Experimental Test of Theory for the Stability of Partially Saturated Vertical Cut Slopes
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 9
Abstract
This paper extends Culmann’s vertical-cut analysis to unsaturated soils. To test the extended theory, unsaturated sand was compacted to a uniform porosity and moisture content in a laboratory apparatus. A sliding door that extended the height of the free face of the slope was lowered until the vertical cut failed. Digital images of the slope cross section and upper surface were acquired concurrently. A recently developed particle image velocimetry (PIV) tool was used to quantify soil displacement. The PIV analysis showed strain localization at varying distances from the sliding door prior to failure. The areas of localized strain were coincident with the location of the slope crest after failure. Shear-strength and soil-water-characteristic parameters of the sand were independently tested for use in extended analyses of the vertical-cut stability and of the failure plane angle. Experimental failure heights were within 22.3% of the heights predicted using the extended theory.
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Acknowledgments
This research is partially supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSFCMMI-0855783) to Ning Lu and Jonathan W. Godt and a grant from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS G09AC00085) to Ning Lu. Key modifications on the cut-slope simulator were made with help from John Jezek from the Colorado School of Mines, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Analysis of the PIV plots was finished with help from Dr. Murat Kaya. Digital camera use was made possible by Dr. David Muñoz from the Colorado School of Mines, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Richard Iverson of the USGS provided a thorough and constructive review. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 9 • September 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 21, 2012
Accepted: Feb 19, 2014
Published online: Jun 18, 2014
Published in print: Sep 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Nov 18, 2014
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