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Simulation of a slope failure induced by rainfall infiltration

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

On 1 November 2000, Typhoon Xangsane brought heavy rainfall that caused serious disasters in many areas of northern Taiwan. A slope located at the upstream of the Shanher Stream in Taipei County failed and induced a debris flow. To investigate the environmental influencing factors that caused the slope failure and the debris flow disaster, laboratory tests and slope stability analysis were performed. A series of tests were conducted to obtain the mechanical and hydraulic properties of the soil under unsaturated and saturated conditions. Then, limit equilibrium method and numerical analysis simulating the process of infiltration were utilized to explore the slope stability, the stress variation, and the pore-water pressure in the soil during rainwater infiltration. The results of the stability analysis show that the rainfall intensity–time history is the most significant influence factor, and the analyzed failure zone and the predicted time when the slope failed are comparable to the field observation.

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Abbreviations

C :

total cohesion (kPa)

C s :

wetting front capillarity suction (m)

c′ :

effective cohesion (kPa)

D max :

maximum grain size (mm)

E :

modulus of elasticity (kPa)

e :

void ratio (dimensionless)

F s :

factor of safety (dimensionless)

h :

wetted depth (m)

i :

hydraulic gradient (dimensionless)

K f :

failure envelope

k :

soil permeability (m/s)

k s :

saturated soil permeability (m/s)

n :

porosity (%)

p′ :

mean value of the effective major and minor principal stresses (kPa)

q′ :

half value of the deviator stress (kPa)

S f :

final degree of saturation (%)

S i :

initial degree of saturation (%)

t :

time (h) or rainfall duration (h)

t w :

the time necessary to saturate the soil to wetted depth (h)

u a :

pore-air pressure (kPa)

u a − u w :

matric suction (kPa)

u w :

pore-water pressure (kPa)

V :

infiltration rate of rainfall (m/s)

v :

Poisson’s ratio (dimensionless)

w :

water content (%)

α :

reduction factor depending on the ground conditions (dimensionless)

γ:

soil unit weight (kN/m3)

γw :

water unit weight (kN/m3)

θs :

volumetric water content of saturated soil (%)

θw :

volumetric water content of in situ soil (%)

σ :

total normal stress (kPa)

σ − u a :

net normal stress (kPa)

τ :

shear strength (kPa)

ϕ′:

effective angle of friction (°)

ϕ b :

angle of friction with respect to suction (°)

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Acknowledgments

Financial support of this study was provided by the National Science Council, Taiwan (NSC 92-2625-Z002-009). Special thanks also go to Dr. J. S. Wu, Mr. S. S. Wey, Prof. H. Chen, and Y.G. Chi for generously providing the photos.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan

    R. H. Chen, H. P. Chen & H. B. Zhung

  2. Department of Environmental Information and Engineering, National Defense University, Taoyuan, 335, Taiwan

    K. S. Chen

Authors
  1. R. H. Chen
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  2. H. P. Chen
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  3. K. S. Chen
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  4. H. B. Zhung
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Correspondence to R. H. Chen.

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Chen, R.H., Chen, H.P., Chen, K.S. et al. Simulation of a slope failure induced by rainfall infiltration. Environ Geol 58, 943–952 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1574-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1574-8

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