• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.63-70
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• 2012

The authors discuss the effect of hydraulic conductivity on the suction profile and stability of a typical cut-slope subjected to low intensity rainfall. The initial suction value above the ground table in the unsaturated zone is assumed to be 15 kPa. The uncoupled approach of finite element and limit equilibrium method is used to evaluate the stability of the cut-slope at different elapsed times of rainfall. The finite element seepage analysis shows that the soil in the unsaturated zone always remains unsaturated during the course of low intensity rainfall. Furthermore, the slope stability remains practically unchanged so long as the wetting front remains in the unsaturated zone but it decreases noticeably when the wetting front reaches and elevates the ground water table level.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.343-351
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• 2012

This study proposes a modified equation to calculate the factor of safety for an infinite slope considering the saturation depth ratio as a new variable calculated from rainfall infiltration into unsaturated soil. For the proposed equation, this study introduces the concepts of the saturation depth ratio and subsurface flow depth. Analysis of the factor of safety for an infinite slope is conducted by the sequential calculation of the effective upslope contributing area, subsurface flow depth, and the saturation depth ratio based on quasi-dynamic wetness index theory. The calculation process makes it possible to understand changes in the factor of safety and the infiltration behavior of individual rainfall events. This study analyzes stability changes in an infinite slope, considering the saturation depth ratio of soil, based on the proposed equation and the results of soil column tests performed by Park et al. (2011 a). The analysis results show that changes in the factor of safety are dependent on the saturation depth ratio, which reflects the rainfall infiltration into unsaturated weathered gneiss soil. Under continuous rainfall with intensities of 20 and 50 mm/h, the time taken for the factor of safety to decrease to less than 1.3 was 2.86-5.38 hours and 1.34-2.92 hours, respectively; in the case of repeated rainfall events, the time taken was between 3.27 and 5.61 hours. The results demonstrate that it is possible to understand changes in the factor of safety for an infinite slope dependent on the saturation depth ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2014

Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (HC) is integrated theoretically from soil water retention curves (SWRC) by Mualem capillary model, but the prediction of HC is extremely sensitive to small variation of matric suction near saturation. Near saturation, the Mualem HC based on smooth SWRC decreases abruptly and has problems in the reliability of hydraulic behavior and the stability of numerical solutions. To improve van Genuchten-Mualem (VGM) HC, the van Genuchten SWRC model is modified within range of low matric suction (arbitrary air entry pressure). At an arbitrary air entry pressure, the VG SWRC is linearized in log scale until full saturation. The modified VG SWRC does not affect the fit of actual retention behavior and either the parameters of original VG SWRC fit. Using the modified VG SWRC, the VGM HC is modified to integrate for each interval decomposed by arbitrary air entry pressure. An analytical solution on modified VGM HC is proposed each interval, to protect the rapid change in HC near saturation. For silty soils, VGM models of HC function underestimate the unsaturated permeability characteristics and especially show rapid reduction near saturation. The modified VGM model predicts more accurate HC functions for Korean weathered soils. Furthermore, near saturation, the saturated HC is conserved by the modified VGM model. After 2-D infiltration analysis of an actual slope, the hydraulic behaviors are compared for VGM and the modified models. The prediction by the proposed model conserved the convergence of solutions on various rainfall conditions. However, the solution by VGM model did not converge since the conductivity near saturation reduced abruptly for heavy rainfall condition. Using VGM model, the factor of safety is overestimated in both initial and final stage during heavy rainfall. Stability analysis based on infiltration analysis could simulate the actual slope failure by the proposed model on HC.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.465-466
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• 2011

이 연구는 일본식 배수공이 설치된 제방의 침투 흐름을 비정상 상태로 SEEP/W 모형을 사용하여 해석하고 모형의 적용성을 평가하기 위해 수행하였다. 수치모형의 적용성 평가를 위해 비정상 상태로 제방 침투에 대한 수리모형실험을 수행하였다. 제체 재료는 경상북도 구미시에 위치한 해평천의 제방 건설 현장의 재료를 사용하였고 일본식배수공은 굵은 골재와 부직포를 사용하여 실험실에 제방 축소 모형을 수조 내부에 제작하였다. 모형제방은 제방축조 방법과 유사하게 다짐을 하기 위해 흙을 쌓으면서 0.20 m 높이마다 다짐을 실시하였다. 다짐방법은 고무망치를 이용한 층다짐을 하였다. 제방 제외지에 0.55 cm/min의 속도로 수위를 증가하여 15분 간격으로 각 0.3 m, 0.4 m, 0.5 m 수위에 따른 비정상 상태의 위압계 측정을 수행하였다. SEEP/W 모형의 매개변수는 투수계수와 입도분포도, 불포화 함수특성곡선(값을 산정하기 어려움)이 있으며, 각 매개변수에 대한 민감도 분석을 수행하였다. SEEP/W 모형의 모의 결과는 수리모형실험 결과와 비교적 잘 일치함을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.29-38
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• 2011

The unsaturated layers by rainfall infiltration are not properly reflected in construction codes to do slope design. The objective of this paper is to analyze the slope behavior according to the saturation layer increase resulted from the rainfall infiltration, to do that the laboratory slope model apparatus was adopted. From the model apparatus, the variation of water content and strength parameters of the model slope were analyzed. The safety factors of model slope was decreased, if saturation layer was increased from 3.0m to 4.5m, which means ground water level 3m selected from construction codes makes higher safety level. Also, if the ground water level is located in soil surface, the lower safety level will show up. Therefore, to make the proper slope design, the experiments and analysis of variation of saturation layer is needed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.75-89
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• 2013

This paper describes a GIS-based geohydrologic methodology, called YSGWF (YonSei GroundWater Flow) for predicting the rainfall infiltration-groundwater flow of slopes. This physical-based model was developed by the combination of modified Green-Ampt model that considers the unsaturated soil parameters and GIS-based raster model using Darcy's law that reflects the groundwater flow. In the model, raster data are used to simulate the three dimensional inclination of bedrock surface as actual topographic data, and the groundwater flow is governed by the slope. Also, soil profile is ideally subdivided into three zones, i.e., the wetting band zone, partially saturated zone, and fully saturated zone. In the wetting band and partially saturated zones the vertical infiltration of water (rainfall) from surface into ground is modeled. When the infiltrated water recharges into the fully saturated zone, the horizontal flow of groundwater is introduced. A comparison between the numerical calculation and real landslide data shows a reasonable agreement, which indicate that the model can be used to simulate real rainfall infiltration-groundwater flow.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.35-45
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• 2014

Limit equilibrium methods of slope stability analysis have been widely adopted mainly due to their simplicity and applicability. However, the conventional methods may not give reliable and convincing results for various geological conditions such as nonhomogeneous and anisotropic soils. Also, they do not take into account soil slope history nor the initial state of stress, for example excavation or fill placement. In contrast to the limit equilibrium analysis, the analysis of deformation and stress distribution by finite element method can deal with the complex loading sequence and the growth of inelastic zone with time. This paper proposes a technique to determine the critical slip surface as well as to calculate the factor of safety for shallow failure on partially saturated soil slope. Based on the effective stress field in finite element analysis, all stresses are estimated at each Gaussian point of elements. The search strategy for a noncircular critical slip surface along weak points is appropriate for rainfall-induced shallow slope failure. The change of unit weight by seepage force has an effect on the horizontal and vertical displacements on the soil slope. The Drucker-Prager failure criterion was adopted for stress-strain relation to calculate coupling hydraulic and mechanical behavior of the partially saturated soil slope.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.80-94
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• 1996

The Nanjido Landfill has recently become one of the most important environmental sites for a hydrogeological study. Hydrogeological study was performed by understanding the current situation, analyzing hydrogeological information, and constructing a hydrogeological data base. The constructed data base was used for the analyses of several important phenomena in the Nanjido Landfill. Saturated hydraulic conductivity and underground temperature were measured. Based on the hydraulic conductivity and rainfall data, net infiltration rates were estimated. Leachate production rates are estimated by using the data base. The data base and a hydraulic model were used to understand the formation of the so called floating leachate layer.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.21-28
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• 2021

The factors of landslides depend on rainfall intensity, duration, and the characteristics of the soil slope. The conventional slope stability analysis has been carried out by assuming that the slope is saturated. But, a site slope consisting of unsaturated ground must be imitated and interpreted in order to explain a proper behavior of the slope due to rainfall. In this study, by using two major categories of soils in Korea, such as granite and gneiss weathered soils, landslide model test and numerical analysis have been compared with the difference of seepage and volumetric water content. In general, the permeability of gneiss weathered soil, which contains a lot of fines content, is slower than that of granite weathered soil. As a result, in extreme rainfall, numerical analysis can show results that can penetrate quickly, resulting in saturation or more dangerous collapse.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.71-79
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• 2011

In this study, the variation of wetting front and ground water level at the embankment constructed in the Saemangeum area were predicted considering rainfall duration times and the slope stability analysis of the embankment was carried out according to prediction results of wetting front and ground water level. The embankment was formed by dredging soils. A suction stress, a cohesion and a frictional angle of dreding soils measured by soil tests were applied to estimate the unsaturated soil properties. According to the analysis results of the wetting front and the ground water level for various rainfall duration time, the wetting front began to descend from the upper part of embankment at the beginning time of rainfall and after 1 hour of rainfall duration time. After that, the ground water level continued to ascend as the rainfall duration time was getting longer. After rainfall, the ground water level was distributed at a certain depth, and the ground water level was gradually descending as time goes by. According to the slope stability analysis of the embankment considering the variation of the wetting front and the ground water level, the safety factor of slope was rapidly reduced as the rainfall began to infiltrate into the ground, and the minimum safety factor of slope was estimated after 24 hours of rainfall duration time. Meanwhile, the safety factor of slope was increased with regaining the matric suction in the ground after rainfall.