The Influence of Localized Slumping on Groundwater Seepage and Slope Stability

• Published in: Journal of earth science (Wuhan, China) Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 104 - 110
• Main Author: 孙红月 钟杰 赵宇 沈水进 尚岳全
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China University of Geosciences China University of Geosciences 01.02.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biogeosciences; Deposition; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth science; Earth Sciences; Failure; Flow paths; Geochemistry; Geology; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Groundwater; Hydrogeology; Hydrology; Landslides; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Pressure head; Seepage; Slope stability; Soil mechanics; 不透水层; 地下水渗流; 拱形; 本地化; 极限平衡方法; 横向裂缝; 水文地质条件; 边坡稳定; slump; groundwater seepage; pressure head; deposits slope; slope stability
• ISSN: 1674-487X; 1867-111X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12583-013-0307-4

Transverse cracks and localized slumps frequently occur within loose deposits slopes when the slope base is removed either from natural or manmade processes. Although the contribution of rainfall to the slope failures was intensely discussed, the influence of localized slumps on hydrogeological conditions has received less attention. Usually, loose deposits slopes are composed of soil layers with different permeability; localized slumps may cause flow paths partly blocked in the permeable layer that is adversely confined between impermeable layers. In this study, a case history of such failure, Xiaodan （/J~ ~__） landslide, is introduced in detail. The localized slump caused the pressure head in the permeable layer to increase substantially, which reduced the stability of the slope. To quantify the influence, Ber- noulli equations are used to analytically study the increase of the pressure head with a hydrogeologicai model simplified from the slope. The factor of safety assessed by limit equilibrium methods may decrease up to 20% when the 80% of flow path is blocked. Thus, we should pay attention not only to changes of stress filed due to localized slumps but also to the influence of seepage variation on the slope stability.