Rainfall induced granular flow slides pose a significant risk in many areas of the world. These failures, characterized by the sudden release of material in a fluid-like manner, are the result of static liquefaction occurring in these slopes. The static liquefaction phenomenon has been linked to instability.
Instability behaviour is primarily studied under undrained triaxial conditions, and although many instability theories have therefore been defined in this stress space, these have been shown to also extend into plane strain conditions. In order to further investigate this behaviour under these stress conditions, Wolinsky et al. (2013) developed a tilt-table soil box for use in a geotechnical centrifuge to analyze instability in infinite slope soil models. This testing apparatus has been used to simulate instability in plane strain under both dry and saturated soil conditions.
Stress-controlled experiments were performed on dry infinite slope soil models to investigate the effects of both void ratio and effective stress on instability behaviour. By performing these tests dry, this test apparatus provides the ability to decouple the triggers of instability from the corresponding response in pore pressure and the consequences. The results of this testing confirmed that the instability line angle is a function of both void ratio and effective stress. As the void ratio decreases and effective stress in the soil model increases, the resulting instability line angle will increase. This testing also demonstrated typical stress-dilatancy behaviour in these infinite slope models, characterized by contractive response in loose soils and dilative response in dense soil subject to increasing shear stress.
Secondly, this testing apparatus was used to investigate the effects of seepage force on instability behaviour in granular slopes through the introduction of groundwater seepage in the form of a rising groundwater level. Although the results illustrated shear and volumetric response to these increased pore water pressures, these were not significant enough to initiate instability and the resulting pore water response leading to failure. It has been determined that this apparatus must be further adapted to dissipate the matric suctions developed above the water table during groundwater rise. / Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-12-03 21:06:56.806
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OKQ.1974/8502 |
| Date | 04 December 2013 |
| Creators | Jacobs, EMILY |
| Contributors | Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.). Theses (Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.)) |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner. |
| Relation | Canadian theses |
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