The Effects of Slope Initialization on the Numerical Model Predictions of the Slope-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction
Deep slope movements and, eventually, slope failure, have been often interpreted to be due to slope-vegetation-atmosphere interaction on slopes formed of clayey materials in the Italian Southern-Eastern Apennines, as reported in the literature. Such slopes are generally formed of flysch, within whic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Geosciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/10/2/85 |
| _version_ | 1828182268031533056 |
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| author | Vito Tagarelli Federica Cotecchia |
| author_facet | Vito Tagarelli Federica Cotecchia |
| author_sort | Vito Tagarelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Deep slope movements and, eventually, slope failure, have been often interpreted to be due to slope-vegetation-atmosphere interaction on slopes formed of clayey materials in the Italian Southern-Eastern Apennines, as reported in the literature. Such slopes are generally formed of flysch, within which clay is the main lithotype. Such clays are characterized by a disturbed meso-fabric, as an effect of the intense tectonics. The paper presents the results of coupled hydromechanical numerical analyses of the slope-vegetation-atmosphere interaction for a clay slope representative for the geomechanical scenario where such climate-induced deep slope movements have been repeatedly recorded. In the analyses, different model initialization procedures and parameter values were adopted. The comparison of the numerical results with the site data is aimed at assessing the effects of the soil-vegetation-atmosphere interaction taking place in the top strata of the slope, on the stress-strain conditions across the whole slope, and on the slope stability. The comparison between the numerical results of the analyses carried out entailing different initialization stages are intended to evaluate the influence of such a stage on the model predictions. It is found that only when the slope model initialization accounts for the slope loading history, developed over geological time, the numerical predictions get close to the site observations. In such case, the numerical results confirm that deep movements consequent to progressive failure may take place in clay slopes due to the slope-vegetation-atmosphere interaction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:14:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-230c50dd239e402fb855446a6b2f5ec3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:14:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-230c50dd239e402fb855446a6b2f5ec32022-12-22T03:44:32ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632020-02-011028510.3390/geosciences10020085geosciences10020085The Effects of Slope Initialization on the Numerical Model Predictions of the Slope-Vegetation-Atmosphere InteractionVito Tagarelli0Federica Cotecchia1DICATECh, Polytechnical University of Bari, 70126 Bari, ItalyDICATECh, Polytechnical University of Bari, 70126 Bari, ItalyDeep slope movements and, eventually, slope failure, have been often interpreted to be due to slope-vegetation-atmosphere interaction on slopes formed of clayey materials in the Italian Southern-Eastern Apennines, as reported in the literature. Such slopes are generally formed of flysch, within which clay is the main lithotype. Such clays are characterized by a disturbed meso-fabric, as an effect of the intense tectonics. The paper presents the results of coupled hydromechanical numerical analyses of the slope-vegetation-atmosphere interaction for a clay slope representative for the geomechanical scenario where such climate-induced deep slope movements have been repeatedly recorded. In the analyses, different model initialization procedures and parameter values were adopted. The comparison of the numerical results with the site data is aimed at assessing the effects of the soil-vegetation-atmosphere interaction taking place in the top strata of the slope, on the stress-strain conditions across the whole slope, and on the slope stability. The comparison between the numerical results of the analyses carried out entailing different initialization stages are intended to evaluate the influence of such a stage on the model predictions. It is found that only when the slope model initialization accounts for the slope loading history, developed over geological time, the numerical predictions get close to the site observations. In such case, the numerical results confirm that deep movements consequent to progressive failure may take place in clay slopes due to the slope-vegetation-atmosphere interaction.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/10/2/85climate-induced landslidesnumerical modellingunsaturated soil |
| spellingShingle | Vito Tagarelli Federica Cotecchia The Effects of Slope Initialization on the Numerical Model Predictions of the Slope-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction Geosciences climate-induced landslides numerical modelling unsaturated soil |
| title | The Effects of Slope Initialization on the Numerical Model Predictions of the Slope-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction |
| title_full | The Effects of Slope Initialization on the Numerical Model Predictions of the Slope-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of Slope Initialization on the Numerical Model Predictions of the Slope-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of Slope Initialization on the Numerical Model Predictions of the Slope-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction |
| title_short | The Effects of Slope Initialization on the Numerical Model Predictions of the Slope-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction |
| title_sort | effects of slope initialization on the numerical model predictions of the slope vegetation atmosphere interaction |
| topic | climate-induced landslides numerical modelling unsaturated soil |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/10/2/85 |
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