Pore-pressure response in a marine clay slope in southeast Norway

Abstract

This paper presents 9 years of measured pore pressures from eight piezometers installed in a marine clay slope in southeast Norway and the results of a two-dimensional finite element (FE) analysis performed to evaluate infiltration effects on groundwater flow and pore-pressure response. The assumed time-varying boundary flux record used in the analysis to simulate infiltration considers the effects of temperature, snow depth, land-use practices, and soil hydraulic conductivity. The pore-pressure records and analyses show that: (i) the maximum pore pressure reached is nearly the same each year; (ii) this maximum corresponds to a groundwater surface at or near the ground surface; (iii) the two-dimensional groundwater model used for the analysis is adequate for understanding of factors affecting infiltration, seepage patterns, and pore-pressure variations; and (iv) it is difficult to precisely model all aspects of the observed pore-pressure variations.