An analytical solution for rainfall infiltration into an unsaturated infinite slope and its application to slope stability analysis

Surficial slope failures in residual soils are common in tropical and subtropical regions as a result of rainfall infiltration. This study develops an analytical solution for simulating rainfall infiltration into an infinite unsaturated soil slope. The analytical solution is based on the general partial differential equation for water flow through unsaturated soils. It can accept soil–water characteristic curve and unsaturated permeability function of the exponential form into account. Numerical simulations are conducted to verify the assumptions of the analytical solution and demonstrate that the proposed analytical solution is acceptable for the coarse soils with low air entry values. The pore‐water pressure (pwp) distributions obtained from the analytical solution can be incorporated into a limit equilibrium method to do infinite slope stability analysis for a rain‐induced shallow slip. The analysis method takes into account the influence of the water content change on unit weight and hence on factor of safety. A series of analytical parametric analyses have been performed using the developed model. The analyses indicate that when the residual soil slope, consisting of a completely decomposed granite layer underlain by a less permeable layer, is subjected to a continuous heavy rainfall, the loss of negative pwp and the reduction in factor of safety were found to be most significant for the shallow soil layer and during the first 12 h. The antecedent and subsequent rainfall intensity, depth of a less permeable layer and slope angle all have a significant influence on the pwp response and hence the slope stability. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Continuous determination of drying-path SWRC of fine-grained soils

Establishing the soil water retention curve, SWRC or the soil water characteristic curve, SWCC, is very useful for determination of unsaturated properties of soils. However, it has been observed that SWRC of a soil is not unique and depends on various factors such as the initial moisture content, density of soil, method of compaction, soil fabric and the path (drying or wetting) adopted for establishing it. In this context, many techniques and instruments have been employed by earlier researchers for determination of the SWRC of soils. However, these techniques entail weighing of the samples during prolonged testing, manually, and hence yield discrete data points. In this situation, AquaSorp® Isotherm Generator (manufactured by Decagon Devices Inc., USA) has been found to be quite useful for continuous determination of the drying-path SWRC of fine-grained soils. This device has been primarily employed for food products, powders and amorphous materials. Hence, demonstration of the utility and limitations of this device for SWRC determination of fine-grained soils becomes essential. With this in mind, extensive studies were conducted on commercially available soils (Kaolinite and Bentonite) by employing this device. In order to understand the influence of specimen specific parameters on the obtained SWRCs, the molding water content and thickness of the specimens were varied and the results have been evaluated critically. Details of the methodology adopted for these investigations, and the findings of the study are presented in this technical note. Based on a critical comparison of the results obtained from this device with those obtained from the dewpoint potentiameter, WP4®, the utility of this device for continuous determination of drying-path SWRC of the soils has also been demonstrated.     

Effect of shape on holding capacity of plate anchors buried in soft soil

Plate anchor is one of the most common varieties of anchors used in the construction and maintenance work of various on-land and offshore structures. An accurate estimation of the uplift capacity of anchor foundations is necessary for an economical design as well as for the safety and stability of structures. This paper outlines the effect of shape of anchor plates on their breakout capacity, through a series of model tests. Both shallow and deep anchor behaviours were investigated under conditions developing suction force and without suction force. The results of these tests are presented in terms of load-displacement behaviour, variation of breakout factors (with and without suction force) with depth of embedment, the critical embedment depth of anchors and variation of suction force with embedment ratio. Further, the variations of breakout factor ratio with aspect ratio and embedment ratio are reported. Based on the experimental results and the model test results of other investigators an empirical relationship has been suggested to determine the shape factor and holding capacity of plate anchors buried in saturated cohesive soils.     

非饱和黄土土-水特征曲线与渗透系数Childs & Collis-Geroge模型预测

我国黄土厚度大,黄土地区地下水位深,降雨量少,黄土多处于非饱和状态,土-水特征曲线是非饱和黄土应力状态、强度及渗透性研究的基础。以陇东高原马兰黄土为试验对象,采用张力计法测定原状土样的土-水特征曲线,采用三种理论模型对试验数据拟合,其中Gardner模型简单、参数少,但Fredlund & Xing模型拟合效果最好。基于已测得的土-水特征曲线,采用Childs & Collis-Geroge预测非饱和渗透系数的模型,计算得到非饱和黄土渗透系数与基质吸力或含水率的关系,发现黄土从饱和到非饱和,其渗透系数急剧降低,黄土非饱和渗透系数与基质吸力或体积含水率的关系均可用指数函数表示。本文对典型黄土土-水特征曲线的研究及渗透性的预测为黄土工程问题,如降雨入渗的边坡稳定性评价、非饱和地基湿陷变形计算等提供理论基础。     

三峡库区千将坪滑坡滑带土干-湿循环条件下强度特性试验研究

三峡库区滑坡的失稳,主要是水库水位的升降、大气降雨和人类活动等因素的影响引起的,滑坡的滑带土在水的反复浸泡作用下,其强度降低是导致大量古滑坡复活或产生新生型滑坡的主要原因。通过对千将坪滑坡滑带土在干―湿循环试验（DWC）条件下与天然非饱和土CU试验结果比较,研究了干-湿循环条件下滑坡滑带土强度特性及其变形特性,揭示了千将坪滑坡失稳机制。     

非饱和原状黄土强度特性的试验研究

用新研制的非饱和土直剪仪,进行了4组16个控制吸力的非饱和土直剪试验,得到了原状黄土的抗剪强度曲线。分析和探讨了非饱和原状黄土的强度特性。研究表明,同吸力对应的抗剪强度线在 - 图中的位置明显不同,且呈直线式上升;在试验研究的吸力范围内,原状黄土的摩擦角随吸力的变化很小,而粘聚力呈随吸力线性增加。     

不同干密度非饱和膨胀土的三轴试验研究

重塑非饱和膨胀土的结构特征是影响其强度和变形等性质的重要因素。在不同初始干密度下击实的试样具有不同的初始结构。吸力和净围压的作用使得试样结构产生变化,从而呈现出不同的剪切特征。进行了一系列的控制吸力的三轴试验,试验结果表明,吸力和净围压的增加使得试样的抗剪强度提高,剪胀性减小;初始干密度大的试样也有更高的强度,且呈现出明显的剪胀现象。     

渗流引起的筒型基础土体软化分析

筒型基础在施工下沉过程中,负压水头值随着贯入深度的增加而逐渐加大,通过有限元法进行了不同下沉阶段的渗流场计算;总结了渗流场的基本特点并建立渗流场方程;由计算出的速度和梯度通过水土相互作用的微观分析,确定不同下沉阶段的土体软化范围;结合土力学的基本理论,通过土的基本物理指标在软化后的变化确定土的软化程度;最后通过算例计算方法的正确性和理论的合理性。     

桶形基础负压沉贯过程中的比尺效应试验研究

通过对7个不同材料及大小的模型桶基在粉土中的负压沉贯实验过程中的沉贯速度、沉贯负压、桶内表层土中产生的渗流梯度和桶内土塞率的大小的比较,揭示了比尺不同的桶基对贯入过程的影响,为桶基设计和施工提供依据。     

基于平面应变试验的非饱和膨胀土强度分析

介绍了非饱和土强度理论的研究现状,总结了FREDLUND提出的吸力内摩擦角 的性质与规律研究,根据FREDLUND非饱和土强度理论和吸力内摩擦角 的计算方法,利用原状膨胀土的平面应变等应力比卸荷试验,分析得到土样破坏时应力状态下得到的吸力内摩擦角 > ,与FREDLUND提出的吸力内摩擦角 的变化规律不一致,分析认为,是由于卸荷试验过程导致微裂隙的张开,引起基质吸力的降低,有待于继续深入研究。