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The role of infiltration processes in steep slope stability of pyroclastic granular soils: laboratory and numerical investigation

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Abstract

Rainfall-induced landslides on steep slopes are a common feature in much of Italy’s mountain areas covered by shallow-pyroclastic deposits. Generally, these deposits are unsaturated and have a slope angle higher than 40°–50°; hence their stability is due to the positive effect of matric suction on soil shear strength. During rainfall, rainwater infiltration causes a decrease in suction, which in turn causes changes in soil mechanical and hydraulic properties, leading towards an instability process. However, the response of pyroclastic soil slopes to rainwater infiltration is not fully understood. The aim of this study is to link slope instability to the infiltration process on the basis of advanced geotechnical characterization, in situ monitoring and numerical analysis calibrated through a back-analysis of well-instrumented flume tests.

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Abbreviations

c′:

Cohesion

h :

Daily rainfall height

i :

Rainfall intensity

k :

Water coefficient of permeability

p :

Mean stress

p−u a :

Net stress

S r :

Degree of saturation

SWRC:

Soil water retention curve

u a :

Air pressure

ua−uw:

Matric suction

u w :

Pore pressure

w :

Gravimetric water content

εr :

Bulk dielectric permittivity

ϕ′:

Friction angle

θr :

Residual water content

θs :

Saturated water content

θw :

Volumetric water content

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Acknowledgements

Our research work was funded by the MIUR - PRIN 2006 Project. The authors wish to thank Prof. Luciano Picarelli (Second University of Naples) for his great contribution in supervising and coordinating our research, Prof. Roberto Greco (Second University of Naples) for the development of experimental programme by TDR technique and for his suggestions and constructive criticisms and Dr Vincenzo Savastano (STIIA) for developing the I-MOD3D program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, CIRIAM, Seconda Università di Napoli, via Roma 29, 81031, Aversa, Italy

    Emilia Damiano & Lucio Olivares

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  1. Emilia Damiano
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  2. Lucio Olivares
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Correspondence to Emilia Damiano.

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Damiano, E., Olivares, L. The role of infiltration processes in steep slope stability of pyroclastic granular soils: laboratory and numerical investigation. Nat Hazards 52, 329–350 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-009-9374-3

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