Pore Water Pressure Fluctuation Research Articles

Failure mode of rainfall-induced landslide of granite residual soil, southeastern Guangxi Province, China

Abstract. Granite residual soil landslides are widely distributed in the southeast of Guangxi, China. They pose threats to local communities, economic development and ecological restoration. To understand the failure mode, the landslide can provide a scientific basis for early warning and prevention. In this study, we conducted artificial flume model tests to investigate the failure mode of granite residual soil landslide. The macroscopic phenomena of landslides were observed and summarized. The response and variations of soil moisture content and pore water pressure were analyzed. And the discrepancies in landslide initiation were explored. The results had three aspects: (1) the response of volume moisture content was not synchronized with that of pore water pressure. Their variations were influenced by initial dry density, slope angle and rainfall intensity. The fluctuation of pore water pressure depended on soil mechanical behavior and its diffusion. (2) The differences in the formation process of granite residual soil landslides included the initiation time and mode. The starting time of landslide was delayed with increasing initial dry density and slope angle but shortened with increasing rainfall intensity. The failure mode could be changed from a sudden type to a progressive type due to the increase in initial dry density. (3) There are five stages in the landslide mobilization as follows: rain infiltration and crack generation, soil slide at the slope toe, occurrence of surface runoff and soil erosion, formation of steep-free surface, and soil slide at the upper slope. This research can provide valuable reference for the prevention and early warning of granite residual soil landslide in southeastern Guangxi.

Experimental study of one-dimensional nonlinear consolidation of an aquitard under multistage loading

• Design of experimental instrument for simulating consolidation of aquifer system. • Monitor the parameters of aquitard and characterize their nonlinear distribution. • Conduct multistage loading to simulate complex and realistic loading conditions. • Reverse pore water pressure fluctuations occur in the thicker aquitard. • Calculate the curves of pore water pressure base on different hydraulic conductivities. Aquifer heterogeneity is critical for predicting processes involved in the dissipation of pore water pressure, consolidation, and rebound. The consolidation and rebound of aquifer systems should consider the spatiotemporal variation in the hydraulic and mechanical parameters of the aquifer and aquitard. In this study, a series of laboratory experiments was conducted to characterize the consolidation and rebound of the aquifer system and estimate the hydraulic conductivity of the aquitard. The experimental results revealed that under multistage loading, the compression in the upper part of the aquitard tended to decrease, while the compression in the lower part of the aquitard tended to increase. In addition, the variation in hydraulic conductivity and deformation of the aquitard were closely related and reasonably matched at each stage. Moreover, a one-dimensional consolidation model was developed to simulate the variation in pore water pressure and compare it with the experimental pore water pressure. Reverse pore water pressure fluctuations occurred within a part of the aquitard away from the drainage boundary. Compared to the theoretical curves, the experimental curves of the pore water pressure calculated from the initial and asymptotic hydraulic conductivities exhibited delayed and advanced effects. These findings can help elucidate the characteristics of consolidation and rebound of aquifer systems and the spatiotemporal variation in hydraulic conductivity.

Determining trigger factors of soil mass failure in a hollow: A study based in the Sichuan Province, China

Soil mass failure disasters are among the most destructive disasters in mountainous areas worldwide, and they continue to receive significant attention in the literature. However, factors that influence soil mass failure in hollows have not been explored via experimental approaches. In this study, we conducted a series of indoor hollow–flume experiments to exhibit how the three factors, namely, initial moisture content, slope angle, and clay content, influence the collapse of soil mass under surface runoff conditions. Our findings revealed that the major processes causing soil mass failure were internal seepage erosion resulting from subsurface runoff, migration of fine particles, development of tension cracks, increase in pore water pressure, and decrease in cohesion. Fluctuations in pore water pressure were characterized by two main trends: (1) an abrupt rise under static liquefaction and (2) a decrease before failure due to dilatancy. The time required for soil mass failure first decreased and then increased with the increase in moisture content. The soil mass with an initial moisture content of ∼12.5% was more critical to the failure. In addition, the time required for soil mass failure decreased with increasing slope angle, revealing a slope angle of 40° to be more prone to failure. The buildup of pore water pressure was found to increase with clay content; soil with a clay content of ∼7.5% required the shortest amount of time to initiate slides. Thus, our results provide a thorough insight into the processes and factors involved in the initiation and development of soil mass failure in hollow areas, which can be used by public agencies to improve monitoring, early warning, and forecasting systems. Notably, our study can help identify risk-prone source areas, and sensors can be installed to monitor potential mass failure locations.

The Impact of Fracture Persistence and Intact Rock Bridge Failure on the In Situ Block Area Distribution

The in situ block size distribution is an essential characteristic of fractured rock masses and impacts the assessment of rockfall hazards and other fields of rock mechanics. The block size distribution can be estimated rather easily for fully persistent fractures, but it is a challenge to determine this parameter when non-persistent fractures in a rock mass should be considered. In many approaches, the block size distribution is estimated by assuming that the fractures are fully persistent, resulting in an underestimation of the block sizes for many fracture geometries. In addition, the block size distribution is influenced by intact rock bridge failure, especially in rock masses with non-persistent fractures, either in a short-term perspective during a slope failure event when the rock mass increasingly disintegrates or in a long-term view when the rock mass progressively weakens. The quantification of intact rock bridge failure in a rock mass is highly complex, comprising fracture coalescence and crack growth driven by time-dependent changes of the in situ stresses due to thermal, freezing-thawing, and pore water pressure fluctuations. This contribution presents stochastic analyses of the two-dimensional in situ block area distribution and the mean block area of non-persistent fracture networks. The applied 2D discrete fracture network approach takes into account the potential failure of intact rock bridges based on a pre-defined threshold length and relies on input parameters that can be easily measured in the field by classical discontinuity mapping methods (e.g., scanline mapping). In addition, on the basis of these discrete fracture network analyses, an empirical relationship was determined between (i) the mean block area for persistent fractures, (ii) the mean block area for non-persistent fractures, and (iii) the mean interconnectivity factor. The further adaptation of this 2D approach to 3D block geometries is discussed on the basis of general considerations. The calculations carried out in this contribution highlight the large impact of non-persistent fractures and intact rock bridge failure for rock mass characterization, e.g., rockfall assessment.

Till kinematics in the Stargard drumlin field, NW Poland constrained by microstructural proxies

ABSTRACTDeciphering the relationships between streamlined subglacial landforms and deposits therein helps to constrain the dynamics of past ice sheets. Here we present microstructural analyses of till from the largest drumlin field in the North European Lowland generated by a major palaeo‐ice stream of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet. Data derived from thin sections and X‐ray microtomography (μCT) reveal multiple microstructures including microshears, circular structures, grain stacks and crushed grains. Long axes of micro‐clasts measured in thin sections are directionally clustered and have low, down‐ice‐oriented dip angles. Some samples reveal subordinate clustering oriented at high angles to the main direction. The μCT data show low clustering strengths of clasts and no systematic fabric pattern in the entire set of samples. There is no correspondence between the clast orientations and the directions of drumlin long axes, suggesting that the till is antecedent in relation to the drumlin‐shaping process. The observations indicate spatially and temporally variable, shallow‐seated brittle and ductile deformation controlled by porewater pressure fluctuations and generated time‐transgressively parallel to till accretion. Consistently with previous studies, the data suggest that the Stargard drumlins are erosional remnants of a pre‐existing terrain shaped by material removal from the inter‐drumlin areas.

Analysis of ground collapse caused by shield tunnelling and the evaluation of the reinforcement effect on a sand stratum

Based on laboratory and field tests for a cross-river highway shield tunnel in China, the causes of ground collapse by shield tunnelling in a water-rich fine sand stratum were analyzed. To ensure the safety of subsequent shield tunnelling, reinforcement treatment was carried out, and then the reinforcement effect was comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that the fine sand properties, slurry circulation quality, support pressure set and excess pore water pressure fluctuation are the main reasons for the collapse of sandy ground. The comparative analysis of the permeability coefficient of the stratum and tunnelling parameters of the shield indicated that the grouting reinforcement effect on the fine sand stratum was obvious and that the disturbance to the stratum can be effectively controlled.

Monitoring strain development of soil slope using distributed optical fibre sensor

Rainfall infiltration is well-known as one of the important factors that lead to slope failure in tropical areas such Malaysia because it’s significant fluctuation of pore water pressure due to monsoon seasons. In this paper, a distributed sensing optical fibre system named Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (BOTDA) is used to monitor the strain development of a laboratory soil slope model. The aim of study is to determine the plane failure of a residual soil slope under rainfall infiltration and subsequent loading impact using BOTDA technology. A soil slope model was constructed from Malaysian residual soil slope and tested under various rainfall infiltration patterns and sequential loadings. A continuous ribbon optical fibre has been directly embedded in the soil slope to measure the soil strain. The paper only presented on soil strain response due to rainfall infiltration and relations to the pore pressure development within the finite slope. From the experiments, it has been observed that the optical fibre has been able to capture soil strain during infiltration which proven the sensitivity of optical fibre to measure soil strain. The maximum strain observed was about 850 microstrain (µε) which occurred at the third layer of slope height (L1) at 8-hour of infiltration. After 24-hours of infiltration, the strain was observed to be constant for all layers; Layer 1 (L1) = 302 µε, Layer 2 = 210 µε and Layer 3 (L3) = 190 µε in which the whole sample was clearly seen in a fully saturated condition and the negative pore pressure has remained constant throughout the depth.

NUMERICAL MODELING OF UNSATURATED LAYERED SOIL FOR RAINFALL-INDUCED SHALLOW LANDSLIDES

In this paper, a pioneer study on numerical modeling of rainfall-induced shallow landslides in unsaturated layered soil using the variably saturated flow equation is presented. To model the shallow landslides, the infinite slope stability analysis coupled with the hydrological model with the consideration of the fluctuation of time-dependent pore water pressure and Gardner equation for soil water characteristic curve was developed. A linearization process for the nonlinear Richards equation to deal with groundwater flow in unsaturated layered soil is derived using the Gardner model. To solve one-dimensional flow in the unsaturated zone of layered soil profiles, flux conservation and the continuity of pressure potential at the interface between two consecutive layers are considered in the numerical discretization of the finite difference method. The validity of the proposed model is established in three numerical problems by comparing the results with the analytical and other numerical solutions. Application examples have also been conducted. Obtained results demonstrate that the fluctuation of pore water pressure in unsaturated layered soil dominates slope stability of landslides and the lowest factor of safety may occur at the interface between two consecutive layers. The findings observed in this study are a fundamental contribution to environmental protection engineering for landslides in areas with higher occurrence and vulnerability to extreme precipitation.

Transient modeling of regional rainfall-triggered shallow landslides

This study investigates the transient modeling of regional rainfall-triggered shallow landslides in unsaturated soil using the Richards equation. To model shallow landslides within a distributed regional-scale framework, infinite slope stability analysis coupled with the hydrological model with consideration of the fluctuation of time-dependent pore water pressure and the soil–water characteristic curve proposed by van Genuchten was developed. The validity of the proposed model is established through several test problems by comparing the numerical results with the analytical solutions. A new procedure to set up wide-range shallow landslide analysis and to integrate regional distribution variations for input data such as geology, groundwater level, hydrogeological characteristics, and rainfall intensity and duration was presented. The results obtained demonstrate that the computed distribution of the safety factor is consistent with the distribution of actual landslides. In addition, the fluctuation of pore water pressure in unsaturated soil dominates the stability of landslides during typhoons accompanied by heavy rainfall. The findings observed in this study are a fundamental contribution to environmental effects for landslides in areas with higher occurrence and vulnerability to extreme precipitation.

Rainfall thresholds for landslide early warning system in Nakhon Si Thammarat

Transient seepage in unsaturated soil slope is one of the significant triggering factors in rainfall-induced landslides. Rainfall infiltration leads to the decrease in stabilizing effect because of increased positive pore-water pressures. SEEP/W and SLOPE/W used in this study have been widely employed to describe frameworks for understanding transient seepage in soil slope, and to perform slope stability analyses, respectively. The study area is in Sichon District in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern Thailand. A landslide there was investigated by modeling the process of rainfall infiltration under positive and negative pore-water pressures and their effects on slope stability. GIS (Geographic Information System) and geotechnical laboratory results were used as input parameters. The van Genuchten’s soil water characteristic curve and unsaturated permeability function were used to estimate surface infiltration rates. An average rainfall was derived from 30-year monthly rainfall data between 1981 and 2011 in this area reported by the Thailand Royal Irrigation Department. For transient condition, finite element analysis in SEEP/W was employed to model fluctuations in pore-water pressure during a rainfall, using the computed water infiltration rates as surface boundary conditions. SLOPE/W employing Bishop simplified method was then carried out to compute their factors of safety, and antecedent precipitation indices (API) calculated. Heterogeneous slope at the site became unstable at an average critical API (APIcr) of 380 mm, agreeing well with the actual value of 388 mm.

Prediction of pore-water pressure response to rainfall using support vector regression

Nonlinear complex behavior of pore-water pressure responses to rainfall was modelled using support vector regression (SVR). Pore-water pressure can rise to disturbing levels that may result in slope failure during or after rainfall. Traditionally, monitoring slope pore-water pressure responses to rainfall is tedious and expensive, in that the slope must be instrumented with necessary monitors. Data on rainfall and corresponding responses of pore-water pressure were collected from such a monitoring program at a slope site in Malaysia and used to develop SVR models to predict pore-water pressure fluctuations. Three models, based on their different input configurations, were developed. SVR optimum meta-parameters were obtained using k-fold cross validation and a grid search. Model type 3 was adjudged the best among the models and was used to predict three other points on the slope. For each point, lag intervals of 30 min, 1 h and 2 h were used to make the predictions. The SVR model predictions were compared with predictions made by an artificial neural network model; overall, the SVR model showed slightly better results. Uncertainty quantification analysis was also performed for further model assessment. The uncertainty components were found to be low and tolerable, with d-factor of 0.14 and 74 % of observed data falling within the 95 % confidence bound. The study demonstrated that the SVR model is effective in providing an accurate and quick means of obtaining pore-water pressure response, which may be vital in systems where response information is urgently needed.

Assessment of ground-based monitoring techniques applied to landslide investigations

A landslide complex in the Whitby Mudstone Formation at Hollin Hill, North Yorkshire, UK is periodically re-activated in response to rainfall-induced pore-water pressure fluctuations. This paper compares long-term measurements (i.e., 2009–2014) obtained from a combination of monitoring techniques that have been employed together for the first time on an active landslide. The results highlight the relative performance of the different techniques, and can provide guidance for researchers and practitioners for selecting and installing appropriate monitoring techniques to assess unstable slopes. Particular attention is given to the spatial and temporal resolutions offered by the different approaches that include: Real Time Kinematic-GPS (RTK-GPS) monitoring of a ground surface marker array, conventional inclinometers, Shape Acceleration Arrays (SAA), tilt meters, active waveguides with Acoustic Emission (AE) monitoring, and piezometers. High spatial resolution information has allowed locating areas of stability and instability across a large slope. This has enabled identification of areas where further monitoring efforts should be focused. High temporal resolution information allowed the capture of ‘S’-shaped slope displacement-time behaviour (i.e. phases of slope acceleration, deceleration and stability) in response to elevations in pore-water pressures. This study shows that a well-balanced suite of monitoring techniques that provides high temporal and spatial resolutions on both measurement and slope scale is necessary to fully understand failure and movement mechanisms of slopes. In the case of the Hollin Hill landslide it enabled detailed interpretation of the geomorphological processes governing landslide activity. It highlights the benefit of regularly surveying a network of GPS markers to determine areas for installation of movement monitoring techniques that offer higher resolution both temporally and spatially. The small sensitivity of tilt meter measurements to translational movements limited the ability to record characteristic ‘S’-shaped landslide movements at Hollin Hill, which were identified using SAA and AE measurements. This high sensitivity to landslide movements indicates the applicability of SAA and AE monitoring to be used in early warning systems, through detecting and quantifying accelerations of slope movement.

Modeling debris flows in volcanic terrains for hazard mapping: the case study of Ischia Island (Italy)

The Island of Ischia is a densely populated, active volcanic island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, approximately 30 km WSW from the city of Naples in Southern Italy. The Island is a debris-flow prone area due to its steep slopes covered by loose volcanic lithologies, and the whole territory is vulnerable to such phenomena due to an unregulated urbanization. On April 30th 2006, following several hours of rainfall, four soil slips were triggered on the slopes of Mt. Vezzi (about 400 m a.s.l.) in the SE portion of the island. The soil slips changed quickly into debris flows that reached the inhabited at the foot of the hill. In spite of their limited size, the landslides caused four victims and destroyed several buildings, forcing the evacuation of 250 inhabitants. This paper presents the analysis of the triggering and propagation phase of the phenomena. In particular, to model the triggering conditions, a finite element analysis was used to reconstruct the fluctuations in pore water pressure during the storm in transient conditions. The limit equilibrium (Morgenstern and Price, 1965) slope-stability method was then applied using the temporal pore water pressure distributions derived from the seepage analysis. The dynamic modeling of the propagation phase was carried out by means of two dynamic codes DAN-W and FLO2D, with the aim of evaluating the residual hazard linked to other potential debris flows recognized in the same area. The model calibration was based on the thickness and areal extension of the deposits, on flow velocity and runout. The results have been subsequently compared to adopt a combined approach to the modeling. Once the DAN-W and FLO2D models satisfactorily reproduced the 30th April events, the simulations were extended to a larger area, whose susceptibility to future landslide events has been determined through a detailed geomorphological survey and a following GIS analysis. Several scenarios related to these potential events were used to estimate the inundation areas, flow velocities, and deposit thicknesses.

Rainfall-induced landslides in the residual soil of andesitic terrain, western Japan

Rainfall triggered landslides are frequent problems in the residual soil of andesitic terrain in western Japan. Characteristics of residual soils over bronzite andesite, procedure of in situ permeability measurement, matric suction and soil moisture content change and stability analyses considering unsaturated-saturated soils as integral system are presented in this paper. The paper highlights two landslides of small andesitic hillock of western Japan and describes modelling of rainwater seepage, slope stability analysis and contributing parameters for landsliding in andesitic terrain. For both landslides, results of geomorphological and geotechnical analyses were used as a direct input to the numerical modelling. For transient conditions, a finite element analysis was used to model the fluctuations in pore water pressure during the rainfall, with the computed hourly rainfall rate as the surface boundary condition. This was then followed by the slope stability analysis using the temporal pore water pressure distributions derived from the seepage analysis. Obtained trend for the factor of safety indicates that the most critical time step for failure was a few hours following the antecedent moisture content of previously day peak rainfall. Time of failure estimated by modelling has shown good match with time declared by eyewitnesses.

Effects of Saturation on Slope Stability: Laboratory Experiments Utilizing External Load

Failure of natural slopes may result in considerable damage to both human health and real estate properties. The conditions “necessary” for a slope to fail have been investigated thoroughly in the past. Additional work is still necessary regarding the causes that trigger a slope to move and that may in the long run even be helpful to predict the failure of a slope. We conducted experiments to investigate the influence of various groundwater conditions on slope stability. Our results showed that the position of the groundwater table and especially a variation in pore water pressure greatly affect the slope stability under loaded conditions. Moreover the results showed that slope failures are preceded by an abrupt decrease in pore water pressure. We suggest that a monitoring of the fluctuation of pore water pressure in a real slope may give an indication of its inherent stability.

Instrumented failure of hillslope models with soil-pipes

Soil-pipes (porous pipes inside a hillslope) are often detected in collapsed slopes indicating their influence on slope failure processes. Only limited studies can be found regarding the impacts of soil-pipes on landslide mechanisms. Hillslope models prepared in a flume are experimented with different soil-pipe configurations: a) no pipe, b) closed pipe and c) open pipe. Pore-water pressures were measured at six different locations along a slope. Discharges at the outlet of soil-pipe and groundwater seepage were also recorded. For the above mentioned pipe configurations two types of experiments were conducted: a) rainfall-induced failure and b) seepage-induced failure.Experimental results show that a closed pipe accumulates water around its lower end and continuously increases pore-water pressure till a failure. An open pipe works as a means of hillslope drainage and reduces the pore-water pressure of an entire slope. However, if open pipe is blocked, pore-water pressure close to its lower end rises rapidly, leading to immediate soil mass movement. For both seepage and rainfall-induced failure experiments, the maximum pressure before the failure was larger at a slope with an open pipe (once it is closed) than a slope with a pipe closed from the beginning or that without a soil-pipe. This indicates that the blockage of soil-pipes makes a slope more susceptible to failure.Displacement vectors show that soil movement velocity close to the surface was highest at slopes with open pipes after closure and lowest at slopes without pipes because of a higher degree of saturation and pore-water pressure at the time of failure of the former. Before a large failure, small fluctuations in pore-water pressure were also observed which can be an indicator of impending failure.

A web-based GIS for managing and assessing landslide data for the town of Peace River, Canada

Abstract. Assessment of geological hazards in urban areas must integrate geospatial and temporal data, such as complex geology, highly irregular ground surface, fluctuations in pore-water pressure, surface displacements and environmental factors. Site investigation for geological hazard studies frequently produces surface maps, geological information from borehole data, laboratory test results and monitoring data. Specialized web-based GIS tools were created to facilitate geospatial analyses of displacement data from inclinometers and pore pressure data from piezometers as well as geological information from boreholes and surface mapping. A variety of visual aids in terms of graphs or charts can be created in the web page on the fly, e.g. displacement vector, time displacement and summaries of geotechnical testing results. High-resolution satellite or aerial images and LiDAR data can also be effectively managed, facilitating fast and preliminary hazard assessment. A preliminary geohazard assessment using the web based tools was carried out for the Town of Peace River.

Pore Water Pressure as a Trigger of Shallow Landslides in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India: Some Preliminary Observations from an Experimental Catchment

The Western Ghats mountain chain of Kerala, India, is prone to landslides mainly caused by anthropogenic disturbances and very high rainfall amounts. Here, some initial observations on the apparent relationship among pore water pressure fluctuations, rainfall characteristics, and landslide initiation are presented based on monitoring in an experimental catchment in the upper Tikovil River basin. On June 21 and 22, 2007, continuous rain fell for over 10 hours with a total precipitation of 147 mm, causing three shallow landslides in the catchment. Measurements using piezometers in three hollows of the catchment indicate that the rain spell resulted in the development of high pore water pressure from the beginning of the storm that persisted through the time of occurrence of shallow landslides. The pore water pressure patterns in these monitored hollows are possible representatives of the pore water pressure pattern in the hollows where the landslides initiated. This similarity of response pattern enables such data to be used for the calibration and validation of physically based slope hydrology models coupled with slope stability models.

DEM-FEM Model of Highly Saturated Soil Motion Due to Seepage Force

This paper examines a new approach to the problem of modeling transport phenomena that occur inside highly saturated discrete soil due to seepage force. The theory is based on a combination of the finite-element method (FEM), a solution of the poroelastic equations, and the distinct-element method (DEM) to produce a coupled numerical model. The FEM is used to calculate pore-water pressure fluctuations while the DEM is used to simulate the interactions between particles of submerged soil. This combination of different numerical schemes enables simulation of movements inside the granular material under the influence of pore-water pressure gradients. This theory and the equations used are presented and the parameters discussed. The functionality of the theory is tested in an application of the model to an embedded vertical seawall, and its accuracy is verified by a small-scale laboratory test.

Mathematical modelling of the landslide occurred at Gagliano Castelferrato (Italy)

Abstract. Shallow slopes in clayey colluvial covers are often involved in progressive downhill motion with discontinuous rate of movements, depending on fluctuations in pore-water pressure. In geotechnical engineering research on natural slopes, the main efforts have been concentrated on stability analysis, always with a rigid perfectly plastic body assumption. In case of slow slope movements, however, the notion of stability losses its sense, so the main question is not to evaluate a stability factor, but to model a velocity field and to define the kinematic and dynamic features of the movement (mobility analysis). Many authors, in their researches, deal with slow slope movements and for the complexity of the problem and the great number of parameters involved they agree about applying numerical techniques (FEM, FDM) and advanced material modelling (elastoviscoplasticity) and suggest to calibrate the involved parameters values with the help of ''back analyses'' of existing case histories. In this paper a mathematical model predicting the landslide body viscous deformations, is presented. The model has been implemented in a computer FDM code, and has been tested on some well known case histories. Here it is applied to the case of a landslide occurred at Gagliano Castelferrato (Sicily – Italy), where a great number of field measurements was available.