Centrifuge Model Simulations of Rainfall-Induced Slope Instability
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 9
Abstract
This study focused on landslides resulting from heavy precipitation, such as rainfall from hurricanes. A series of centrifuge model simulations were performed with reference to a landslide that occurred during Typhoon Nabi in Japan in 2005. The procedures of simulation on the slope using a sand-clay soil mixture were illustrated. The rainfall event was simulated by applying precipitation in increments to the slope surface until it exceeded that of the field measurements. The instability was examined using an infinite slope analysis, and the mechanism of rainfall-induced failure was discussed. For this particular study, the results showed that incremental rainfall of less than 200 mm led to local failures, whereas total accumulation of 400 mm resulted in a global slope failure. A reduction in apparent cohesion in the soil combined with an increase in pore pressure because of infiltration was responsible for the slope instability during rainfall.
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Acknowledgments
This study was performed at Columbia University by Henry Ling (while at Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology, Hackensack, NJ) from 2009 to 2011 under the supervision of Hoe I. Ling. The study, at different phases of progress, was presented at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, Siemens Competition, and National Junior Science & Humanities Symposium. The assistance of Dr. Liming Li, the Centrifuge Manager at Columbia University, and communications with Dr. Yukio Nakata of Yamaguchi University, Japan, are greatly appreciated. The three anonymous reviewers, as well as Dov Leshchinsky, offered many useful suggestions that improved the quality of the paper.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 9 • September 2012
Pages: 1151 - 1157
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 26, 2010
Accepted: Dec 1, 2011
Published online: Aug 15, 2012
Published in print: Sep 1, 2012
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