Numerical analysis of a one‐dimensional infiltration problem in unsaturated soil by a seepage–deformation coupled method

A multiphase coupled elasto‐viscoplastic finite element analysis formulation, based on the theory of porous media, is used to describe the rainfall infiltration process into a one‐dimensional soil column. Using this framework, we have numerically analyzed the generation of pore water pressure and deformations when rainfall is applied to the soil. A parametric study, including rainfall intensity, soil–water characteristic curves, and permeability, is carried out to observe their influence on the changes in pore water pressure and volumetric strain. From the numerical results, it is shown that the generation of pore water pressure and volumetric strain is mainly controlled by material parameters α and n′ that describe the soil–water characteristic curve. A comparison with the laboratory results shows that the proposed method can describe very well the characteristics observed during the experiments of one‐dimensional water infiltration into a layered unsaturated soil column. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analytical solution to 1D coupled water infiltration and deformation in unsaturated soils

An analytical solution to 1D coupled water infiltration and deformation is derived using a Fourier integral transform. Exponential functional forms are used to represent the hydraulic conductivity–pore‐water pressure relationship and the soil‐water characteristic curve. Fredlund's incremental‐linear constitutive model for unsaturated soils is adopted. The analytical solution considers arbitrary initial pore‐water pressure distributions and flux and pressure boundary conditions. The corresponding analytical solutions to coupled steady‐state problems are also obtained. The analytical solutions demonstrate that the coupling of seepage and deformation plays an important role in water infiltration in unsaturated soils. In the early stages of infiltration, the difference between uncoupled and coupled conditions becomes marked over time, and in late stages, the difference caused by the coupling effects diminishes toward the steady state. The difference between the uncoupled and coupled conditions increases with decreasing desaturation coefficient (α). Pore‐water pressure or deformation changes caused by the coupling effects are mainly controlled by the degree of soil volume change due to a change in soil suction (H). The smaller the absolute value of H, the greater the effect of coupling on the infiltration and deformation. The ratio of rainfall intensity to saturated permeability (q/k_s) also has a strong influence on the coupled seepage and deformation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analytical solution to 1D coupled water infiltration and deformation in two‐layer unsaturated soils

An analytical solution to 1D coupled water infiltration and deformation in layered soils is derived using a Laplace transformation. Coupling between seepage and deformation, and initial conditions defined by arbitrary continuous pore‐water pressure distributions are considered. The analytical solutions describe the transient pore‐water pressure distributions during 1D, vertical infiltration toward the water table through two‐layer unsaturated soils. The nonlinear coupled formulations are first linearized and transformed into a form that is solvable using a Laplace transformation. The solutions provide a reliable means of comparing the accuracy of various numerical methods. Parameters considered in the coupled analysis include the saturated permeability (k_s), desaturation coefficient (α), and saturated volumetric water content (θ_s) of each soil layer, and antecedent and subsequent rainfall infiltration rates. The analytical solution demonstrates that the coupling of seepage and deformation plays an important role in water infiltration in layered unsaturated soils. A smaller value of α or a smaller absolute value of the elastic modulus of the soil with respect to a change in soil suction (H) for layered unsaturated soils means more marked coupling effect. A smaller absolute value of H of the upper layer soil also tends to cause more marked coupling effect. A large difference between the saturated coefficients of permeability for the top and bottom soil layers leads to reduced rainfall infiltration into the deep soil layer. The initial conditions also play a significant role in the pore‐water pressure redistribution and coupling effect. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

降雨入渗条件下非饱和土边坡稳定分析

针对降雨入渗土坡的稳定问题,建立一个考虑水力渗透系数特征曲线、土-水特征曲线以及修正的Mohr-Coulomb破坏准则的非饱和土流固耦合有限元计算模型,进行雨水入渗下非饱和土边坡渗流场和应力场耦合的数值模拟,得到非饱和土边坡变形与应力的若干重要规律。研究成果为降雨入渗条件下非饱和土边坡的稳定分析提供了基础。     

Numerical analysis of seepage–deformation in unsaturated soils

A coupled elastic–plastic finite element analysis based on simplified consolidation theory for unsaturated soils is used to investigate the coupling processes of water infiltration and deformation. By introducing a reduced suction and an elastic–plastic constitutive equation for the soil skeleton, the simplified consolidation theory for unsaturated soils is incorporated into an in-house finite element code. Using the proposed numerical method, the generation of pore water pressure and development of deformation can be simulated under evaporation or rainfall infiltration conditions. Through a parametric study and comparison with the test results, the proposed method is found to describe well the characteristics during water evaporation/infiltration into unsaturated soils. Finally, an unsaturated soil slope with water infiltration is analyzed in detail to investigate the development of the displacement and generation of pore water pressure.     

Numerical model and flume experiments of single- and two-layered hillslope flow related to slope failure

A hillslope flow model is developed considering 3D saturated and unsaturated flow of water during rainfall events. A finite difference-based numerical model of hillslope flow processes is developed. Four different experiments are done to see the effects of a single- and double-layered soil in pore-water pressure dynamics and slope failure. Results from the numerical model are verified with experimental results. The numerical and experimental values of the pore-water pressure and moisture contents are in good agreement. The results show that the hillslope heterogeneity caused by multiple layers of soil has greater influence on hillslope pore-pressure dynamics and slope failure patterns. The depth of slope failure shows high dependency on layering characteristics of the soil slope and pattern of rainfall. The proposed model provides a perspective on failure mechanism of a single- or double-layered slope under rainfall infiltration.     

降雨对均质各向异性土质边坡稳定性的影响

采用有限元法分析了非饱和均质各向异性土坡中的降雨渗透过程和土水相互作用的变化过程,使用修改的Mohr-Coulomb破坏准则考虑非饱和土的抗剪强度,根据基质吸力变化引起抗破坏强度变化的原理,寻找最危险的滑移面位置,计算最小稳定安全系数,研究了土坡遭受降雨渗透时的安全稳定问题。实例分析结果表明,该法在评判降雨时非饱和土坡的稳定性方面是合理可行的。同时分析数据表明裂隙的存在对土质边坡稳定性的影响是显著的,在对雨水入渗的土边坡稳定性分析时,必须考虑裂隙的影响。     

An analytical solution for rainfall infiltration into an unsaturated infinite slope and its application to slope stability analysis

Surficial slope failures in residual soils are common in tropical and subtropical regions as a result of rainfall infiltration. This study develops an analytical solution for simulating rainfall infiltration into an infinite unsaturated soil slope. The analytical solution is based on the general partial differential equation for water flow through unsaturated soils. It can accept soil–water characteristic curve and unsaturated permeability function of the exponential form into account. Numerical simulations are conducted to verify the assumptions of the analytical solution and demonstrate that the proposed analytical solution is acceptable for the coarse soils with low air entry values. The pore‐water pressure (pwp) distributions obtained from the analytical solution can be incorporated into a limit equilibrium method to do infinite slope stability analysis for a rain‐induced shallow slip. The analysis method takes into account the influence of the water content change on unit weight and hence on factor of safety. A series of analytical parametric analyses have been performed using the developed model. The analyses indicate that when the residual soil slope, consisting of a completely decomposed granite layer underlain by a less permeable layer, is subjected to a continuous heavy rainfall, the loss of negative pwp and the reduction in factor of safety were found to be most significant for the shallow soil layer and during the first 12 h. The antecedent and subsequent rainfall intensity, depth of a less permeable layer and slope angle all have a significant influence on the pwp response and hence the slope stability. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

降雨诱发浅层黄土泥流的研究进展、存在问题与对策思考

降雨诱发的浅层黄土泥流规模小、流速快、冲击力强、发育范围广、难以防御、致灾频率高,近两年造成了大量人员伤亡,急需开展其形成机制与强度的研究。黄土物质组成与水敏性、坡体形态对降雨入渗—积水的响应、黄土斜坡对降水入渗的力学响应机制、富水黄土粘滞性流动特性是制约浅层黄土泥流形成的四种主要因素,分析这四种因素的对浅层黄土泥流形成的制约作用需解决斜坡降雨入渗的水文过程、非饱和土的力学效应及水土耦合的机制等前沿问题。本文对影响泥流形成的各因素研究的最新进展进行了综述,同时讨论了研究中的核心问题,并提出了相应的对策与方案,认为可从三方面开展研究:(1)定量描述泥流体积扩容特征,建立浅层黄土泥流启动与流动模式;(2)分析泥流与原状黄土物质成分、组成结构差异,开展黄土非饱和增湿力学变形试验,监测0°~60°单面坡与坡肩平缓斜坡的降雨入渗过程,研究坡体形态对雨水汇聚、入渗及基质吸力变化的控制特征,揭示泥流流体运动过程中水土响应机制;(3)对浅层黄土泥流物理力学模型进行解析,讨论泥流流动能量转化特征,建立降雨诱发泥流灾害的强度计算模型,为降雨泥流灾害危险性定量计算提供理论支撑。     

Time‐scale analysis in unsaturated porous media under external wave loads

Extreme waves caused by tsunamis and storm surges can lead to soil failures in the near‐shore region, which may have severe impact on coastal environments and communities. Multiphase flows in deformable porous media involve several coupled processes and multiple time scales, which are challenging for numerical simulations. The objective of this study is to investigate the roles of the various processes and their interactions in multiphase flows in unsaturated soils under external wave loading, via theoretical time‐scale analysis and numerical simulations. A coupled geomechanics–multiphase flow model based on conservation laws is used. Theoretical analysis based on coupled and decoupled models demonstrates that transient and steady‐state responses are governed by pore pressure diffusion and saturation front propagation, respectively, and that the two processes are essentially decoupled. Numerical simulations suggest that the compressibility of the pore fluids and the deformation of the soil skeleton are important when the transient responses of the media are of concern, while the steady‐state responses are not sensitive to these factors. The responses obtained from the fully coupled numerical simulations are explained by a simplified time‐scale analysis based on coupled and decoupled models. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

降雨入渗条件下多级黄土高边坡稳定性分析

在西北地区进行基础工程建设,遇到了大量的多级黄土高边坡工程。边坡工程属于永久性工程,难免遇到降雨状况。降雨入渗会引起边坡土体饱和度与土体重度的变化,进而导致边坡体基质吸力与有效应力场的变化,使边坡的稳定性受到较大的影响。本文通过考虑边坡体不同深度处基质吸力随雨水入渗的变化情况,建立了渗流场与应力场的耦合计算模型,对降雨入渗条件下多级黄土高边坡的稳定性进行分析。最后,依托实际边坡工程,利用PLAXIS 3D岩土有限元软件,建立边坡稳定性计算模型,通过设置降雨量随时间的变化函数与渗流边界条件,进行降雨入渗条件下多级黄土高边坡的稳定性数值计算,并与理论分析结果进行了对比分析。根据数值计算结果可得到多级黄土高边坡在降雨入渗条件下的变形、基质吸力、有效应力、潜在滑移面以及安全系数的变化情况,从而对降雨入渗影响下多级黄土高边坡的稳定性做出分析。研究结果可为降雨入渗条件下多级黄土高边坡的稳定性的研究提供一定的指导作用。     

降雨入渗条件下非饱和路堤变形与边坡的稳定数值模拟

对于常常处于非饱和状态的路堤在降雨入渗条件下变形问题的数值模拟研究,由于涉及到非饱和土力学,一直是个热点和难点。现有的强度折减有限元法一般仅对强度指标进行折减,但折减后得到的路堤变形场与实际变形场存在一定差异。论文分析认为,在降雨入渗影响下非饱和路堤不仅强度参数会降低,而且变形参数也会随着应力水平和强度参数的变化而变化。采用基于变模量的弹塑性强度折减法,对不同降雨入渗深度下路堤的变形规律进行数值模拟,并与室内模型试验结果进行比较;同时采用强度折减法和极限平衡法中的Bishop法,分析了不同降雨入渗深度对非饱和路堤稳定性和滑弧变化特征的影响规律。     

Incorporating hydro-mechanical coupling in an analysis of the effects of rainfall patterns on unsaturated soil slope stability

Rainfall-induced landslides can cause loss of life and damage to property, infrastructure, and the environment. Rainfall patterns affect the pore-water pressure of unsaturated soil slopes, and are related to the slopes’ stability. Four rainfall patterns were chosen to represent natural rainfall patterns for an examination of rainfall infiltration into soil slopes using numerical models incorporating coupled water infiltration and deformation in unsaturated soils. Our analysis showed that rainfall patterns play a significant role in the distribution of the pore-water pressure in soil slopes, and influence the slope stability. The pore-water pressure profile of soil slopes and the factor of safety are affected by the ratio of rainfall intensity and the coefficient of permeability. The depth and shape of the shallow sliding plane of the landslide is closely related to the rainfall pattern; moreover, the results showed a correlation between the factor of safety of the slope and the rainfall intensity. This relationship can be described by a dimensionless rainfall intensity. The nonlinear relationship can be used to estimate the slope stability resulting from rainfall infiltration when the hydro-mechanical coupling in unsaturated soil slopes is considered.     

Factor of safety in a partially saturated slope inferred from hydro‐mechanical continuum modeling

Rainfall weakens an earth slope and triggers mass movement. Relevant triggering mechanisms are complex and include reduction of capillary pressure due to increased saturation and frictional drag on the sediment induced by fluid flow. Physics‐based continuum models utilizing modern computational tools are useful for understanding the mechanisms of deformation in partially saturated slopes; however, they do not provide a scalar indicator called ‘factor of safety’ that measures the potential of a given slope for mass movement. In the present work, we employ sequential calculations consisting of a physics‐based finite element model that couples solid deformation with fluid flow to quantify the stress and deformation fields in a steep hillside slope subjected to rainfall infiltration. This is followed by a limit‐equilibrium calculation based on the method of slices that evaluates the desired factor of safety. The field condition investigated is similar to the steep experimental catchment CB1 near Coos Bay, Oregon, which failed as a large debris flow from heavy rainfall. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

物质组成特征对碎石土斜坡变形破坏影响研究

为研究物质组成空间分布特征对降雨下碎石土斜坡变形破坏的影响,以不同成因碎石土斜坡的特点为依照,进行了4种物质组成空间分布的碎石土斜坡模型及1种均质斜坡模型试验。结果表明,物质组成空间分布特征对降雨下碎石土斜坡变形破坏所发挥的作用与降雨入渗方向和应力调整方向有重要关系。当土料变化方向与入渗方向大角度相交且与应力调整方向相同时,斜坡渗透性为土料各自的渗透性,斜坡力学性质偏向于组成土料力学性质的最大值。当土料变化方向与入渗方向相同且与应力调整方向大角度相交时,斜坡渗透性接近组成土料渗透性的最小值,斜坡变形破坏受控于其中的软弱土料。降雨下斜坡各处均发生变形,且变形向周围调整并产生影响。破裂面更易发于软弱土料中。该研究有助于斜坡灾害勘察、预测评价及防治向精细化方向发展。     

间歇型降雨对堆积层斜坡变形破坏的物理模拟研究

为研究间歇型降雨作用下缓倾堆积层斜坡的变形破坏特征,以樱桃沟滑坡为例,进行了降雨作用下斜坡变形破坏的物理模拟研究。试验结果表明：前期降雨作用下坡体变形特征表现为前缘滑移沉陷、中部滑移、后缘沉陷、坡体裂缝生成,且前缘裂缝扩张明显,后期降雨作用下坡脚区域首先发生滑塌,然后依次向后缘传递发生逐阶滑塌破坏;降雨入渗易在基岩面上储存,形成暂态地下水位、高孔隙水压力区域和坡向渗流场,基岩面附近土体饱水时间长,软化程度高,抗剪强度弱化显著,边坡易沿基覆界面土层发生滑坡;坡体滑动易发生在降雨间歇期,触发特征表现为雨后坡体暂态饱和区水分和坡表积水持续下渗,导致地下水位上升滞后于降雨,造成坡体内浮托力、渗透力和孔隙水压力增大,有效应力降低,诱发滑坡。     

Lagrangian meshfree particles method (SPH) for large deformation and failure flows of geomaterial using elastic–plastic soil constitutive model

Simulation of large deformation and post‐failure of geomaterial in the framework of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) are presented in this study. The Drucker–Prager model with associated and non‐associated plastic flow rules is implemented into the SPH code to describe elastic–plastic soil behavior. In contrast to previous work on SPH for solids, where the hydrostatic pressure is often estimated from density by an equation of state, this study proposes to calculate the hydrostatic pressure of soil directly from constitutive models. Results obtained in this paper show that the original SPH method, which has been successfully applied to a vast range of problems, is unable to directly solve elastic–plastic flows of soil because of the so‐called SPH tensile instability. This numerical instability may result in unrealistic fracture and particles clustering in SPH simulation. For non‐cohesive soil, the instability is not serious and can be completely removed by using a tension cracking treatment from soil constitutive model and thereby give realistic soil behavior. However, the serious tensile instability that is found in SPH application for cohesive soil requires a special treatment to overcome this problem. In this paper, an artificial stress method is applied to remove the SPH numerical instability in cohesive soil. A number of numerical tests are carried out to check the capability of SPH in the current application. Numerical results are then compared with experimental and finite element method solutions. The good agreement obtained from these comparisons suggests that SPH can be extended to general geotechnical problems. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

膨胀土边坡非饱和渗流及渐进性破坏耦合分析

膨胀土边坡受降雨影响产生膨胀变形,是典型的非饱和土多场耦合问题。为探究降雨入渗对其渐进性破坏的失稳过程,基于饱和-非饱和渗流理论、膨胀土弹塑性本构关系和应变软化理论,利用应变软化模型、FLAC3D二次开发平台和内置FISH语言,提出了一种综合考虑非饱和渗流、膨胀变形和应变软化的多场耦合数值分析法。结合工程实例,通过该方法探讨了降雨入渗条件下膨胀土边坡非饱和渗流、位移响应及渐进性破坏的变化规律。结果表明:膨胀变形和应变软化受控于非饱和渗流的时空分布,对边坡位移响应过程影响显著,也易导致饱和-非饱和分界带形成剪应力集中区。膨胀土边坡渐进性破坏由局部破坏转变为整体性失稳,其塑性破坏区首先随悬挂型暂态饱和区的变化向坡内扩展,雨后逐渐形成第二条由坡脚向坡顶扩展的滑动带,呈现出多重滑动性和后退牵引式的破坏特征。     

A numerical model simulating reactive transport and evolution of fracture permeability

A numerical model is presented to describe the evolution of fracture aperture (and related permeability) mediated by the competing chemical processes of pressure solution and free‐face dissolution/precipitation; pressure (dis)solution and precipitation effect net‐reduction in aperture and free‐face dissolution effects net‐increase. These processes are incorporated to examine coupled thermo‐hydro‐mechano‐chemo responses during a flow‐through experiment, and applied to reckon the effect of forced fluid injection within rock fractures at geothermal and petroleum sites. The model accommodates advection‐dominant transport systems by employing the Lagrangian–Eulerian method. This enables changes in aperture and solute concentration within a fracture to be followed with time for arbitrary driving effective stresses, fluid and rock temperatures, and fluid flow rates. This allows a systematic evaluation of evolving linked mechanical and chemical processes. Changes in fracture aperture and solute concentration tracked within a well‐constrained flow‐through test completed on a natural fracture in novaculite (Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 2006, in press) are compared with the distributed parameter model. These results show relatively good agreement, excepting an enigmatic abrupt reduction in fracture aperture in the early experimental period, suggesting that other mechanisms such as mechanical creep and clogging induced by unanticipated local precipitation need to be quantified and incorporated. The model is applied to examine the evolution in fracture permeability for different inlet conditions, including localized (rather than distributed) injection. Predictions show the evolution of preferential flow paths driven by dissolution, and also define the sense of permeability evolution at field scale. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

缓倾软硬岩互层边坡变形破坏机制模型试验研究

以宜巴高速公路沿途彭家湾软硬岩互层边坡为工程依托,依据地质分析及相似理论建立缓倾软硬岩互层边坡室内模型,采用开挖试验及和注水软化试验来模拟实际中的工程开挖（或河谷下切）和雨水浸润软化过程,研究缓倾软硬岩互层边坡的变形破坏机制。结果表明：在开挖及雨水软化两种工况下,该类软硬岩互层边坡的变形模式都是前期的滑移拉裂变形和后期的整体蠕滑变形,破坏模式是以深部软层为滑动面的整体滑移;硬岩层与软岩层的变形情况略有不同,硬岩层以整体蠕滑变形为主,而软岩层以滑移拉裂变形为主;深部软岩层的状态变化对边坡的整体稳定性影响非常关键;工程开挖（河谷下切）及雨水入渗都会对该类缓倾软硬岩互层边坡的稳定性有重要影响,开挖导致的临空面及微裂隙是滑坡发生的基础,水是滑坡发生的条件和诱因。