• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.209-219
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• 2022

To experimentally investigate the variation of soil characteristics in slope during rainfall and the shape of slope failure, the model test was performed using soil box and artificial rainfall simulator. The model test of slope formed by the homogenous sand was performed, and the saturation pattern in the model slope due to rainfall infiltration was observed. The slope model with the inclination of 35° was set up on the slope of 30°, and the rainfall intensity of 50 mm/hr was applied in the test. The soil depth of 35 cm was selected by considering the size of soil box, and the TDR (time domain reflectometry) sensors were installed at various depths to investigate the change of soil characteristics with time. As the result of model test, the slope model during rainfall was saturated from the soil surface to the subsurface, and from the toe part to the crest part due to rainfall infiltration. That is, the toe part of slope was firstly saturated by rainfall infiltration, and then due to continuous rainfall the saturation range was enlarged from the toe part to the crest part in the slope model. The failure of slope model was started at the toe part of slope and then enlarged to the crest part, which is called as the retrogressive failure. At the end of slope failure, the collapsed area increased rapidly. Also, the mode of slope failure was rotational. Meanwhile, the slope failure was occurred when the matric suction in the slope was reached to the air entry value (AEV) estimated in soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC).

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.13-21
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• 2010

The unsaturated slope usually is stable for a long time, but fails during heavy rainfall. And the factors of the rainfall intensity exhibit significant roles because the water content and the shear stress developed along the potential failure surface will be changed by the rainfall intensity. The objective of the study presented in this paper is to analyze the relationship between rainfall intensity and shear stress of the soil slopes by applying the laboratory slope model apparatus and undrained direct shear test with rainfall intensity controlled. The soil sample was taken from the field slope of Youngdong, and particle size analysis was done. To look over the relationship between rainfall intensity and shear strength of slope, the three-dimensional relationships among shear strength, normal stress and water content of the slope soil samples are examined; those are based on the data from the TDR sensor and undrained direct shear test.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2008

In this research, model tests have been performed for researching the seepage characteristics in the finite soil slope during the rainfall using a manufactured rainfall simulator. On the basis of the results, it has been analyzed how to change the seepage characteristics due to the duration time of rainfall. We are found that the pore-water pressure was gradually increased as increasing the duration time of rainfall. Specially, at the beginning of rainfall, the pore-water pressure in the middle surface of slope was measured larger than any point. As increasing the duration time of rainfall, the pore-water pressure at the inner part of slope was increased greatly at the collapse due to infiltrating the pore-water within the slope. In the research, it was not easy to get various test results because measuring instruments are high sensitivity and difficult to handle. For the future, the model test results are needed for the various slope angle.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.47-62
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• 1993

The laboratorv model test was carried out to investigate the behavior of pore water pressure, the critical amount of rainfall for slope failure, the pattern of failure, and the variation of seepage line at the slope with the uniform material of embankment by changing the slope angles and rainfall intensities. The results were was summarised as follows : 1.At the beginning stage of rainfall, the negative pore pressure appeared at the surface of slope and the positive pore pressure at the deep parts. But, the negative one turned into the positive one as the rainfall continued and this rapidly increased about 50 to 100 minutes before the slope failure. 2.The heavier the rainfall intensity, the shorter the time, and the milder the slope, the longer the time took to reach the failure of slope. 3.As the angle of the slope became milder, the critical amount of rainfall for slope failure became greater. 4.Maximum pore water pressure was 10 to 40g/cm$^2$ at the toe of slope and 50 to 90g/cm$^2$at the deep parts. 5.In the respect of the pattern of slope failure, surface failure of slope occurred locally at the toe of slope at the A-soil and failure of slope by surface flow occurred gradually at the top part of slope at the B-soil. 6.As the rainfall continued and the saturation zone in the embankment was formed, the seepage line went rapidly up and also the time to reach the total collapse of slope took longer at the B-soil. 7.As the position of the seepage line went up and the strength parameter accordingly down, the safety factor was 2.108 at the A-soil and 2.150 at the B-soil when the slope occured toe failure. Minimum safety factor was rapidly down to 0.831 at the A-soil and to 0.936 at the B-soil when the slope collapsed totally at the top part of slope.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.53-68
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• 1991

This paper aims at the investigation of various seepage behavior when rainfall infiltarates into unsaturated ground and understanding of the mechanism for slope instability due to rainfall. For this purpose an experimental study is carried out for model slopes using the test equipment which can simulate various rainfall intensity. In addition, a numerical study is performed for the same dimension and boundary condition as the experimental model. From both the experimental test and numerical analysis the progress of wetting front with time, critical amounts of rainfall, and pore-water pressure development with time are know in detail and their effects on slope stability are described.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.16 no.3 s.49
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• pp.275-282
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• 2006

This study was conducted laboratory flume tests to identify landslide features and flow characteristics of debris using a flume test equipment. Under the several test conditions dependent on rainfall intensity and slope angle, the authors measured pore water pressure, slope failure and displacement, spreading area of debris on a regular time interval. The test processes were also recorded by video cameras and digital still cameras. According to the test results, pore water pressures have trends of direct proportion to the rainfall intensity and the slope angle, resulting in high potential of landslide triggering. The spreading area of debris is also increased with the slope angle and the rainfall intensity as well as the rainfall duration.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2018

The causes of landslides are dependant on rainfall events and the soil characteristics of a slope. For the conventional slope stability, the slope stability analysis has been carried out assuming the saturated soil theory. But, in order to clearly explain a proper soil slope condition by rainfall, the research should be performed using the unsaturated soil mechanism suitable for a soil slope in the field. In the study, by using two major categories of soils in Korea, such as granite and gneiss weathered soils, landslide model test and finite element method have been compared with the difference of seepage and soil stability analysis. The hydraulic conductivity of gneiss weathered soil is slower than that of granite weathered soil, and the gneiss weathered soil contains much finer soils than the granite weathered soil. It was confirmed that the instability of the slope was progressing slowly due to the slow rate of volumetric water content of the surface layer.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2016

The study explored droughts using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) in the northwestern region of Bangladesh, which is the drought prone area. In order to assess the trend and variability of monthly rainfall, as well as 3-month scale SPI, non-parametric Mann-Kendall (MK) tests and continuous wavelet transform were used respectively. The effect of climatic parameters on the drought in this region was also evaluated using SPI, with the Southern Oscilation Index (SOI) by means of the wavelet coherence technique, a relatively new and powerful tool for describing processes. The MK test showed no statistically significant monthly rainfall trends in the selected stations, whereas the seasonal MK test showed a declining rainfall trend in Bogra, Ishurdi, Rangpur and Sayedpur stations respectively. Sen's slope of six stations also provided a decreasing rainfall trend. The trend of the SPI, as well as Sen's slope indicated an increasing dryness trend in this area. Dominant periodicity of 3-month scale SPI at 8 to 16 months, 16 to 32 months, and 32 to 64 months were observed in the study area. The outcomes from this study contribute to hydrologists to establish strategies, priorities and proper use of water resources.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.1 s.50
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• pp.57-64
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• 2007

This study was conducted to characterize on the relationships among rainfall intensity, slope angle and pore water pressure in the gneissic weathered soil by landslide laboratory flume tests. Under the several test conditions dependent on rainfall intensity and slope angle, the authors measured pore water pressure, failure and displacement of slope on a regular time interval. According to the test results, the increasing times of pore water pressures have direct proportional trends to the rainfall intensity. The pore water pressure was increased earlier at the head part of slope than the toe part. Compared with the test results of Chae et al(2006), the results of this study explain that the seepage velocity in the gneissic weathered soil is slower than that in the standard sands. It results in faster and ear-lier increase of pore water pressure at the head part of slope due to slow flow of water in the gneissic weathered soil. In case of the relationship between slope angle and pore water pressure, gentle slope angle has faster increase of pore water pressure than steeper slope angle. It is also thought to be due to slow seepage velocity and flow velocity in the gneissic weathered soil.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2014

This study aims to elucidate the relative importance of geological characteristics, soil slope, and rainfall intensity in relation to soil erosion. To this end, indoor rainfall simulation experiments were carried out under different conditions of rainfall intensities, soil slope, and geological characteristics. The test results show that the factors affect soil erosion in the order of soil slope > rainfall intensity > organic content in the soil. Erosion rates were proportional to rainfall, and increase with increasing clay content. Therefore, the soil erosion rate increases strongly with increasing organic content and clay content. The results show that the soil erosion rate in areas of metamorphic rocks shows a marked increase compared with areas of steep slope and sedimentary rocks. These results indicate that the geological characteristics to produce soil are closely related to sedimentation before and after erosion, providing basic information for the development of models to predict soil erosion rates.