FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATION OF A RAINFALL INDUCED SHALLOW LANDSLIDE IN AN EXPERIMENTAL HILLSLOPE WITH A MULTIPHASE POROUS MEDIA MODEL

This study presents the results of a FEM numerical simulation of a large scale physical model of a slope subjected to rainfall infiltration. The slope failure is modelled as a coupled variably saturated thermo-hydro-mechanical problem, using the Pastor-Zienkiewicz generalised plasticity model to obtain the soil’s mechanical response. Small strain and quasi- static loading conditions are assumed, and plane strain conditions are adopted in the slope stability analysis. The hydraulic and mechanical parameters are calibrated based on the available experimental data. The numerical results are compared with the experimental data of the mechanical and the hydraulic responses up to failure.