Analysis of failure of high slope subjected to rainfall infiltration at Peringavu in Kerala, India

Abstract

This paper presents laboratory and numerical analysis of vertical cut failure due to rainfall-induced landslide resulting in building failure that led to the death of nine people in Kerala, India, on August 15, 2018. The residual shear strength parameters are evaluated by the ring shear test. The soil water characteristics curve (SWCC) is developed by unsaturated soil strength parameters. The slope stability and infiltration analysis are carried out with limit equilibrium and finite element methods, respectively. The infiltration analysis is carried out by considering three different rainfall patterns on the slope as low, medium, and high intensities. The study includes a two-stage numerical analysis of vertical cut. Firstly, vertical cut analysis with and without rainfall effects and second, the analysis of vertical cut using coir geotextile as reinforcement with rainfall effects. The study emphasized the utilization of locally available coir geotextiles as a reinforcement for slope stabilization.