Numerical study of soil conditions under which matric suction can be maintained

2004 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
L L Zhang ◽  
D G Fredlund ◽  
L M Zhang ◽  
W H Tang
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Matric Suction ◽  
Rainfall Infiltration ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Soil System ◽  
Coefficient Of Permeability

The effect of negative pore-water pressure is often ignored in slope stability studies. There is a perception among geotechnical engineers that negative pore-water pressures will dissipate with rainfall infiltration and cannot be relied upon in design considerations. The objective of this paper is to illustrate that under certain conditions soil suction can be maintained. Based on the theory of infiltration and seepage through a saturated–unsaturated soil system, steady state and transient finite element seepage analyses were conducted using Seep/W on a 20 m high slope inclined at 30°. The results of the analysis showed that under steady state conditions, the most important factor influencing the permanency of matric suction in the soil is the magnitude of rainfall flux expressed as a percentage of the saturated coefficient of permeability of soil. For the analysis under transient seepage conditions, the results showed that the pore-water pressure profile depends on the magnitude of the rainfall flux, the saturated coefficient of permeability, the soil-water characteristic curve, and the water storage function. For a soil with a low coefficient of permeability and a large water storage capacity, the matric suction needs a substantial amount of time to dissipate and thus may be maintained over a longer time period than the rain is likely to fall, even if the ground surface flux is equal to or greater than the saturated coefficient of permeability. Engineers should address more appropriate engineering design assumptions that can be related to the permanence of matric suction in soil slopes based on the numerical analysis. Measures such as slope cover or surface recompaction can be taken into consideration to minimize the rainfall infiltration and thus maintain active matric suction in slopes.Key words: unsaturated soils, slope, rainfall infiltration, matric suction, permeability.

A steady state model for flow in saturated–unsaturated soils

1984 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. T. Papagianakis ◽  
D. G. Fredlund
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Pressure Head ◽  
Flow Equation ◽  
Coefficient Of Permeability ◽  
Steady State Model

A model is proposed describing continuous flow between saturated and unsaturated soil. The flow is assumed to be two dimensional and under steady state conditions. In the unsaturated zone, the coefficient of permeability is treated as a function of pore-water pressure head. The nonlinear differential equation governing the flow is solved using an iterative finite element scheme. The flow equation for an element is derived using the Galerkin weighed residuals method. Several example problems are solved and compared with flow net solutions. The proposed flow model is superior to traditional models, which consider flow only in the saturated zone. The results show that the zero pressure isobar is not an upper flow boundary. The finite element solution is shown to be relatively insensitive to the function used to express the relationship between the coefficient of permeability and the pore-water pressure head. Key words: saturated–unsaturated, pore-water pressure, head, phreatic line.

Unsaturated Seepage and Fluid-Solid Coupling Analysis of Rainfall Infiltration of Slope

2011 ◽  
Vol 255-260 ◽  
pp. 3488-3492
Author(s):  
Bao Lin Xiong ◽  
Jing Song Tang ◽  
Chun Jiao Lu
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Unsaturated Flow ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Rainfall Infiltration ◽  
Medium Permeability ◽  
Stability Of Slope ◽  
Transient Seepage ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Unsaturated Seepage

Rainfall is one of the main factors that influence the stability of slope. Rainfall infiltration will cause soil saturation changing and further influence pore water pressure and medium permeability coefficient. Based on porous media saturation-unsaturated flow theory, the slope transient seepage field is simulated under the conditions of rainfall infiltration. It is shown that change of pore water pressure in slope soil lag behind relative changes in rainfall conditions. As the rainfall infiltrate, unsaturated zone in top half of slope become diminution, the soil suction and shear strength reduce, so stabilization of soil slope is reduced.

Mini suction probe for matric suction measurements

2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1427-1432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inge Meilani ◽  
Harianto Rahardjo ◽  
Eng-Choon Leong ◽  
Delwyn G Fredlund
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Matric Suction ◽  
Lateral Direction ◽  
Triaxial Apparatus ◽  
Specimen Height ◽  
Pressure Changes ◽  
Accurate Reading

A modified triaxial apparatus with mini suction probes was fabricated to study the matric suction along the specimen height during unsaturated triaxial testing. Three mini suction probes were placed at 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 height of the specimen, each at 120° apart in the lateral direction. This paper presents the development of the mini probe for matric suction measurements. Evaluation of the performance shows that the fabricated mini probe provides a rapid response and accurate reading under negative and positive pore-water pressure changes. Matric suctions as high as 400 kPa were successfully measured on soil specimens over a time span of 15 h. On the other hand, the mini suction probes were also found to be able to measure a matric suction of 200 kPa for a longer period of 155 h.Key words: matric suction, mini suction probe, triaxial, unsaturated soils, mid-height pore-water pressure measurement.

Experimental verification of the theory of consolidation for unsaturated soils

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 749-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harianto Rahardjo ◽  
Delwyn G. Fredlund
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Pore Pressure ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Matric Suction ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Loading Tests ◽  
Undrained Loading

An experimental program was designed to study the behavior of unsaturated soils during undrained loading and consolidation. A Ko cylinder was designed and built for the testing program. Simultaneous measurements of pore-air and pore-water pressures could be made throughout a soil specimen using this Ko cylinder. Four types of tests were performed on a silty sand. These are (1) undrained loading tests where both the air and water are not allowed to drain, (2) constant water content tests where only the water phase is not allowed to drain, (3) consolidation tests where both the air and water phases are allowed to drain, and (4) increasing matric suction tests. Undrained loading tests or constant water content loading tests were conducted for measuring the pore pressure parameters for the unsaturated soil. Drained tests consisting of either consolidation tests or increasing matric suction tests were conducted to study the pore pressure distribution and volume change behavior throughout an unsaturated soil during a transient process. The experimental pore pressure parameters obtained from the undrained loadings and constant water content leadings agreed reasonably well with theory. The pore-air pressure was found to dissipate instantaneously when the air phase is continuous. The pore-water pressure dissipation during the consolidation test was found to be faster than the pore-water pressure decrease during the increasing matric suction test. The differing rates of dissipation were attributed to the different coefficients of water volume change for each of the tests. The water volume changes during the consolidation test were considerably smaller than the water volume changes during the increasing matric suction tests for the same increment of pressure change. Key words : consolidation, Ko loading, matric suction, pore-air pressures, pore-water pressures, unsaturated soils

scholarly journals Numerical Simulation Of The Treatment Of Soil Swelling Using Grid Geocell Columns

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Y. Fattah ◽  
Raid R. Al-Omari ◽  
Haifaa A. Ali
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Expansive Soil ◽  
Matric Suction ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
Axial Forces ◽  
Column Material ◽  
Cap Model

Abstract In this paper, a method for the treatment of the swelling of expansive soil is numerically simulated. The method is simply based on the embedment of a geogrid (or a geomesh) in the soil. The geogrid is extended continuously inside the volume of the soil where the swell is needed to be controlled and orientated towards the direction of the swell. Soils with different swelling potentials are employed: bentonite base-Na and bentonite base-Ca samples in addition to kaolinite mixed with bentonite. A numerical analysis was carried out by the finite element method to study the swelling soil's behavior and investigate the distribution of the stresses and pore water pressures around the geocells beneath the shallow footings. The ABAQUS computer program was used as a finite element tool, and the soil is represented by the modified Drucker-Prager/cap model. The geogrid surrounding the geocell is assumed to be a linear elastic material throughout the analysis. The soil properties used in the modeling were experimentally obtained. It is concluded that the degree of saturation and the matric suction (the negative pore water pressure) decrease as the angle of friction of the geocell column material increases due to the activity of the sand fill in the dissipation of the pore water pressure and the acceleration of the drainage through its function as a drain. When the plasticity index and the active depth (the active zone is considered to be equal to the overall depth of the clay model) increase, the axial movement (swelling movement) and matric suction, as a result of the increase in the axial forces, vary between this maximum value at the top of the layer and the minimum value in the last third of the active depth and then return to a consolidation at the end of the depth layer.

Research of Slope Stability Analysis Considering Rainfall Infiltration

2012 ◽  
Vol 204-208 ◽  
pp. 487-491
Author(s):  
Jian Hua Liu ◽  
Zhi Min Chen ◽  
Wei He
Keyword(s):  
Slope Stability ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Rock Slope ◽  
Rainfall Intensity ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Rainfall Infiltration ◽  
Safety Coefficient ◽  
Rainfall Duration ◽  
Unsaturated Seepage

Based on the saturated-unsaturated seepage theory and considering soil-hydraulic permeability coefficient characteristic curves of rock slope, the variation of suction in unsaturated region and transient saturated zone formation of rock slope were analyzed. Combined with engineering example, the strength reduction methods were adopted to analyzing the rock slope stability influence factors considering unsaturated seepage with different rainfall intensity and duration. The results show that the flow domain owing to rainfall infiltration mainly appears surface layer region of slope. The rainfall infiltration caused the groundwater level rise, the rising of transient pore water pressure and the fall of suction in unsaturated region caused the slope stability decrease. The rainfall intensity and duration have obvious influence on slope stability, and in the same rainfall duration condition, the safety coefficient of slope decreases with the accretion of rainfall intensity. With the rainfall duration increasing, the water in soil has more deep infiltration, the water content and pore water pressure was higher in the same high position, the decreasing of suction caused the safety coefficient of slope has more reduce.

Analysis of Seepage Field and Stability of Clinosol Slope under Rainfall Infiltration

2013 ◽  
Vol 353-356 ◽  
pp. 307-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Yi Yang ◽  
Fang Guo
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Rainfall Intensity ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Limit Equilibrium ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Rainfall Infiltration ◽  
Seepage Field ◽  
Volumetric Moisture Content ◽  
Initial Stage

In order to research on slope seepage field and slop stability under rainfall infiltration, this paper combines finite element with limit equilibrium theory to study. The results show that under rainfall, pore water pressure of the slope crest and slope toe in slope wash is greatly influenced by rainfall; Change in the volume moisture content is more sensitive than pore water pressure, volumetric moisture content of each location is increasing quickly at the initial stage of rain, volumetric moisture content in the lower locations is the first to reach saturated due to the continued supply and gravity of the rain; The slope stability reduces with rainfall infiltration, the greater the rainfall intensity, the more obvious decline the slope safety factor.

The Effect of Rainfall Infiltration Time to the Unsaturated Soil Slope Stability

2011 ◽  
Vol 71-78 ◽  
pp. 4864-4867
Author(s):  
Guang Hua Cai ◽  
Hai Jun Lu ◽  
Wei He ◽  
Long Guan ◽  
Wei Qi Xu
Keyword(s):  
Slope Stability ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Limit Equilibrium ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Rainfall Infiltration ◽  
Soil Slope ◽  
Soil Permeability ◽  
Rainfall Condition ◽  
Pressure Changes

Rainfall infiltration is currently one of the important factors in studying the soil-slope stability. By using saturated-unsaturated seepage theory, the traditional limit equilibrium method and so on, analyze the water content and the pore-water pressure changes under the rainfall condition, then analyze the influence mechanism of the slope stability. Through the Seep/W and the Slope/W of the GEO-Slope software, do the numerical simulation of the slope stability under the rainfall condition, to seek the distribution of pore-water pressure on the rainfall situation and the influence of the seepage field from various parameters such as rainfall intensity and the soil permeability coefficient, thus to study the slope stability.

scholarly journals Liquefaction Mitigation Using Lateral Confinement Technique

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
W. R. Azzam ◽  
A. K. Nazir
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Lateral Spreading ◽  
Soil System ◽  
Minimum Diameter ◽  
Excess Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Circular Model ◽  
Final Settlement ◽  
Excess Pore

The exploration of a series of shaking tests on circular model footing with and without cellular confinement constructed around the footing with variable depths and diameters under the effect of variable net bearing stress is studied. The effect of the confinement on the liquefaction time, final settlement, excess pore water pressure, and induced building acceleration were studied. The consequences showed that installing the cell with minimum diameter closer to footing and sufficient penetration depth significantly delayed the liquefaction time. It can be considered as an alternative technique to decrease both the lateral spreading and the final settlement below the foundation during the shaking. The results demonstrated that the cell reduced the excess pore water pressure within the confined zone and the pore water pressure migration outside the confined block where the liquefaction is induced. Moreover, the peak foundation acceleration of the confined footing soil system is reduced compared with the case of without cell confinement.

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