Abstract
Rainfall is a key factor triggering slope failures, leading to geohazards and affecting civil infrastructure. Traditional slope stability assessments use dry-state analysis and groundwater table models, which may be insufficient for predicting the Factor of Safety (FoS) under rainfall conditions. This study investigated the governing factors that can induce slope failure due to rainfall infiltration in non-tropical areas, focusing on a previously failed slope in Northern New Jersey. A two-dimensional Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) and Finite Element Method (FEM) were employed. Initial dry-state and subsequent post-rainfall slope stability analyses were conducted. The results indicated a reduction in FoS due to rainfall (LEM: 1.59 to 1.46, FEM: 1.49 to 1.11), attributed to reduced matric suction and increased soil saturation. Further analysis revealed a 6%-25.5% FoS decrease, with shear strain (+139%) and displacement (+95%) increasing. The findings suggest that rising rainfall events may destabilize slopes, necessitating slope protection work for long-term stability.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 200-209 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Geotechnical Special Publication |
| Volume | 2025-March |
| Issue number | GSP 364 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2025 |
| Event | Geotechnical Frontiers 2025: Foundations, Retaining Structures, and Geosynthetics - Louisville, United States Duration: Mar 2 2025 → Mar 5 2025 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Architecture
- Building and Construction
- Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology