An Approach to Assess the Stability of Unsaturated Multilayered Coastal-Embankment Slope during Rainfall Infiltration

This study aims to develop a simple but effective approach to investigate the stability of an unsaturated and multilayered coastal-embankment slope during the rainfall, in which a Random Search Algorithm (RSA) based on the random sampling idea of the Monte Carlo method was employed to obtain the mos...

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Main Authors: Jian-feng Zhu, Chang-fu Chen, Hong-yi Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/7/6/165
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author Jian-feng Zhu
Chang-fu Chen
Hong-yi Zhao
author_facet Jian-feng Zhu
Chang-fu Chen
Hong-yi Zhao
author_sort Jian-feng Zhu
collection DOAJ
description This study aims to develop a simple but effective approach to investigate the stability of an unsaturated and multilayered coastal-embankment slope during the rainfall, in which a Random Search Algorithm (RSA) based on the random sampling idea of the Monte Carlo method was employed to obtain the most dangerous circular sliding surface, whereas the safety factor of the unsaturated slope was calculated by the modified Morgenstern&#8722;Price method. Firstly, two typical distributions of matric suction were illustrated and the associated methods for determining the strength parameters of unsaturated soil were developed. Based on this, the Morgenstern&#8722;Price method was further modified to calculate the safety factor, and RSA was adopted to locate the most dangerous sliding surface of the unsaturated multilayered coastal-embankment slope. Finally, the slope breaking process under rainfall infiltration was simulated through continuously searching the critical slip surfaces under different groundwater levels by RSA. The results indicated that the stability of the unsaturated embankment slope was gradually deteriorated with the increase of rainfall infiltration. It was also found that both of the distributions of the matrix suction (<i>u</i><sub>a</sub>-<i>u</i><sub>w</sub>) and the suction angle (<i>&#966;</i><sup>b</sup>) had significant effects on the safety factor of the embankment slope. Basically, linear distribution of (<i>u</i><sub>a</sub>-<i>u</i><sub>w</sub>) along the depth and linear relationship between <i>&#966;</i><sup>b</sup> and (<i>u</i><sub>a</sub>-<i>u</i><sub>w</sub>) should be adopted in assessing the stability of the unsaturated multilayered coastal-embankment slope.
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spelling doaj.art-9c8ad14593d144cd8ac88199674b2b992022-12-21T23:08:02ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122019-05-017616510.3390/jmse7060165jmse7060165An Approach to Assess the Stability of Unsaturated Multilayered Coastal-Embankment Slope during Rainfall InfiltrationJian-feng Zhu0Chang-fu Chen1Hong-yi Zhao2Faculty of Architectural Civil Engineering and Environment, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, ChinaGeotechnical Engineering Institute of Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaThis study aims to develop a simple but effective approach to investigate the stability of an unsaturated and multilayered coastal-embankment slope during the rainfall, in which a Random Search Algorithm (RSA) based on the random sampling idea of the Monte Carlo method was employed to obtain the most dangerous circular sliding surface, whereas the safety factor of the unsaturated slope was calculated by the modified Morgenstern&#8722;Price method. Firstly, two typical distributions of matric suction were illustrated and the associated methods for determining the strength parameters of unsaturated soil were developed. Based on this, the Morgenstern&#8722;Price method was further modified to calculate the safety factor, and RSA was adopted to locate the most dangerous sliding surface of the unsaturated multilayered coastal-embankment slope. Finally, the slope breaking process under rainfall infiltration was simulated through continuously searching the critical slip surfaces under different groundwater levels by RSA. The results indicated that the stability of the unsaturated embankment slope was gradually deteriorated with the increase of rainfall infiltration. It was also found that both of the distributions of the matrix suction (<i>u</i><sub>a</sub>-<i>u</i><sub>w</sub>) and the suction angle (<i>&#966;</i><sup>b</sup>) had significant effects on the safety factor of the embankment slope. Basically, linear distribution of (<i>u</i><sub>a</sub>-<i>u</i><sub>w</sub>) along the depth and linear relationship between <i>&#966;</i><sup>b</sup> and (<i>u</i><sub>a</sub>-<i>u</i><sub>w</sub>) should be adopted in assessing the stability of the unsaturated multilayered coastal-embankment slope.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/7/6/165coastal-embankment slopestabilityunsaturated soilmultilayeredmatric suctionrandom searching algorithmrainfall infiltration
spellingShingle Jian-feng Zhu
Chang-fu Chen
Hong-yi Zhao
An Approach to Assess the Stability of Unsaturated Multilayered Coastal-Embankment Slope during Rainfall Infiltration
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
coastal-embankment slope
stability
unsaturated soil
multilayered
matric suction
random searching algorithm
rainfall infiltration
title An Approach to Assess the Stability of Unsaturated Multilayered Coastal-Embankment Slope during Rainfall Infiltration
title_full An Approach to Assess the Stability of Unsaturated Multilayered Coastal-Embankment Slope during Rainfall Infiltration
title_fullStr An Approach to Assess the Stability of Unsaturated Multilayered Coastal-Embankment Slope during Rainfall Infiltration
title_full_unstemmed An Approach to Assess the Stability of Unsaturated Multilayered Coastal-Embankment Slope during Rainfall Infiltration
title_short An Approach to Assess the Stability of Unsaturated Multilayered Coastal-Embankment Slope during Rainfall Infiltration
title_sort approach to assess the stability of unsaturated multilayered coastal embankment slope during rainfall infiltration
topic coastal-embankment slope
stability
unsaturated soil
multilayered
matric suction
random searching algorithm
rainfall infiltration
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/7/6/165
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