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.     

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.     

饱和度对风化花岗岩边坡土体抗剪特性的影响

强降雨易诱发风化花岗岩边坡浅层滑坡,其滑坡滑动面多位于具有较大孔隙尺寸的强风化带。通过对广西玉林与梧州交界处风化花岗岩边坡浅层滑坡的现场勘查和对不同层位的土体进行物理力学试验,研究了饱和度对湿热地区风化花岗岩双层土质边坡抗剪强度的影响,发现两个风化带土体都存在一个“最优饱和度”使抗剪强度达到峰值,但饱和度对抗剪强度指标的影响规律不同,即饱和度对黏聚力影响很大,对内摩擦角影响很小;花岗岩全风化带与强风化带土体性质差异明显,尤其表现在饱和度影响下抗剪强度特性方面,从基质吸力理论和颗粒间胶结作用角度分析所发现的现象,可以清楚地解释产生差异的机制,为风化花岗岩边坡的开挖和滑坡的防治提供理论基础。     

求取现场黄土饱和渗透系数的双环入渗法

土体渗透性参数的测定是解决与水有关的岩土工程问题的关键所在。为使现场原状土体饱和渗透系数的测定更为准确,通过一种易于安装和固定的防蒸发型双环入渗仪,研究黄土的入渗规律与特点,试验结果表明:黄土的入渗分区可分为饱和区、湿润区与干土区,其中饱和区的入渗深度约占总入渗深度的1/2,而湿润区土体的饱和度在70%以上,这一特征与Green-Ampt入渗模型的假设较为接近,但在应用基于Green-Ampt模型的规范法（SL237-042-1999）求取黄土的饱和渗透系数时,发现该法会高估黄土的饱和渗透系数。因此,结合Green-Ampt入渗模型与土水特征曲线主要增湿路径的特点,提出了能合理测定现场黄土饱和渗透系数的双环入渗法,对Green-Ampt入渗模型参数加以修正,即直接采用干土区的初始基质吸力水头值,且该值由张力计实测或由主要增湿曲线求得;需采用入渗试验前期的平均入渗率;所对应的湿润锋发展深度需经由水分传感器实测而得。研究结果表明该法能合理估算现场黄土的饱和渗透系数。     

降雨入渗影响下边坡中的非饱和渗流特性

为了分析降雨入渗影响下非饱和土坡渗流特性,利用自制降雨模拟系统和实时监测系统,对降雨诱发非饱和土坡失稳过程进行全方位、多参量的实时监测,研究不同降雨条件下,不同坡度、不同压实度边坡坡体不同位置雨水入渗率和湿润峰的实变规律.结果表明:降雨入渗条件下,陡坡和高压实度土体不利于雨水入渗,而缓坡和低密实度土体入渗率变化快;实际土体吸力和含水量实时变化规律不同步,提出试验湿润峰概念,含水率（吸力）湿润峰点可按含水率（吸力）实时曲线的过渡区和雨后残余含水率（吸力）的线性交叉点确定;考虑单向吸湿或脱湿路径下土体含水率和吸力具有唯一对应关系,含水率湿润峰点与吸力湿润峰点的绝对值时差即为形成湿润峰所需时间;对比湿润峰实测值与Lumb半经验值散点分布规律,基于Lumb湿润峰深度计算公式提出非线性修正表达式.      

降雨入渗下强风化软岩高填方路堤边坡稳定性研究

降雨入渗是影响边坡稳定性、导致边坡失稳的最主要和最普遍的环境因素。强风化软岩用于高填方路堤填土边坡时,填土的压实度直接影响路堤土的渗透性和强度。利用饱和与非饱和渗流有限元模拟降雨入渗时高填方路堤的暂态渗流场,将计算得到的暂态孔隙水压力分布用于边坡的极限平衡分析,并考虑基质吸力对非饱和土抗剪强度的影响。探讨降雨强度、持时和压实度对边坡稳定性的影响。研究表明,强风化软岩用于高填方路堤压实度不能低于90 %;当暴雨强度为200 mm/d时,边坡就会失稳。其成果将为高填方路堤边坡防护设计提供科学依据。     

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。     

Role of apparent cohesion in the stability of Dominician allophane soil slopes

This study examines the effect of loss of apparent cohesion from rainwater infiltration upon the stability of partly saturated, allophanic soil slopes of Dominica (West Indies). The parent material of the Dominican allophanic soils are the andesitic and dacitic volcanic rocks from ten volcanic centres of mainly Pleistocene age. Although simplifying assumptions are made to assess the depth of wetting front and magnitudes of true and apparent cohesion values of the partly saturated allophanic soils, certain inferences of practical significance emerge from the study.

Matric suction contributes to the effective stress of unsaturated soils and increases the shear strength of these soils by imparting them an apparent cohesion strength component. This apparent cohesion strength component of the partly saturated Dominician allophanic soils is considered to be related to the matric suction term (u_a−u_w) by a parabolic relationship.

The partly saturated allophanic soil slopes of Dominica would invariably fail from loss of apparent cohesion upon saturation of the soil mantle by the infiltrating water front only if (a) the average slope angle (β) is greater than or equal to the drained shear strength parameter of the unsaturated soil (Φ_d) (slopes with β ≥ Φ_d are referred to as category 1 slopes in this study) and (b) the drained cohesion parameter (c_d) belonging to the partly saturated soil of the category 1 slope is mainly contributed by matric suction induced apparent cohesion (c_app) and contribution from true cohesion (c′) is absent. However, the possibility of the category 1 slopes (for the case 1 situation) failing in the saturated condition from effective stress reduction due to rise in ground water table is shown to be an unfeasible proposition. In contrast, for the case 1 situation, the partly saturated category 2 slopes (β < Φ_d) are insusceptible to failure from reduction in effective stress due to loss of matric suction but fail in the saturated condition from effective stress reduction due to rise in ground water table. If the allophanic soils were to possess a sufficient magnitude of true cohesion (c′), even the partly saturated category 1 slopes possessing slope angles (β) much in excess of their Φ_d values (β − Φ_d = 15.1°) would remain stable upon total elimination of the matric suction induced cohesion. However, partly saturated category 1 slopes possessing a true cohesion component and insusceptible to failure from reduction in effective stress upon loss of matric suction, invariably fail in the saturated condition from reduction in effective stress due to rise in ground water table.

Using the methodology developed in this study, two previously reported case histories pertaining to rain induced translational landslides in the residual soil areas of Brazil are re-examined and the results obtained in this study are found to be in agreement with the findings of the previous researchers.     

强降雨作用下堆积层滑坡稳定性分析

强降雨作用易造成堆积层滑坡发生,带来严重的生命财产损失。基于Green-Ampt（GA）模型,同时考虑湿润锋以上饱和带渗流作用,推导了一种新的滑坡降雨入渗函数,弥补了GA模型只适用于无限长坡的不足。为考虑降雨入渗对土体条块强度的影响,采用整体抗剪强度准则评价滑坡稳定性,并在受力分析时考虑了湿润锋以上饱和带渗透力作用,建立了滑坡稳定性系数表达式。研究结果表明：滑坡降雨入渗的尺寸效应非常明显,湿润锋扩展速率随着坡长的增大而增大,当滑坡无限长时新降雨入渗模型与GA模型计算结果相同,说明GA模型是新模型的一个特例。此外,降雨初期,滑坡稳定性下降较快;随着降雨的持续,稳定性下降速率逐渐放缓。与模型试验结果对比表明,提出的降雨入渗模型和评价方法计算结果与试验揭示的现象一致,证明了该方法的可靠性。     

水-力耦合及干湿循环效应对浅层残积土斜坡稳定性的影响

降雨入渗过程中,土体吸力降低,体积明显改变。天然浅层土体长期受到季节性气候变化的影响,因此,开展水-力耦合及干湿交替对浅层残积土坡稳定性影响的数值分析,分析浅层土坡孔隙水压力、湿润锋及安全系数的时空演变规律,并对水-力耦合及干湿交替条件下的浅层土坡失稳破坏机制进行探讨显得尤为必要。研究结果表明：随着干湿循环次数的增加,水-力耦合分析下孔隙水压力以及湿润锋的迁移速度增加更快,边坡也更易失稳破坏;干湿交替初期,雨水入渗易引起地下水位上升,边坡可因正孔隙水压力的增加而失稳;干湿交替后期,湿润锋的快速推进加剧基质吸力迅速丧失及土体强度下降,边坡安全系数显著降低,发生失稳破坏的时间缩短。因此,可将湿润锋处的安全系数(局部最小值)作为控制边坡长期稳定性的临界值。     

3D stability of unsaturated soil slopes with tension cracks under steady infiltrations

Most classical approaches for evaluating the stability of soil slopes with cracks are performed under two-dimensional (2D) condition. Three-dimensional (3D) effect and suction-induced effect of unsaturated soils are generally neglected in assessing the slope stability. This paper develops a 3D limit analysis method to evaluate the stability of an unsaturated soil slope with tension cracks under steady infiltrations. The boundary-value problem is formulated based on the 3D rotational failure mechanism by taking the effects of suction, effective unit weight, and tension crack into account. A simplified method is proposed to calculate the work rate of unsaturated soil weight. A layer-wise summation method is developed based on the divergence theorem to calculate the internal energy dissipation rate. Detailed discussions are conducted to investigate the effects of suction and Poisson's ratio on the stability of unsaturated soil slopes. Examples are given to illustrate the 3D effect, the suction-induced effect as well as the effects of infiltration and water in cracks on the slope stability.     

Analysis and Design of an Underground Portal in Lateritic Soils

This paper presents a case study of the analysis and design of slopes for the portal of an underground crude oil storage cavern site. The site selected for the slope study is characterized by residual soils and granitic rock formations, located in the southwestern part of India. It is observed that in tropical residual soils, most hillslope failures are caused by rainfall and thus it is important to consider hydrological conditions when attempting to analyze the stability of slopes in such material. Combinations of shallow slopes with lower overburden and high steep hillslope with large overburden were considered in the present study along with varying combinations of lateritic soils and weathered rock formations. The paper discusses the various investigations carried out to define the geotechnical properties of lateritic soil and weathered rock, followed by numerical modelling and remedial measures adopted to ensure the stability of slopes during design and construction phase. Since analysis and design procedures for such residual soils are not well established, comprehensive geological and geotechnical investigations were carried out prior to numerical model development for carrying out finite element studies in order to ascertain long term stability of slopes under differing ground conditions. The results of the stability analysis indicated that slope under existing condition were potentially unstable under rainy conditions and specific supporting measures were planned to ensure stability. Several alternatives were examined for improving the stability of slope taking into consideration existing facilities, space available for mobilization of equipments and environmental conditions in reference to specific project requirements. The convergence pattern obtained from geotechnical monitoring using optical targets along the slopes did not showed any alarming movement for over a year.     

Effectiveness of horizontal drains for slope stability

Horizontal drains have been commonly used in stabilising unsaturated residual soil slopes. This study examines the effectiveness of horizontal drains in stabilising residual soil slopes against rainfall-induced slope failures under a tropical climate. The study includes field instrumentation at two residual soil slopes complemented with a parametric study relating to drain position. Field monitoring results indicate that rainfall infiltration is limited to a certain depth below which infiltration becomes insignificant. This zone tends to be unsuitable for horizontal drains. Horizontal drains were found to be most effective when located at the base of a slope. The parametric study indicated conditions under which horizontal drains are effective or ineffective in improving the stability of a slope. It was also found that horizontal drains have little role in minimising infiltration in an unsaturated residual soil slope. Benefits of using horizontal drains can be obtained through the lowering of the water table.     

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。     

A time-space based approach for mapping rainfall-induced shallow landslide hazard

A rainfall-induced shallow landslide is a major hazard in mountainous terrain, but a time-space based approach is still an unsettled issue for mapping rainfall-induced shallow landslide hazards. Rain induces a rise of the groundwater level and an increase in pore water pressure that results in slope failures. In this study, an integrated infinite slope analysis model has been developed to evaluate the influence of infiltration on surficial stability of slopes by the limit equilibrium method. Based on this new integrated infinite slope analysis model, a time-space based approach has been implemented to map the distributed landslide hazard in a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and to evaluate the shallow slope failure induced by a particular rainfall event that accounts for the rainfall intensity and duration. The case study results in a comprehensive time-space landslide hazard map that illustrates the change of the safety factor and the depth of the wetting front over time.     

花岗岩类土质边坡工程特性及加固方法研究

华南、华东南地区具有厚度可达上百米的花岗岩风化残积层。高等级公路、铁路的规模建设在该地区形成了大量的花岗岩类土质高边坡。深入认识该类边坡的工程特性并提出有效的针对性边坡加固方法,对该地区公路、铁路的安全建设和正常运营具有重要意义。为了更有效指导该类边坡的稳定性分析及边坡设计,本文深入调查分析了广东和广西境内4条高等级公路沿线的44处花岗岩类土质边坡特征及其稳定性,认为控制该类边坡稳定性的因素主要有:土体的均匀性、岩脉(墙)及花岗岩球状硬核的分布情况、坡体中保留的结构面是否对坡体稳定性起控制作用。继而依据这些因素把花岗岩类土质边坡划分为岩脉(墙)隔挡型边坡、网状结构型边坡、外倾结构型边坡、浮石型边坡4种类型。深入分析了每种类型边坡的坡体结构特征、稳定特性,针对性地提出了边坡稳定性分析中应重点考虑的因素。认为花岗岩类土质边坡的土质及坡体结构特征,造成了该类边坡开挖临时自稳性较好,但具有较强的开挖卸荷效应和较弱的抗冲刷能力。最后针对每种类型的花岗岩类土质边坡,提出了相应的设计方案建议。基于花岗岩类土质边坡良好的临时自稳性,认为可进行陡开挖强支护设计,同时强调逐级开挖逐级支护、加强坡面防冲刷、边坡护脚及压顶、边坡截排水等设计建议。     

Assessment of slope stability in cohesive soils due to a rainfall

The primary focus in this work is on proposing a methodology for the assessment of stability of natural/engineered slopes in clayey soils subjected to water infiltration. In natural deposits of fine‐grained soils, the presence of water in the vicinity of minerals results in an interparticle bonding. This effect cannot be easily quantified as it involves complex chemical interactions at the micromechanical level. Here, the evolution of strength properties, including the apparent cohesion resulting from initial suction at the irreducible fluid saturation, is described by employing the framework of chemoplasticity. The paper provides first the formulation of the problem; this involves specification of the constitutive relation, development of an implicit return mapping scheme, and the outline of a coupled transient formulation. The framework is then applied to examine the stability of a slope subjected to a prolonged period of intensive rainfall. It is shown that the water infiltration may trigger the loss of stability resulting from the degradation of material properties. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geotechnical assessments of the stability of slopes at the Cakmakkaya and Damar open pit mines (Turkey): a case study

The on-site observations, monitoring data, and results of back analyses of failures showed that large-scale failures occurred along both the interconnected sliding surfaces, consisting of (a) discontinuities in the dacites and the contact zone and (b) the circular surfaces through the weathered soil-like dacites at the Cakmakkaya and Damar open pit mines. Surface water infiltration through the weathered soil-like material after a short duration of rainfall contributed to the circular-shaped failures. After a heavy rainy period, an increase in the groundwater table above the contact zone played a major role in the initiation of bi-planar wedge failures. In addition, the stability of the slopes is likely to have been controlled by the orientation of this zone. The results of back analyses indicated that the shear strengths of the soil-like materials in the weathered dacites and the contact zone had reduced to their residual values at the time of initial sliding. The flattening of the slope angles with an effective surface drainage and long-term monitoring of the groundwater level is proposed as the most suitable remedial measure.     

高吸力下黏性土的抗剪强度和体变特性

非饱和土中土-水之间的相互作用可区分为毛细作用和吸附作用,已有的非饱和土力学特性的研究大都局限于较低吸力、毛细作用占优范围。实践中由于环境的变化,地表土体常经历干湿循环及处在低含水率、高吸力状态,此时吸附作用占优。针对高岭土-河砂配制的非膨胀性黏性土,采用饱和盐溶液蒸汽平衡法,从脱湿和吸湿两种吸力路径下对土体施加高吸力。测试了高吸力下土体的强度和变形特性,试验中选用了0（接近无侧限）、25、50、100 kPa共4组小围压。试验结果表明,高吸力下土体表现为应变软化型破坏和剪胀性。随着围压的施加,土体从沿纵向开裂的张裂破坏过渡为剪切破坏。验证了修正后的Bishop非饱和土强度公式不适用于描述高吸力时峰值抗剪强度的变化,得到了高吸力下峰值抗剪强度可用相对于净应力的临界状态强度和剪胀作用来表示。分析发现,高吸力时土体的抗剪强度和比表面积直接相关,吸力对土体抗剪强度的作用取决于土体集聚体组构的形成和发展程度及其导致的剪胀作用。     

Numerical Simulation of Moisture Movement in Unsaturated Expansive Soil Slope Suffering Permeation

INTRODUCTION Theinfiltrationandevaporationofwaterinasoil slopeareofparamountimportanceindetermining slopestability.Previousengineeringcasesandstud ieshaveshownthatrainwaterisoftenamajorfactor intheslopefailureofexpansivesoils.Expansivesoils intropicalandsubtropicalzonesareoftenunsaturat ed,andsoilslopesareinastablestateinnormalcli mateconditionsbecauseofthehighsuctionandshear strengthofthesoilmass.However,oncepermeation happensrainwaterwillinfiltrateintothesoilmasswhichleadstoanincreasein…