Response of a residual soil slope to rainfall

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 340-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Rahardjo ◽  
T T Lee ◽  
E C Leong ◽  
R B Rezaur
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Soil Slope ◽  
Pore Water Pressures ◽  
Pressure Water ◽  
Water Contents ◽  
Residual Soil Slope

Rainfall-induced landslides are a common problem in residual soil slopes of the tropics. It is widely known that rainfall-induced slope failures are mainly caused by infiltration of rainwater; however, the response of a residual soil slope to infiltration is not fully understood. The difficulties lie in the quantification of the flux boundary condition across the slope surface with respect to infiltration and its effect on the pore-water pressure conditions in the slope. Therefore, it is important to understand the response of a slope to different rainfall conditions and the resulting changes in pore-water pressures and water contents. A residual soil slope in Singapore was instrumented with pore-water pressure, water content, and rainfall measuring devices, and studies were carried out under natural and simulated rainfalls. Results indicate that significant infiltration may occur in a residual soil slope during a rainfall. Small total rainfalls can contribute a larger infiltration percentage than large total rainfalls. The percentage of infiltration usually decreases with increasing total rainfalls. The study has indicated the existence of a threshold rainfall of about 10 mm for runoff generation to commence. Infiltration during wet periods may lead to the development of positive pore-water pressures as a consequence of a perched water table condition. Matric suctions are recovered gradually during dry periods due to redistribution. Soil water contents tend to be higher near the toe of the slope than at the crest irrespective of rainfall events, indicating subsurface movement of water in the downslope direction. The study has also indicated a correlation between rainfall amount and relative increase in pore-water pressure. The results can be used to quantify the flux boundary conditions required for the seepage analyses associated with rainfall-induced slope failures.Key words: infiltration, pore-water pressure, water content, residual soil, rainfall-induced slope failures.

Effect of rainfall on matric suctions in a residual soil slope

1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 618-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
T T Lim ◽  
H Rahardjo ◽  
M F Chang ◽  
D G Fredlund
Keyword(s):  
Slope Stability ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Matric Suction ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Soil Slope ◽  
Field Instrumentation ◽  
Pore Water Pressures ◽  
Residual Soil Slope

A slope stability study involving shallow slip surfaces should include the effect of negative pore-water pressures in a slope. A field instrumentation program was carried out to monitor negative pore-water pressure (i.e., in situ matric suction) in a residual soil slope in Singapore. Variations in matric suction and the matric suction profiles under (1) a canvas-convered grassed surface, (2) a grassed surface, and (3) a bare ground surface, in response to rainfalls were investigated. Changes in matric suction due to changes in climatic conditions decrease rapidly with depth. The change was found to be most significant in the bare slope and least significant under the canvas-covered slope. The amount of decrease in matric suction after a rainstorm was observed to be a function of the initial matric suction just prior to the rainstorm. Positive pore-water pressures were observed above the groundwater table, suggesting the development of a perched water table within the slope. These observations are also typical of other regions experiencing high seasonal rainfalls. The field monitoring program presented can be adopted for investigating rainfall-induced landslides in other parts of the world. Key words: matric suction, negative pore-water pressure, field instrumentation, rainfall, residual soil, slope stability.

Use of recycled crushed concrete and Secudrain in capillary barriers for slope stabilization

2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 662-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Rahardjo ◽  
V.A. Santoso ◽  
E.C. Leong ◽  
Y.S. Ng ◽  
C.P.H. Tam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Soil Slope ◽  
Capillary Barrier ◽  
Concrete Aggregates ◽  
Crushed Concrete ◽  
Residual Soil Slope

A capillary barrier is a two-layer cover system having distinct hydraulic properties to minimize water infiltration into the underlying soil by utilizing unsaturated soil mechanics principles. In this study, a capillary barrier system was designed as a cover system for a residual soil slope to maintain stability of the slope by minimizing infiltration during heavy rainfalls in the tropics. The capillary barrier system (CBS) was constructed using fine sand as the fine-grained layer and recycled crushed concrete aggregates as the coarse-grained layer. The coarse-grained layer is commonly constructed using gravels or granite chips. However, due to scarcity of aggregates and in consideration of environmental sustainability, recycled crushed concrete aggregates were used as the coarse-grained layer in this project. The suitability of recycled crushed concrete aggregates as a material within the coarse-grained layer of a CBS is subject to the hydraulic property requirement. For comparison, another CBS was constructed using fine sand as the fine-grained layer and a geosynthetic (Secudrain) as the coarse-grained layer. The performance of each constructed CBS on the residual soil slope was monitored using tensiometers installed at different depths — from 0.6 to 1.8 m below the slope surface — and a rainfall gauge mounted on the slope. An adjacent original slope without the CBS was also instrumented using tensiometers and piezometers to investigate the performance and effectiveness of the CBS in reducing rainwater infiltration and maintaining negative pore-water pressures in the slope. Real-time monitoring systems were developed to examine pore-water pressure, rainfall, and groundwater level in the slopes over a 1 year period. Characteristics of pore-water pressure distributions in the residual soil slope under a CBS with recycled crushed concrete aggregates and in the original slope during typical rainfalls are highlighted and compared. The measurement results show that the CBS was effective in minimizing rainwater infiltration and therefore, maintaining stability of the slope.

Infiltration characteristics of two instrumented residual soil slopes

2003 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 1012-1032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Illias Tsaparas ◽  
Harianto Rahardjo ◽  
David G Toll ◽  
Eng-Choon Leong
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Pore Water Pressures ◽  
Soil Slopes ◽  
Pressure Changes

This paper presents the analysis of a 12 month long field study of the infiltration characteristics of two residual soil slopes in Singapore. The field measurements consist of rainfall data, runoff data of natural and simulated rainfall events, and pore-water pressure changes during infiltration at several depths and at several locations on the two slopes. The analysis of the field measurements identifies the total rainfall and the initial pore-water pressures within the two slopes as the controlling parameters for the changes in the pore-water pressures within the slopes during infiltration.Key words: infiltration, rainfall, runoff, pore-water pressure, field measurements.

Shear strength of a compacted residual soil from consolidated drained and constant water content triaxial tests

2004 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harianto Rahardjo ◽  
Ong Boo Heng ◽  
Leong Eng Choon
Keyword(s):  
Shear Strength ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Volume Change ◽  
Triaxial Test ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Triaxial Tests ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Undrained Conditions

Rainfall-induced landslides in unsaturated residual soils can occur slowly under drained conditions or rapidly under undrained conditions. Consolidated drained (CD) and constant water content (CW) tests have been performed to simulate the stress paths followed by soil elements in a slope that fails under drained and undrained conditions. The study was carried out to investigate the shear strength characteristics of soils associated with rainfall-induced slope failures. The soil tested was residual soil from the Jurong sedimentary formation and was reconstituted using static compaction. The test results indicate that the shear strength of the compacted specimens obtained from the CW tests agrees well with the shear strength obtained from the CD tests for the specimens with initial matric suctions less than their air-entry values. The shear strength results from the CD and CW triaxial tests start to differ when the matric suction exceeds the air-entry value of the soil. The CD and CW triaxial tests also indicate that the compacted specimens behave as a normally consolidated soil at matric suctions below the air-entry value of the soil and as an overconsolidated soil at matric suctions above the air-entry value of the soil. Results of the CW triaxial tests show that the relationship between the response of pore-water pressure and the total volume change of the specimen is more complicated than that found in the saturated undrained triaxial tests. In other words, the change in pore-water pressure during shearing is not directly related to the overall volume change of the specimen.Key words: unsaturated soil, compacted soil, residual soil, consolidated drained triaxial test, constant water content triaxial test.

scholarly journals Field Test Research on Red Clay Slope under Atmospheric Action

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Kaisheng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Internal Friction ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Friction Angle ◽  
Internal Friction Angle ◽  
Red Clay ◽  
Failure Characteristics ◽  
Clay Slopes

By embedding water content sensors and pore water pressure sensors inside the red clay slope on-site in Guiyang, Guizhou, shear tests were performed on soil samples at different depths of the slope under different weather. The changes of water content, pore water pressure, and shear strength index of the slope inside the slope under the influence of the atmosphere were tracked and tested, and the failure characteristics and evolution of the red clay slope were analyzed. It is believed that the depth of influence of the atmosphere on red clay slopes is about 0.7 m, rainfall is the most direct climatic factor leading to the instability of red clay slopes, and the evaporation effect is an important prerequisite for the catastrophe of red clay slopes. The cohesion and internal friction angle of the slope soil have a good binary quadratic function relationship with the water content and density. The water content and density can be used to calculate the cohesion and internal friction angle. Failure characteristics of red clay slopes: the overall instability failure is less, mainly surface failure represented by gullies and weathering and spalling, and then gradually evolved into shallow instability failure represented by collapse and slump. The damage evolution law is as follows: splash corrosion and surface corrosion stage⟶ fracture development stage⟶ gully formation stage⟶ gully development through stage⟶ local collapse stage⟶ slope foot collapse stage.

Field measurement of anchor forces, ground temperatures, and pore-water pressures behind a retaining structure in northwestern Ontario

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-116
Author(s):  
K. D. Eigenbrod ◽  
J. P. Burak
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Retaining Wall ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Strain Gauges ◽  
Ground Temperatures ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Pore Water Pressures ◽  
Load Increase

Anchor forces, ground temperatures, and piezometric pressures were measured at a retaining wall in northwestern Ontario over a period of 2 years. The anchor forces were measured with strain gauges attached in pairs directly to the anchor rods. This method appeared practical in the field for time periods of less than 2 years as long as the strain gauges were carefully protected against moisture. The anchor forces increased from an average of 5 kN initially up to values of 50 kN during the winter periods and dropped during the summer periods back to the same values measured initially. The anchor forces were largely independent of pore-water pressure variations behind the wall. Rapid drawdown conditions, however, which were experienced during the second summer, were reflected in a load increase that was equivalent to the associated unloading effect in front of the wall. The pore-water pressures behind the wall were not noticeably affected by rapid drawdown, possibly due to the restraining effect of the anchors and the high rigidity of the low sheet pile wall. Ground temperatures at or below the groundwater table never dropped below 0 °C thus restricting the depth of frost penetration. Key words : anchor loads, freezing pressure, retaining walls, pore-water pressures, ground temperatures, field measurements.

scholarly journals Experiment Study of Lateral Unloading Stress Path and Excess Pore Water Pressure on Creep Behavior of Soft Soil

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Huang ◽  
Kejun Wen ◽  
Dongsheng Li ◽  
Xiaojia Deng ◽  
Lin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Creep Behavior ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Soft Soil ◽  
Stress Path ◽  
Deviatoric Stress ◽  
Excess Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Pore Water Pressures ◽  
Excess Pore

The unloading creep behavior of soft soil under lateral unloading stress path and excess pore water pressure is the core problem of time-dependent analysis of surrounding rock deformation under excavation of soft soil. The soft soil in Shenzhen, China, was selected in this study. The triaxial unloading creep tests of soft soil under different initial excess pore water pressures (0, 20, 40, and 60 kPa) were conducted with the K0 consolidation and lateral unloading stress paths. The results show that the unloading creep of soft soil was divided into three stages: attenuation creep, constant velocity creep, and accelerated creep. The duration of creep failure is approximately 5 to 30 mins. The unloading creep behavior of soft soil is significantly affected by the deviatoric stress and time. The nonlinearity of unloading creep of soft soil is gradually enhanced with the increase of the deviatoric stress and time. The initial excess pore water pressure has an obvious weakening effect on the unloading creep of soft soil. Under the same deviatoric stress, the unloading creep of soft soil is more significant with the increase of initial excess pore water pressure. Under undrained conditions, the excess pore water pressure generally decreases during the lateral unloading process and drops sharply at the moment of unloading creep damage. The pore water pressure coefficients during the unloading process were 0.73–1.16, 0.26–1.08, and 0.35–0.96, respectively, corresponding to the initial excess pore water pressures of 20, 40, and 60 kPa.

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