Evaluation of Landslide Triggering Mechanism During Rainfall in Slopes Containing Vertical Cracks

Landslides are one of the most destructive natural hazards that lead to the loss of lives and infrastructures. Understanding the landslide mechanism is one of the important parts of mitigating landslide hazards. The occurrence of landslides can be significantly influenced by the presence of vertical cracks. These cracks act as potential weak points in the slope, making it more susceptible to failure. In this paper, slope model experiments were carried out in the laboratory using K–7 sand incorporating rainfall intensity of 70 mm/h via a sprinkler system. The slope model was simulated with a slope angle of 40°. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the mechanism of slope deformation patterns in two different types of slopes, with vertical cracks and without vertical cracks. The soil moisture content and pore water pressure affect the instability of slope models. The results showed that the distribution of landslide activity was retrogressive and more vulnerable on a slope having vertical cracks compared to a slope without vertical cracks.