Open AccessVolumetric behavior of saturated sands under poor drainage conditions
Author(s) -
Lourenço Sérgio D. N.,
Wang Gonghui,
Sassa Kyoji,
Fukuoka Hiroshi
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: earth surface
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2005jf000324
Subject(s) - pore water pressure , drainage , geotechnical engineering , permeability (electromagnetism) , soil water , landslide , geology , porosity , shear (geology) , materials science , soil science , petrology , chemistry , ecology , biochemistry , membrane , biology
Permeability variations have been identified as a key factor in controlling slope failure locations in rainfall‐induced landslides. In this research, failure behavior in limited drainage conditions was investigated. Tests were performed on saturated sands by means of a modified triaxial system that could mimic the effect of low‐permeability barriers present in the field. The tests were conducted by increasing the pore water pressure at different rates to study the effects of the speed of pore water pressure rise on soil failure. The results revealed a dependence of soil volume changes on the rate of pore water pressure increase. In general, the results showed that volume change of granular soils, which are under shear and confined laterally by low‐permeability materials, depends on the initial porosity and the pore water pressure rate. These results are particularly valid during the early stages of soil deformation that precede wholesale slope failure.