Effect of relict joints in rain induced slope failures in residual soil

Abstract

Rain inducted slope failures are a common geotechnical hazard in the most parts of the world. particularly in the tropical reagon, which are covered with residual, soil, the temporal frequency of rainfall inducted slope failures is very high. These problems are encountered frequently in the construction of highway where very high cuts are made in the slopes. Residual soils are formed due to weathering of rocks and the joints remain as relict joint even after the weathering process. The residual soils are heterogeneous due to variable weathering of the jointed mass rock. Generally the ground water table is low during the dry season and these soils are in an unsaturated state with negative pore water pressure above the water table. As a result of infiltration of rain water, the matric suction will be distroued and ground water table will rise. Relict joints present in the system will further complicate the pattern of infiltration. Changes in the pore pressure regime due to infiltration and its effect on safety was studied in a previous research. The objective of this research is to investigate the effects of different systems of relict joints in the infiltration and stability. This aspect was studied in this research using SEEPW, SLOPEW software.