Effects of pore water pressure on the slope profile of a laboratory simulated rainfall-induced landslides

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents a methodology to identify the controlling parameters of rainfall-induced landslides. Two laboratory scale model of a typical slope has been created with the help of a tilting flume setup incorporated with rainfall simulators to understand the landslide fluidization process using various sensors and cameras. The results obtained with this study will help determine the most efficient monitoring parameters to be considered for developing a landslide early warning system (LEWS). The tilting flume setup was created with 45-degree and 60-degree slopes. The pore water pressure parameters were measured, and instantaneous photographs were taken continuously after simulating artificial rainfall using rainfall simulators. The landslide mechanics that cause the initiation of soil movement have been closely monitored. The summary of this study will help develop an early warning system for landslide-prone regions. The findings of this study emphasize that pore water pressure monitoring is not the best method to develop an early warning system as the pressure values are unpredictable in a massive heterogeneous soil body and sloping angle. However, there is a sudden release of pore pressure right after the failure of the mass, which is evident from the results obtained.