Stability Study of Partially Saturated Slopes Under the Influence of Various Antecedent Rainfall Intensities and Duration

A major field of study in geotechnical engineering is slope stability, which encompasses landslides occurring mainly due to rainfall infiltration. The study of landslides due to rainfall infiltration is more relevant today than ever, as literature consistently reminds us that changes in rainfall patterns brought on by climate change may lead to less frequent but longer-lasting rainfall events. There are a few studies that take linked changes in liquid-gas phase flow into account, whereas most research focuses solely on changes in liquid phase flow. In the work put out, the stability investigation of partially saturated slopes under the effect of varied rainfall intensities and durations considers the interaction between the liquid, gas phase, and the soil skeleton. Prior to the main rainfall event, the impact of antecedent rainfall on the stability of partially saturated slopes is emphasized. The stability of slopes is not only controlled by the usual suspects, like the groundwater table, permeability ratio, etc., but, additionally, depends on the rainfall preceding the initiating rainfall (that caused the slope failure), i.e., antecedent rainfall; this is established by the factor of safety for the slope under study using the strength reduction factor method. The study is carried out with the aid of the finite difference method in FLAC 2D.