A Simple Evaluation Method of Slope Safety under Rainfall Based on Experiments of Infiltration into Soil Column

Abstract

Slopes are vulnerable to landslides, particularly under the process of infiltration. Considering the process of infiltration, we produced a modified Green-Ampt model, in which the new parameter of water content at the wetting front was introduced. We experimentally determined this parameter, which proved to be a constant and with ponding water was 1.7 times higher. We combined the improved model and experiments with a traditional limit equilibrium method, and this simplified method was applied to calculate a safety factor, which can be used to dynamically evaluate the slopes and provide new insights into design.