Modelling dynamic drivers and uncertain soil parameters in tropical urban slopes

Mair E.W. Beesley, Elizabeth A. Holcombe, Casey J. Shepheard, Paul J. Vardanega, Katerina Michaelides

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

2 Citations (Scopus)
170 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Landslide risk is increasing in tropical developing countries as rapid informal construction increases the susceptibility of slopes to rainfall-triggered landslides. These 'everyday hazards' adversely affect the livelihoods of hillside communities, hinder sustainable development, indicate a systemic lack of resilience and can be linked to the stagnation of a country's economic growth. A physically-based model of dynamic rainfall infiltration and slope hydrology coupled with limit equilibrium analysis is used to identify the progressive effects of urbanisation on slope stability over time, and the sensitivity of such analyses to variations in mechanical and hydraulic soil properties. The greatest reductions in stability are associated with slope cutting; however, planting grasses and, in some cases light-weight trees, can improve stability. For the majority of deforested slopes without cuts, mechanical soil properties have the strongest influence on stability; however, for slopes close to the point of failure, variations in saturated hydraulic conductivity become more significant.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 19th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ICSMGE 2017)
Subtitle of host publicationUnearth the Future, Connect Beyond
EditorsWoojin Lee, Jong-Sub Lee, Hyun-Ki Kim, Dong-Soo Kim
Place of PublicationSeoul, Republic of Korea
PublisherKorea Geotechnical Society
Pages3365-3368
Number of pages4
Volume2017-September
Publication statusPublished - 17 Sept 2017
Event19th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, ICSMGE 2017 - Seoul, Korea, Republic of
Duration: 17 Sept 201722 Sept 2017

Conference

Conference19th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, ICSMGE 2017
Country/TerritoryKorea, Republic of
CitySeoul
Period17/09/1722/09/17

Keywords

  • Factor of safety
  • Humid tropics
  • Infiltration
  • Slope stability
  • Urbanisation

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