induced landslides can cause loss of life and damage to property, infrastructure, and the environment. Rainfall patterns affect the pore-water pressure of unsaturated soil slopes, and are related to the slopes’ stability. Four rainfall patterns were chosen to represent natural rainfall patterns for an examination of rainfall infiltration into soil slopes using numerical models incorporating coupled water infiltration and deformation in unsaturated soils. Our analysis showed that rainfall patterns play a significant role in the distribution of the pore-water pressure in soil slopes, and influence the slope stability. The pore-water pressure profile of soil slopes and the factor of safety are affected by the ratio of rainfall intensity and the coefficient of permeability. The depth and shape of the shallow sliding plane of the landslide is closely related to the rainfall pattern; moreover, the results showed a correlation between the factor of safety of the slope and the rainfall intensity. This relationship can be described by a dimensionless rainfall intensity. The nonlinear relationship can be used to estimate the slope stability resulting from rainfall infiltration when the hydro-mechanical coupling in unsaturated soil slopes is considered.