Two Experimental Devices to Study the 1D and 3D Seepage Process of Water Inside Natural Soils: A Lisimeter and a Physical Model of Slope

Abstract

This technical report describes two experimental devices: a lisimeter and a physical model of slope, developed at Department of Geotechnical Engineering of University of Naples Federico II, to study the effects of the rainfall on the natural slope stability. It is well know as different types of slope instability are strictly related to significant rain events due to the interaction between the fluid phase and the soil structure. In facts change of the water quantity stored inside the soil can affect the mechanic behaviour of the soil. In particular the lisimeter has developed to investigate the relationship between the variation of water content and the related change of the idro-mechanical behaviour of the soil. The slope the pysical model can be used to study those factors affecting rain induced flowslide in pyroclastic soils. The physical model of slope and the lisimeter are presented along with experimental procedures.