Abstract
The instability of reservoir slope is likely to cause some severe natural hazards such as surge and barrier lake. In this study, the changes in seepage field and the distribution of the unsaturated zone of a reservoir bank slope subjected to rapid water-level fluctuations are investigated using the finite element method. The stability analysis of a reservoir slope under water-level fluctuation with a rate of 2 m/day is performed. The stability analysis is based on the theory of unsaturated soil mechanics and saturated-unsaturated seepage and accounts for the hydromechanical coupling effect. The changes in shear stress and strain as well as pore water pressure due to rapid water-level fluctuations are explicitly examined. Furthermore, the stability factor of safety, the underlying failure mechanism, and relevant influence factors are discussed. Based on the finite element analysis, it is found that the rapid loss of matrix suction would give rise to the surface landslide near the slope toe.
Highlights
Academic Editor: Khalid Abdel-Rahman e instability of reservoir slope is likely to cause some severe natural hazards such as surge and barrier lake
The changes in seepage field and the distribution of the unsaturated zone of a reservoir bank slope subjected to rapid water-level fluctuations are investigated using the finite element method. e stability analysis of a reservoir slope under water-level fluctuation with a rate of 2 m/day is performed. e stability analysis is based on the theory of unsaturated soil mechanics and saturated-unsaturated seepage and accounts for the hydromechanical coupling effect. e changes in shear stress and strain as well as pore water pressure due to rapid water-level fluctuations are explicitly examined
Considering the finite element method stability calculation results of the unsaturated landslide deposits after the coupling of the seepage field and the stress field, the results show the overall sliding. e stability factor is 1.123, which is generally stable
Summary
Received 27 July 2019; Revised 26 December 2019; Accepted 3 February 2020; Published 28 April 2020. The changes in seepage field and the distribution of the unsaturated zone of a reservoir bank slope subjected to rapid water-level fluctuations are investigated using the finite element method. The slope reliability analysis as well as the changes in seepage field and the unsaturated zone of a reservoir bank slope subjected to rapid water-level fluctuations has not been discussed in these studies. E suction matrix is used to calculate the influence of a changing rate of water-level on the unsaturated soil of the typical landslide deposit H12 of an engineering example of bank slope investigation in Nuozhadu Reservoir area. In the stability analysis of the slope, the coupling effects of matrix suction in the unsaturated area, pore water seepage in the saturated area, and gravity stress field of rock and soil are taken into account. Determination of Calculation Method. e fluid-soil interaction is explicitly considered as the finite element modelling. e soil is assumed to be a continuous medium
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