Analysis of rainstorm-induced slide-debris flows on natural terrain of Lantau Island, Hong Kong

Lantau Island, the largest outlying island of the territory of Hong Kong, experienced a severe rainstorm on 4–5 November 1993, which induced >800 slope failures on natural terrain there. Detailed field investigations were carried out to study the failure modes, in relation with various influencing factors. It was found that the occurrence of slide-debris flows has a close relationship with bedrock geology, slope gradient, vegetation cover and micro landform. The failure modes of slide-debris flows may be classified into translational slides and rotational slides, and the former are predominant. Analysis of the hydrological response of colluvial slopes during the rainstorm indicated that the majority of the failures were caused by the development of a perched water table in the thin surface layer of colluvium of volcanic origin due to infiltration during the heavy rain. Undisturbed soil samples from south Lantau have been subjected to anisotropically consolidated undrained compression tests at comparatively low stress levels. Constant deviatoric stress path tests (CQD) simulating the stress path in the field at in situ stress levels have been performed to investigate soil behavior. The CQD test results indicate that the material of slopes at undisturbed state is brought to dilation because of the increase in pore water pressure caused by infiltration of rain water. For a translational slide, the displacement, resulting from dilation, may destroy cohesion along the failure surface and locally within the interior of the slide. The surplus water during the intense rainstorm was able to equilibrate the reduction in pore pressure caused by dilation, and the dilation and displacement may be further increased. The strain-softening after significant strains triggered debris flow mobilization. However, for a rotational slide, the increase in pore water pressure caused by surplus water infiltration during the intense rainstorm could not equilibrate the reduction in pore pressure caused by dilation, much or even all of the sliding block could not mobilize into a debris flow.     

Measuring the k–S–p relations on DNAPLs migration

Migration characteristics of dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) in the subsurface can be expressed as a water–DNAPL two-phase system based on mainly the k–S–p relations, which describe the relations among relative permeability (k), degree of water saturation (S), and capillary pressure head (p). The aims of this research are to develop an experimental system with new type of probes, such as the electrical conductivity probe for measuring the degree of water saturation and the hydrophilic and hydrophobic tensiometer for measuring the pore water and DNAPL pressures, and also to estimate the results obtained from the developed experimental system. From these tests, the excellent k–S–p relations were obtained and the efficiency and validity of this developed experimental system have been confirmed in terms of the concept of the scaling coefficient calculated by interfacial tensions.     

Aspects of sand behaviour by modified constant shear drained tests

Constant shear drained tests (CSD) are probably the most suitable to simulate the strength and deformation behaviour of soils in slopes under water infiltration conditions or lateral stress relief. This is significant because soil behaviour following a CSD stress path could differ from that of traditional compression triaxial tests. In this paper, CSD tests on sand following an alternative procedure are presented and discussed. The modified CSD tests were conducted by increasing the pore water pressure at a constant rate from one end of the specimen with water free to drain from the opposite end. Among the results from specimens consolidated at variable initial void ratios and principal stress ratios it was revealed that specimens showed a tendency to dilate even for loose sands; failure was reached at low axial strains; and a pre-failure type of instability could be identified. The modified procedure has the potential to provide new insights into the failure mechanisms of slopes under a water infiltration condition.     

Three-dimensional analysis of embankments on soft soils incorporating vertical drains by finite element method

Three-dimensional behaviour of an embankment on soft soils incorporating vertical drains is analysed by a numerical model based on the finite element method. The model, which incorporates the Biot’s consolidation theory (coupled formulation of the flow and equilibrium equations) and constitutive relations simulated by the p–q–θ critical state model, is applied on both the embankment with vertical drains (three-dimensional analysis) and the same problem but without vertical drains (two-dimensional analysis). Special emphasis is given to the analysis, during and after the construction period, of the excess pore pressures, settlements, horizontal displacements and stress levels.     

饱和黏性土和砂砾石料振动孔压的试验研究

在国内外主要孔压发展模型的基础上,对某土石坝心墙防渗黏性土和坝基砂砾石料饱和试样进行动三轴试验,提出了两种材料的顾淦臣孔压模型,并对砂砾石料的孔压发展规律作了深入地分析,提出了不同固结比Kc时振动孔压比和振次比的函数关系。试验结果表明,动孔压随振动周数和振动强度的增加而增加,随固结应力比或初始剪应力比的增加而减小;无论等压或偏压固结,黏性土均不会出现动孔压ud等于围压力? 3c的液化现象,其孔压比Ru均小于0.5,多数试样Ru = 0.1~0.4;当等压固结Kc =1.0时,砂砾石料最终孔压值均可达到围压;偏压固结Kc ≥1.5后,试样是否达到Ru= ud /? 3c =1.0取决于动应力? d是否大于主应力差（? 1c－? 3c）,即? d是否形成拉应力,使试件伸长,但当Kc很大后,? 1c和? 3c相差太大,需施加非常大的? d才能使其应力应变反向,试样的大变形先于Ru=1.0的应力状态出现,即不可能达到初始液化;固结比Kc对不同土料动孔压的影响是不同的。     

Evaluation of shear strength of cohesionless soil due to excess pore water pressure

The shear strength of cohesionless soil is reduced as the water pressure inside the pores of the soil mass increases. The mathematical relationship between the shear strength and the pore water pressure was derived using Mohr–Coulomb failure criteria as a function of the confining pressure and the effective angle of friction. Experimentally, a series of consolidated drained triaxial tests with back pore water pressure was run on samples of saturated uniform dense sand. The tests were conducted at different confining pressures in the range of 100–400 kPa with an increment of 100 kPa. At each level of confining pressure, the tests were repeated at different values of back pore water pressure in the range of 0–100 kPa with an increment of 25 kPa. For each test, the initial applied back pore water pressure was kept constant during the test for comparing the results at the same effective confining pressure. This study concludes that the mathematical relationship gives accurate results at any level of confining pressure and/or pore water pressure as a function of the effective angle of friction that can be evaluated using single consolidated drained triaxial test at zero back pore water pressure.     

Stress-strain behaviour of reconstituted illitic clay at different temperatures

Tests on specimens of reconstituted illitic clay have examined the influence of temperature on the mechanical behaviour of clay soils. The program involved consolidation to effective confining pressures up to 1.5 MPa, heating to 100°C, and tests on normally consolidated and overconsolidated specimens with OCR = 2. The tests included isotropic consolidation, undrained triaxial compression with pore water pressure measurement, drained tests along controlled stress paths to investigate yielding behaviour, and undrained tests which involved heating and measurement of the resulting induced pore water pressures. The large strain strength envelope is independent of temperature. However, peak undrained strengths increase with temperature because smaller pore water pressures are generated during shearing. An important contribution from the study is a series of results for the yielding of illitic clay at three different temperatures. For the first time, there is clear evidence of yield loci decreasing in size with increasing temperature. An associated flow rule can be assumed without serious error. The results contribute to the confirmation of a thermal elastic-plastic soil model developed by the authors from cam clay following the addition of a small number of extra assumptions. Depending on the initial stress state, heating under undrained conditions may produce shear failure.     

K0固结饱和土柱孔扩张问题弹塑性分析

采用K0固结各向异性土体本构模型,将柱孔扩张后周围土体分为弹性区和塑性区,根据柱孔扩张理论和边界条件,推导出K0固结状态下饱和天然土体柱孔扩张问题弹塑性区的应力、塑性区半径以及超孔隙水压力的理论解答。同时,通过算例与修正剑桥模型解答进行对比分析,结果表明,土的不同初始固结状态对柱孔扩张后孔周围的应力和超孔隙水压力产生很大影响,采用考虑K0固结诱发各向异性土体本构模型所得到的应力和超孔隙水压力解答大于修正剑桥模型的解答,但塑性区影响半径却明显小于后者。     

Dynamic liquefaction of shear zones in intact loess during simulated earthquake loading

The 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence in New Zealand exposed loess-mantled slopes in the area to very high levels of seismic excitation (locally measured as >2?g). Few loess slopes showed permanent local downslope deformation, and most of these showed only limited accumulated displacement. A series of innovative dynamic back-pressured shear box tests were undertaken on intact and remoulded loess samples collected from one of the recently active slopes replicating field conditions under different simplified horizontal seismic excitations. During each test, the strength reduction and excess pore water pressures generated were measured as the sample failed. Test results suggest that although dynamic liquefaction could have occurred, a key factor was likely to have been that the loess was largely unsaturated at the times of the large earthquake events. The failure of intact loess samples in the tests was complex and variable due to the highly variable geotechnical characteristics of the material. Some loess samples failed rapidly as a result of dynamic liquefaction as seismic excitation generated an increase in pore water pressure, triggering rapid loss of strength and, thus, of shear resistance. Following initial failure, pore pressure dissipated with continued seismic excitation and the sample consolidated, resulting in partial shear strength recovery. Once excess pore water pressures had dissipated, deformation continued in a critical effective stress state with no further change in volume. Remoulded and weaker samples, however, did not liquefy and instead immediately reduced in volume with an accompanying slower and more sustained increase in pore pressure as the sample consolidated. Thereafter, excess pressures dissipated and deformation continued at a critical state. The complex behaviour explained why, despite exceptionally strong ground shaking, there was only limited displacement and lack of run-out: dynamic liquefaction was unlikely to occur in the freely draining slopes. Dynamic liquefaction, however, remained a plausible mechanism to explain loess failure in some of the low-angle toe slopes, where a permanent water table was present in the loess.     

往返荷载下粘性土的强度及取值标准试验研究

通过对粘性土进行一系列动三轴试验，测定并分析了动荷载作用下为粘性土的动剪应力，轴向应变及超孔隙水压力随时间的变化规律，分析了破坏时不同固结比的粘性土对静，动剪强度和孔隙水压力影响规律，得出了粘性土的动剪强度随固结比变化的关系式，并对粘性土的动剪强度判别方法的标准进行探讨，得出了有益的结果。     

Cementation effects in two lacustrine clayey soils

This paper describes the main findings of a laboratory study on the mechanical behaviour of cemented geologically normally consolidated lacustrine clayey soils from two sites, Bacinetto (BA) and Avezzano (AZ), in the Fucino basin (Italy). One-dimensional and triaxial compression tests were carried out in order to investigate the effects of the presence and of the progressive degradation of the interparticle cementation bonds. The two tested soils showed quite different physical and mechanical properties, the more apparent ones being plasticity and yield stress values. The experimental results allowed the gross yield curves and the critical state conditions to be identified for both soils (BA clay and AZ silt). A number of typical features generally exhibited by cemented soils were clearly apparent: yield stresses greater than the in situ stress states, both soils being geologically normally consolidated; high values of compressibility index after yielding, which gradually reduce with increasingly applied stresses; strength reductions associated with a globally contractive behaviour. A convenient normalisation of the experimental results, in which the critical state conditions are assumed as a reference state, allowed the effects of cementation bonds and of their progressive degradation to be highlighted. In particular, BA samples were found to be characterised by different structures related to different degrees of cementation. Furthermore, despite the larger values of the yielding stresses exhibited by AZ silt, stronger effects of cementation are apparent in BA soil. Experimental results seem to indicate that at high values of the applied stress and strain paths, when bonds are largely damaged, the structures of the natural and parent reconstituted BA soil continue to be different.     

膨胀土临界状态强度特性及其模型拟合

针对蒙自地区膨胀土,进行了饱和重塑条件下的固结排水(CD)与固结不排水(CU)试验,系统研究了饱和土在不同固结围压3、初始干密度d、初始含水量0、剪切速率、排水条件下的应力应变特性。通过对临界状态试验结果的归一化处理,揭示了不同试验方法对同一土样抗剪强度量测差异的内在统一性,得到了重塑饱和膨胀土在固结排水与不排水条件下p'-q-空间内的破坏线。利用双曲线模型较好地拟合了弱硬化型应力应变曲线,用指数曲线模型拟合了弱软化型应力应变曲线,为模拟边坡在降雨条件下的抗剪强度变化及构筑物土体处于正常水位时的强度状态等工况提供了技术参数与理论支持。     

软土在不同应力路径下的力学特性分析

通过固结不排水剪应力路径试验对广州南沙典型软土在不同固结条件的力学特性进行了系统研究。分析了初始固结状态对软黏土应力路径依赖性的影响,比较了不同应力路径下土的应力-应变关系特征和孔隙水压力变化规律,探讨了孔压分布与土体变形特征的关系,认为侧向卸荷会造成剪应力增加、体应力减小,从而使土体产生剪胀趋势。研究结果还表明,不排水条件下的有效应力路径主要与土样初始固结状态有关,因而同一固结状态下的有效应力路径具有唯一性。另外,试验中的剪切控制方式对有效应力路径有明显影响,但对土体抗剪强度的影响可以忽略。     

Anisotropic behavior of the Bushehr carbonate sand in the Persian Gulf

The anisotropy effect is exhibited more prominently in sedimentary depositions, and it relates the soil’s mechanical specifications to the directions of imposed loads. Even though this phenomenon has been comprehensively explored in silica sands, few research has been conducted for studying the anisotropic behavior of marine carbonate sands. To bridge this gap, the present study investigates the anisotropy effect on the mechanical behavior of Bushehr carbonate sand acquired from the north shelf of the Persian Gulf in Iran. Toward this end, some undrained principal stress rotation tests are conducted using a hollow cylinder shear torsional apparatus in such a manner that the direction of the applied principal stresses are fixed along a desired orientation and the total mean stress and intermediate principal stress ratio are kept constant. Furthermore, prior to shearing, the samples are consolidated under three confining pressures and two isotropic and anisotropic states. The results show that dilative behavior is observed in all loading directions after initial contraction; this contradicts the response observed in silica sands. The anisotropy response of soil follows two different trends in the contractive and dilative phases. The relation of soil’s mechanical properties shows a descending trend with the angle of maximum principal stress in the contractive phase; on the other hand, the anisotropy behavior shows a dominant parabola trend in the dilative phase, where the maximum ultimate pore pressure and minimum soil strength occur in the stress direction with an angle of α?=?30°. By increasing the confining pressure in the soil element, the intensity of the anisotropy in some mechanical properties except the soil deformation is reduced. Furthermore, the deviatoric-to-effective mean stress ratio in the phase transformation state from contraction to dilation is independent of the loading direction and consolidation stress state, and it is considered one of the intrinsic properties of sand.     

超固结黏土单调和耦合循环的剪切特性研究

针对超固结黏土空心试样,利用土工静力-动力液压三轴-扭转多功能剪切仪,在均等固结条件下进行了单调扭剪和三轴-扭转耦合循环剪切试验。试验结果表明：不同超固结比黏土的单调扭剪强度也可由正常固结黏土的单调扭剪强度得到,得到了不同超固结比下饱和黏土的强度及模量的退化规律;随着超固结比的增大,相同破坏循环次数的动应力比和临界循环应力比均线性增大;超固结比对耦合循环剪切的孔隙水压力的发展模式影响显著。参考Yasuhara的测量方法,采用荷载停止后继续采集孔压的方法可以更好地反映黏土在耦合循环荷载下产生的真实孔压和孔压的增长情况。提出的综合应变式同时考虑了剪切变化和正向偏差变形的共同效应,适合作为主应力连续旋转的耦合循环剪切试验的破坏标准。     

Analytical solution to 1D coupled water infiltration and deformation in unsaturated soils

An analytical solution to 1D coupled water infiltration and deformation is derived using a Fourier integral transform. Exponential functional forms are used to represent the hydraulic conductivity–pore‐water pressure relationship and the soil‐water characteristic curve. Fredlund's incremental‐linear constitutive model for unsaturated soils is adopted. The analytical solution considers arbitrary initial pore‐water pressure distributions and flux and pressure boundary conditions. The corresponding analytical solutions to coupled steady‐state problems are also obtained. The analytical solutions demonstrate that the coupling of seepage and deformation plays an important role in water infiltration in unsaturated soils. In the early stages of infiltration, the difference between uncoupled and coupled conditions becomes marked over time, and in late stages, the difference caused by the coupling effects diminishes toward the steady state. The difference between the uncoupled and coupled conditions increases with decreasing desaturation coefficient (α). Pore‐water pressure or deformation changes caused by the coupling effects are mainly controlled by the degree of soil volume change due to a change in soil suction (H). The smaller the absolute value of H, the greater the effect of coupling on the infiltration and deformation. The ratio of rainfall intensity to saturated permeability (q/k_s) also has a strong influence on the coupled seepage and deformation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

不同渗流边界条件下粉砂边坡失稳模型试验研究

研究不同渗流边界条件下粉砂边坡的稳定特性对滑坡安全评价及防灾减灾具有重要意义。开发研制了室内边坡模型试验系统,分别进行了在上部边界入渗、侧向边界入渗和底部边界入渗的边坡失稳模型试验。分析了各试验中边坡内部不同位置体积含水率、孔隙水压力和基质吸力的变化规律以及坡体破坏过程。结果表明,不同入渗边界条件下边坡土体局部由非饱和变为饱和状态,基质吸力消失,最后在坡面形成不稳定区域塌落破坏。上部边界入渗、侧向边界入渗和底部边界入渗所引起的破坏模式根据其特点可分为局部浅层破坏、多级后退式破坏和坡面滑动破坏。通过监测边坡不同位置的体积含水率,可以为渗流引发的边坡失稳预警机制提供参考依据。     

Numerical analysis of seepage–deformation in unsaturated soils

A coupled elastic–plastic finite element analysis based on simplified consolidation theory for unsaturated soils is used to investigate the coupling processes of water infiltration and deformation. By introducing a reduced suction and an elastic–plastic constitutive equation for the soil skeleton, the simplified consolidation theory for unsaturated soils is incorporated into an in-house finite element code. Using the proposed numerical method, the generation of pore water pressure and development of deformation can be simulated under evaporation or rainfall infiltration conditions. Through a parametric study and comparison with the test results, the proposed method is found to describe well the characteristics during water evaporation/infiltration into unsaturated soils. Finally, an unsaturated soil slope with water infiltration is analyzed in detail to investigate the development of the displacement and generation of pore water pressure.     

Analytical solution to 1D coupled water infiltration and deformation in two‐layer unsaturated soils

An analytical solution to 1D coupled water infiltration and deformation in layered soils is derived using a Laplace transformation. Coupling between seepage and deformation, and initial conditions defined by arbitrary continuous pore‐water pressure distributions are considered. The analytical solutions describe the transient pore‐water pressure distributions during 1D, vertical infiltration toward the water table through two‐layer unsaturated soils. The nonlinear coupled formulations are first linearized and transformed into a form that is solvable using a Laplace transformation. The solutions provide a reliable means of comparing the accuracy of various numerical methods. Parameters considered in the coupled analysis include the saturated permeability (k_s), desaturation coefficient (α), and saturated volumetric water content (θ_s) of each soil layer, and antecedent and subsequent rainfall infiltration rates. The analytical solution demonstrates that the coupling of seepage and deformation plays an important role in water infiltration in layered unsaturated soils. A smaller value of α or a smaller absolute value of the elastic modulus of the soil with respect to a change in soil suction (H) for layered unsaturated soils means more marked coupling effect. A smaller absolute value of H of the upper layer soil also tends to cause more marked coupling effect. A large difference between the saturated coefficients of permeability for the top and bottom soil layers leads to reduced rainfall infiltration into the deep soil layer. The initial conditions also play a significant role in the pore‐water pressure redistribution and coupling effect. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

不同应力路径下饱和重塑黄土的力学特性

土体的力学特性往往因应力状态和应力路径而异。为了探讨垂直加载和等剪路径下饱和土的力学特性,制备饱和重塑黄土试样,通过固结不排水（CU）和常剪应力排水剪（CSD）三轴试验,分别测定并绘制其应力-应变曲线、孔隙水压力变化曲线和应力路径曲线。试验结果表明,饱和重塑黄土在2种路径下有明显不同的变形特点:CU路径下的应力-应变曲线皆呈弱软化型,孔隙水压力先快速上升后逐渐趋于稳定;CSD路径下维持偏应力为一常量,施加孔隙水压力后的很长时间内试样变形很小,当孔隙水压力增大至试验围压的60%~75%时,试样迅速破坏。CSD路径无偏应力峰值,文中根据轴应变随平均有效应力变化曲线定义了等效峰值破坏线。通过对比发现,2种路径下饱和重塑黄土的有效峰值强度指标差异明显,而有效残余强度指标相近,表明有效残余强度指标是重塑黄土内在属性,受应力路径的影响不大。该研究结果可为实际工程选取正确的应力路径试验提供参考。