Field-Scale Measurement of Groundwater Profiles in a Drained Slope

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 2008 Field-Scale Measurement of Groundwater Profiles in a Drained Slope DIANA I. COOK; DIANA I. COOK 1Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1516 Illinois Street, Golden, CO 80401 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar PAUL M. SANTI; PAUL M. SANTI 1Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1516 Illinois Street, Golden, CO 80401 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JERRY D. HIGGINS; JERRY D. HIGGINS 1Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1516 Illinois Street, Golden, CO 80401 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar RICHARD D. SHORT RICHARD D. SHORT 2Blackhawk Geologic Hazard Abatement District, 4125 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville, CA 94506 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information DIANA I. COOK 1Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1516 Illinois Street, Golden, CO 80401 PAUL M. SANTI 1Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1516 Illinois Street, Golden, CO 80401 JERRY D. HIGGINS 1Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1516 Illinois Street, Golden, CO 80401 RICHARD D. SHORT 2Blackhawk Geologic Hazard Abatement District, 4125 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville, CA 94506 Publisher: Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1558-9161 Print ISSN: 1078-7275 Copyright © 2008 © 2005 Association of Engineering Geologists Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (2008) 14 (3): 167–182. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.14.3.167 Article history First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation DIANA I. COOK, PAUL M. SANTI, JERRY D. HIGGINS, RICHARD D. SHORT; Field-Scale Measurement of Groundwater Profiles in a Drained Slope. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2008;; 14 (3): 167–182. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.14.3.167 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract In 2003, Crenshaw and Santi developed a method for calculating average piezometric heads between horizontal drains in a slope. The method relies on drain flow rates, slope geometry, and soil hydraulic conductivity. The corrugated shape of groundwater profiles between drains and the departure of the groundwater surface from the drain near its uphill end were verified using laboratory-scale physical and computer modeling. In 2007, a study was conducted seeking to confirm these findings using field-scale modeling. The test site consists of a 2H:1V (2 horizontal : 1 vertical), 30 × 12 ft (9.1 × 3.7 m) concrete slope representing low-permeability bedrock. Five perforated pipes embedded in the concrete are used to simulate base-flow recharge. The concrete was covered with a lean clay, and two wick drains were installed at a spacing of 8 ft (2.4 m). Fifty standpipe piezometers were installed to measure groundwater profiles between and along drains. Measurements were taken during recharge and drawdown events. The test was repeated with a clayey sand. Test results generally confirm the findings of Crenshaw and Santi, with some localized variations in groundwater profiles. The variations are most likely due to factors such as heterogeneous soil properties, the development of preferential pathways, boundary effects, etc. Field-testing also yielded additional information about the behavior of drained slopes that may be useful for future slope-stability projects. As a result of this research, recommendations for using Crenshaw and Santi's method to estimate piezometric heads between short, high-angle sub-horizontal drains in shallow landslides for use in slope-stability analyses are provided. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.