Experimental Study on the Stability of Shallow Landslides in Residual Soil

Abstract

Landslide disasters are one of the most severe geological hazards in China. Soil slopes are prone to triggering landslides under the influence of main factors such as rainfall, resulting in economic losses, casualties, and ecological damage. Taking a residual soil landslide in Xingguo County as an example, this study investigated the influencing factors and mechanical properties of soil slope stability under rainfall infiltration through physical model experiments. The main conclusions were as follows: with the increase in rainfall intensity, the amount of rainwater infiltration and the weight of the soil mass increased, which led to greater changes in soil pressure. The maximum amplitude of the experimental process was 5.51 kPa. The response time of pore water pressure under a rainfall intensity of 45 mm/h was 20–30 min earlier than that under a rainfall intensity of 21 mm/h, with a larger fluctuation range. The maximum amplitude of the experimental process was 6.66 kPa. Under the condition of rainfall intensity of 21 mm/h, the slope undergone local shallow sliding failure, while under the condition of rainfall intensity of 45 mm/h, the slope undergone overall shallow sliding failure. The physical model experimental results were consistent with the historical deformation of the landslide and the actual situation on site. The conclusions of the experiment can provide a reference for the research on the failure mechanism of similar landslides.