Stochastic modelling of unsaturated slope stability

Arnold, Patrick; Hicks, Michael

doi:10.1201/b10526-193

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The authors however varied both soil parameters and rainfall intensity-duration curves. Arnold and Hicks (2010) is one of the very few studies dealing with finite unsaturated slopes stochastically. The authors used the Bishop's effective stress approach (1959) to study the simultaneous variation of friction angle, cohesion, porosity, saturated permeability and air entry suction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stability and failure mass of unsaturated heterogeneous slopes

Gallipoli

Sánchez

et al. 2015

Can. Geotech. J.

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Rainfall infiltration in an unsaturated soil slope induces loss of suction (and even positive pore-water pressures), which can eventually lead to failure. This paper investigates the probability and the size of failure of an unsaturated slope with spatially variable void ratio, subjected to a constant intensity rainfall. The random finite element method is employed in conjunction with a Monte Carlo simulation to stochastically evaluate the factor of safety and the size of the sliding mass. The results indicate that the mean value and the variability of these two quantities depend on both correlation length and coefficient of variation of the void ratio field. This dependency is more prominent during the transient regime than at steady states. Notably, the factor of safety in some cases can be low but the corresponding sliding mass is relatively small, while in other instances, the factor of safety might remain large though the associated sliding mass is very sizeable. The correlation between the factor of safety and the size of the sliding mass shifts from positive to negative as the rainfall progresses. A simple quadrant plot is suggested to assess the risk associated with slope failure, taking into account both the factor of safety and the size of failure, rather than the factor of safety alone as it is usually the case. The study also demonstrates an application of a numerical approach to assess stability of geostructures composed of complex multiphase materials such as unsaturated soils or frozen soils.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stability and failure mass of unsaturated heterogeneous slopes

Gallipoli

Sánchez

et al. 2015

Can. Geotech. J.

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“…67 Most research that includes the effect of hysteresis focuses on homogeneous 68 soils. Conversely, if the heterogeneity of soil property values is taken into account, 69 the impact of hysteresis is typically not accounted for (Arnold and Hicks, 2010 First, the mechanical and stochastic model framework for slope stability under 88 saturated-unsaturated seepage is briefly introduced. Next, the numerical 89 implementation of the framework is explained, and a specific example then utilised 90 to investigate the impact of considering hysteresis for a homogeneous embankment.…”

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confidence: 99%

Combined effect of hysteresis and heterogeneity on the stability of an embankment under transient seepage

Liu

Hicks

Arnold

2017

Engineering Geology

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The stability of most earth embankments is strongly influenced by the 7 water content of the soil. The water content directly influences the suction or pore 8 pressure in the soil, as well as the mass of material, thereby affecting the stress state 9 and strength, and leading to changes in the stability. These aspects are coupled by 10 the so-called soil water retention behaviour, which is observed to be a hysteretic 11 phenomenon. Moreover, soils are known to be spatially variable or heterogeneous in 12 nature, which can lead to preferential flow paths and stronger or weaker zones. In 13 this paper the behaviour of a heterogeneous earth embankment subjected to cyclic 14 water level fluctuation, including the impact of hysteresis, is investigated. The soil 15 property values governing the unsaturated hydraulic response of the embankment 16 are considered as spatially random variables, with the mechanical property values 17 considered deterministic in order to isolate the impact of the hydraulic behaviour.18

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