• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.63-70
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• 2012

The authors discuss the effect of hydraulic conductivity on the suction profile and stability of a typical cut-slope subjected to low intensity rainfall. The initial suction value above the ground table in the unsaturated zone is assumed to be 15 kPa. The uncoupled approach of finite element and limit equilibrium method is used to evaluate the stability of the cut-slope at different elapsed times of rainfall. The finite element seepage analysis shows that the soil in the unsaturated zone always remains unsaturated during the course of low intensity rainfall. Furthermore, the slope stability remains practically unchanged so long as the wetting front remains in the unsaturated zone but it decreases noticeably when the wetting front reaches and elevates the ground water table level.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2019

Shallow failures occur frequently in both engineered and natural slopes in expansive soils. Rainfall infiltration is the most predominant triggering factor that contributes to slope failures in both expansive soils and clayey soils. However, slope failures in expansive soils have some distinct characteristics in comparison to slopes in conventional clayey soils. They typically undergo shallow failures with gentle sliding retrogression characteristics. The shallow sliding mass near the slope surface is typically in a state of unsaturated condition and will exhibit significant volume changes with increasing water content during rainfall periods. Many other properties or characteristics change such as the shear strength, matric suction including stress distribution change with respect to depth and time. All these parameters have a significant contribution to the expansive soil slopes instability and are difficult to take into consideration in slope stability analysis using traditional slope stability analysis methods based on principles of saturated soil mechanics. In this paper, commercial software VADOSE/W that can account for climatic factors is used to predict variation of matric suction with respect to time for an expansive soil cut slope in China, which is reported in the literature. The variation of factor of safety with respect to time for this slope is computed using SLOPE/W by taking account of shear strength reduction associated with loss of matric suction extending state-of-the art understanding of the mechanics of unsaturated soils.