Fully coupled deformation analysis of slopes due to rise of ground water level

Rainfall is the most important cause of slope failures.Surface erosion,surface infiltration and movement of ground water are possible triggering mechanisms of failures in loose filled slopes.The variation in stress state of soils due to the rise of ground water level and seepage of ground water is critical to the deformation and failure of slopes during and after heavy rainfall.The deformation of slope caused by change of ground water level was investigated by adopting a fully coupled procedure and the state-dependent dilatant sand model.The effect of the rise of ground water level was simulated by increasing the mass density of pore water in the soil elements between the initial and targeted ground water levels.The interaction between pore water and soil skeleton including both buoyancy and seepage effects could be precisely taken into account in a fully coupled effective stress approach.A loose filled slope,a compacted filled slope and a rock filled slope were analyzed.It was indicated that the density of the filled soil and the drainage condition of the slope were the major factors controlling the deformation and failure of slope caused by the rise of ground water level.