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Analysis of multi-phase coupled seepage and stability in anisotropic slopes under rainfall condition

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Abstract

The seepage, deformation and stability in unsaturated soil slopes under rainfall infiltration are important issues in geotechnical engineering. Based on multi-field coupling theory, a finite element code, COMSOL, is employed to solve the coupled partial differential equations for soil slopes under rainfall infiltration. The coefficient of permeability is a variable in the three-phase coupled model. The water seepage, air migration, deformation and stability in a soil slope due to precipitation are studied. The effect of the wetting front caused by the migration of pore-air and the deformation of soil are explored, and the impact of soil anisotropy is analysed. The results indicate that the effect of anisotropy on the pore-water pressure is related to the depth and position of the unsaturated soil slope. The factor of safety of the partially saturated slope is relatively high when the lateral coefficient of permeability of the slope is greater than the coefficient of permeability in the vertical direction. The factor of safety is a function of the degree of anisotropy.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Basic Research Program of China (No. 2013CB733202), the Funds for Creative Research Groups of China (Grant No. 41521002), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41672282) and the Youth Science and Technology Innovation Team in Sichuan Province (No. 2015TD0030). The first author thanks the Innovative Team of the Chengdu University of Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610059, People’s Republic of China

    L. Z. Wu & Y. Zhou

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    L. M. Zhang

  3. Nanjiang Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology Team, Chongqing Geological and Mineral Exploration and Development Burea, Chongqing, 401121, China

    B. E. Li

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  1. L. Z. Wu
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Correspondence to L. Z. Wu.

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Wu, L.Z., Zhang, L.M., Zhou, Y. et al. Analysis of multi-phase coupled seepage and stability in anisotropic slopes under rainfall condition. Environ Earth Sci 76, 469 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6811-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6811-6

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