Abstract
A spoil dump slope is a kind of artificial slope formed by the accumulation of engineering waste residue from multiple sources, which results in high variability of its mechanical properties. Large amounts of groundwater inside such a structure can make it prone to slope instability. Although an air-injection drainage method has been developed in recent years to reinforce common soil slopes by facilitating drainage, research involving the underlying mechanisms still needs to be further strengthened. In this study, a gas–water two-phase flow theory was applied for unsaturated soil seepage in a spoil dump slope, and the uncertainty of the spoil’s physical and mechanical properties was considered in a reliability analysis to evaluate the reinforcement effect of the air-injection drainage method. Based on a case study, the changes in reliability index and failure probability were determined before and after injection under different air pressures. The results show that air-injection drainage methods can provide effective reinforcement for spoil dump slopes by significantly reducing porewater pressures in a potential slip zone, thus reducing the possibility of slope failure. Moreover, a spoil slope reinforced by this method can better resist the adverse impact of rainfall.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
Data sets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
References
Air flow modeling with AIR/W2007. (2008). Canada: Geo-Slope International Ltd.
Bear, J. (1988). Dynamics of fluids in porous media: Courier Corporation.
Bednarczyk, Z. (2017). Slope stability analysis for the design of a new lignite open-pit mine. In ISRM European Rock Mechanics Symposium (EUROCK), Ostrava, CZECH REPUBLIC, Jun 20–22 2017, 191, 51–58, Procedia Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.05.153
Behera PK, Sarkar K, Singh AK, Verma AK, Singh TN (2016) Dump slope stability analysis - a case study. J Geol Soc India 88(6):725–735. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-016-0540-4
Beullens J, Van De Velde D, Nyssen J (2014) Impact of slope aspect on hydrological rainfall and on the magnitude of rill erosion in Belgium and northern France. CATENA 114:129–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2013.10.016
Cai YL, Sun HY, Shang YQ, Xiong XL (2014) An investigation of flow characteristics in slope siphon drains. Journal of Zhejiang University-Science A 15(1):22–30. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A1300178
Chen Z, Song DQ, Hu C, Ke YT (2020) The September 16, 2017, Linjiabang landslide in Wanyuan County, China: preliminary investigation and emergency mitigation. Landslides 17(1):191–204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-019-01309-1
Chinkulkijniwat A, Horpibulsuk S, Semprich S (2014) Modeling of coupled mechanical–hydrological processes in compressed-air-assisted tunneling in unconsolidated sediments. Transp Porous Media 108(1):105–129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-014-0295-6
Cho SE (2007) Effects of spatial variability of soil properties on slope stability. Eng Geol 92(3–4):97–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2007.03.006
Cho SE (2013) First-order reliability analysis of slope considering multiple failure modes. Eng Geol 154:98–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2012.12.014
Dieudonné AC, Cerfontaine B, Collin F, Charlier R (2015) Hydromechanical modelling of shaft sealing for CO2 storage. Eng Geol 193:97–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2015.04.016
Du, L., Sun, H., Shang, Y., Liu, C., & Kang, J. (2013). Method of intercepting water by filling soil with air in emergency treatment engineering of landslide. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 32(SUPPL.2), 3954–3960.
Erguler, Z. A., Karakuş, H., Ediz, İ. G., & Şensöğüt, C. (2020). Assessment of design parameters and the slope stability analysis of weak clay-bearing rock masses and associated spoil piles at Tunçbilek basin. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-5030-8
Fan, H., Zhang, Z. Z., Wu, F., Xu, J. X., Shen, D. F., & Yuan, Y. J. (2019). Spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of drought-flood abrupt alternation in Guizhou province in recent 50 years based on DWAAI index. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 17(5), 12227–12244. https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1705_1222712244
Fredlund DG (2006) Unsaturated soil mechanics in engineering practice. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 132(3):286–321. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)1090-0241(2006)132:3(286)
Fredlund DG, Xing AQ, Huang SY (1994) Predicting the permeability function for unsaturated soils using the soil-water characteristic curve. Can Geotech J 31(4):533–546. https://doi.org/10.1139/t94-062
Giasi CI, Masi P, Cherubini C (2003) Probabilistic and fuzzy reliability analysis of a sample slope near Aliano. Eng Geol 67(3–4):391–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0013-7952(02)00222-3
Javadi AA (2006) Estimation of air losses in compressed air tunneling using neural network. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 21(1):9–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2005.04.007
Ji J, Zhang CS, Gao YF, Kodikara J (2018) Effect of 2D spatial variability on slope reliability: a simplified FORM analysis. Geosci Front 9(6):1631–1638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2017.08.004
JTG-D30–2015. (2015). Specifications for design of highway subgrades. Beijing: China Communications Press
Kasmer O, Ulusay R (2006) Stability of spoil piles at two coal mines in Turkey: geotechnical characterization and design considerations. Environ Eng Geosci 12(4):337–352. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.12.4.337
Lau KC, Kenney TC (1984) Horizontal drains to stabilize clay slopes. Can Geotech J 21(2):241–249. https://doi.org/10.1139/t84-027
Li XY, Liu YD, Yang ZY, Meng ZZ, Zhang LM (2021) Efficient slope reliability analysis using adaptive classification-based sampling method. Bull Eng Geol Env 80(12):8977–8993. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02476-z
Liu, X., Ma, J. W., Tang, H. M., Zhang, S., Huang, L., & Zhang, J. R. (2020). A novel dynamic impact pressure model of debris flows and its application on reliability analysis of the rock mass surrounding tunnels. Engineering Geology, 273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105694
Liu, X., Ni, W., Huang, L., Liu, Q., & Ma, J. (2017). Reliability analysis of tailings dams: a case study in Jiangxi Province, China. In Geo-Risk 2017 (pp. 178–187).
Low BK, Tang WH (1997) Probabilistic slope analysis using Janbu’s generalized procedure of slices. Comput Geotech 21(2):121–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0266-352x(97)00019-0
Masoudian, M. S., Afrapoli, M. A. H., Tasalloti, A., & Marshall, A. M. (2019). A general framework for coupled hydro-mechanical modelling of rainfall-induced instability in unsaturated slopes with multivariate random fields. Computers and Geotechnics, 115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2019.103162
Matti B, Tacher L, Commend S (2012) Modelling the efficiency of a drainage gallery work for a large landslide with respect to hydrogeological heterogeneity. Can Geotech J 49(8):968–985. https://doi.org/10.1139/t2012-061
Mei C, Liang X, Sun HY, Wu MP (2017) High-lift siphon flow velocity in a 4-mm siphon hose. Journal of Zhejiang University-Science A 18(6):487–495. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A1600428
Miao FS, Wu YP, Xie YH, Yu F, Peng LJ (2017) Research on progressive failure process of Baishuihe landslide based on Monte Carlo model. Stoch Env Res Risk Assess 31(7):1683–1696. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-016-1224-8
Mukhlisin M, Abd Aziz NAB (2016) Study of horizontal drain effect on slope stability. J Geol Soc India 87(4):483–490. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-016-0417-6
Oggeri C, Fenoglio TM, Godio A, Vinai R (2019) Overburden management in open pits: options and limits in large limestone quarries. Int J Min Sci Technol 29(2):217–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2018.06.011
Peng X, Li DQ, Cao ZJ, Gong WP, Juang CH (2017) Reliability-based robust geotechnical design using Monte Carlo simulation. Bull Eng Geol Env 76(3):1217–1227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-016-0905-3
Prigogine I, Stengers I (1997) The End of Certainty: time, chaos, and the new laws of nature. Free Press, United Kingdom
Ranjan, V., Sen, P., Kumar, D., & Saraswat, A. (2017). Enhancement of mechanical stability of waste dump slope through establishing vegetation in a surface iron ore mine. Environmental Earth Sciences, 76(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6350-6
Richards, L. A. (1931). Capillary conduction of liquids through porous mediums. Physics, 1(5), 318–333. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1745010
Rutqvist J, Kim HM, Ryu DW, Synn JH, Song WK (2012) Modeling of coupled thermodynamic and geomechanical performance of underground compressed air energy storage in lined rock caverns. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 52:71–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2012.02.010
Samui P, Lansivaara T, Kim D (2011) Utilization relevance vector machine for slope reliability analysis. Appl Soft Comput 11(5):4036–4040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2011.03.009
Skarzynska KM, Michalski P (1998) Filtration through hydraulic embankments made of colliery spoil: model tests. Waste Manage Res 16(3):233–243. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242x9801600305
Steiakakis E, Kavouridis K, Monopolis D (2009) Large scale failure of the external waste dump at the “South Field” lignite mine. Northern Greece Engineering Geology 104(3–4):269–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2008.11.008
Sun HY, Ge Q, Yu Y, Shuai FX, Lu CC (2021) A new self-starting drainage method for slope stabilization and its application. Bull Eng Geol Env 80(1):251–265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-01918-4
Sun HY, Pan P, Lu Q, Wei ZL, Xie W, Zhan W (2019a) A case study of a rainfall-induced landslide involving weak interlayer and its treatment using the siphon drainage method. Bull Eng Geol Env 78(6):4063–4074. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-018-1365-8
Sun HY, Wang DF, Shang YQ, Cai YL, Wei ZL (2019b) An improved siphon drainage method for slope stabilization. J Mt Sci 16(3):701–713. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-018-5171-3
Sun HY, Wong LNY, Shang YQ, Yu BT, Wang ZL (2012) Experimental studies of groundwater pipe flow network characteristics in gravelly soil slopes. Landslides 9(4):475–483. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-011-0312-6
Sun P, Wang G, Wu LZ, Igwe O, Zhu EZ (2019c) Physical model experiments for shallow failure in rainfall-triggered loess slope, Northwest China. Bull Eng Geol Env 78(6):4363–4382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-018-1420-5
Tang HM, Liu X, Hu XL, Griffiths DV (2015) Evaluation of landslide mechanisms characterized by high-speed mass ejection and long-run-out based on events following the Wenchuan earthquake. [Article]. Eng Geol 194:12–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2015.01.004
Tang XS, Li DQ, Rong G, Phoon KK, Zhou CB (2013) Impact of copula selection on geotechnical reliability under incomplete probability information. Comput Geotech 49:264–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2012.12.002
Tian KL, Yang AQ, Nie KY, Zhang HL, Xu J, Wang XD (2020) Experimental study of steady seepage in unsaturated loess soil. Acta Geotech 15(9):2681–2689. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-00948-2
Ulusay R, Caglan D, Arikan F, Yoleri MF (1996) Characteristics of biplanar wedge spoil pile instabilities and methods to improve stability. Can Geotech J 33(1):58–79. https://doi.org/10.1139/t96-024
Van Genuchten, M. T. (1980). A closed‐form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 44(5).
Whiteside PGD (1997) Drainage characteristics of a cut soil slope with horizontal drains. Q J Eng Geol 30:137–141. https://doi.org/10.1144/gsl.Qjegh.1997.030.P2.04
Xie W, Shang Y, Lü Q, Jiang H, Wei Z (2018a) Experimental study of groundwater level variation in soil slope using air-injection method. Géotechnique Letters 8(2):144–148. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.18.00005
Xie W, Shang Y, Wu G, Wei Z (2018b) Investigation of the formation process of a low-permeability unsaturated zone by air injection method in a slope. Eng Geol 245:10–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.08.005
Xu JB, Zhang LL, Li JH, Cao ZJ, Yang HQ, Chen XY (2021) Probabilistic estimation of variogram parameters of geotechnical properties with a trend based on Bayesian inference using Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation. Georisk-Assessment and Management of Risk for Engineered Systems and Geohazards 15(2):83–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/17499518.2020.1757720
Yang ZY, Nie JY, Peng X, Tang D, Li XY (2021) Effect of random field element size on reliability and risk assessment of soil slopes. Bull Eng Geol Env 80(10):7423–7439. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02422-z
Yu Y, Shen MF, Sun HY, Shan YQ (2019) Robust design of siphon drainage method for stabilizing rainfall-induced landslides. Eng Geol 249:186–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.01.001
Zhang J, Miao L (2009) Types and selection criteria of probability distribution of rock and soil parameters. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 28(SUPPL. 2):3526–3532
Zhang LL, Zhang J, Zhang LM, Tang WH (2010) Back analysis of slope failure with Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation. Comput Geotech 37(7–8):905–912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2010.07.009
Zhang S, Liu Y, Bate B, Peng DL, Li C, Zhan LT (2021) Quantitative human risk analysis of 2015 Shenzhen dump failure considering influence of urbanization. J Mt Sci 18(6):1439–1457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-020-6260-7
Zhao HB (2008) Slope reliability analysis using a support vector machine. Comput Geotech 35(3):459–467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2007.08.002
Acknowledgements
The research work presented here and the preparation of this paper have been financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC; Grant Nos. 42072314, 41572279, and 41807271), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant Nos. 2012M521500 and 2014T70758), and the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2017YFC1501304). This paper was significantly improved with the multiple rounds of aid from two anonymous reviewers and editor Dr. John C. Cripps. All support is gratefully acknowledged.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Jiang, H., Liu, X., Wei, H. et al. Stability evaluation of spoil dump slopes reinforced by air-injection drainage from the perspective of reliability analysis. Bull Eng Geol Environ 82, 337 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-023-03348-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-023-03348-4