Coupled transient saturated–unsaturated seepage and limit equilibrium analysis for slopes: influence of rapid water level changes

This study investigates the influence of the water level fluctuation on the stability of soil slopes using coupled seepage and slope stability analysis. A simulation framework was proposed and implemented seamlessly using Python code to seek insights into three factors that have not been thoroughly...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta geotechnica 2022-06, Vol.17 (6), p.2139-2156
Main Authors: Biniyaz, Aynaz, Azmoon, Behnam, Liu, Zhen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aeration zone
Analysis
Complex Fluids and Microfluidics
Drawdown
Engineering
Equilibrium analysis
Equilibrium methods
Finite element method
Foundations
Geoengineering
Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences
Hydraulics
Hydrostatic pressure
Mathematical analysis
Mathematical models
Methods
Pore pressure
Pore water
Pore water pressure
Pressure distribution
Research Paper
Seepage
Shear strength
Slice method
Slope stability
Soft and Granular Matter
Soil Science & Conservation
Soil stability
Soils
Solid Mechanics
Stability analysis
Water level fluctuations
Water levels
Water pressure
Weight
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study investigates the influence of the water level fluctuation on the stability of soil slopes using coupled seepage and slope stability analysis. A simulation framework was proposed and implemented seamlessly using Python code to seek insights into three factors that have not been thoroughly studied for this issue: soil unit weight variation in the unsaturated zone, unsaturated shear strength models, and velocity of water drawdown. For this purpose, the seepage analysis was carried out by discretizing a numerical seepage analysis model using a finite element analysis platform, FEniCS. The output of the seepage analysis, i.e., pore water pressure distribution, was used as input for the slope stability analysis. Limit equilibrium methods including the Bishop Simplified method and the Ordinary Method of Slices were modified to take into consideration the unsaturated shear strength, unit weight variation in the unsaturated zone, and hydrostatic pressure changes in response to the water level fluctuation of a reservoir. Both seepage and slope analysis modules were validated against commercial programs. Analysis results obtained with the validated framework clearly revealed the distinct influences of the three factors in representative silty and sandy slopes.
ISSN:1861-1125
1861-1133
DOI:10.1007/s11440-021-01359-7