Stability Analysis of Rainfall-Induced

Typical Landslide in Fanjingshan

Mountain Area

Li Xinwei 1,2 and Yan E’chuan 1

1: Faculty of Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei
430074, China; 2. 103 Geological Brigade of Guizhou Province, Tongren
400041; 3. Environmental Geology Exploration Academy of Hebei Province,
ShiJiazhuang, Hebei 050011, China

ABSTRACT
Fanjingshan mountain area is a landslide-prone area as it is constantly hit by highly concentrated and
intense rainfalls. In order to carry out stability analysis of a landslide in this region, the paper selected
Shihuixi landslide as a typical research case, and established a sound geologic model for it based on
the condition of landslide engineering geology. First, saturated-unsaturated percolation theory and
SEEP/W module in GeoStudio2004 were introduced to analyze evolutionary features and laws of
seepage fields in durations of 1 day, 2 days, 3 days and over 7 days after the precipitation process
under the effect of rainfall intensity of 100mm/d. Then, the ultimate balance theory and SLOPE/W
module were applied to explore the evolutionary features and laws of Shixihui landslide stability
affected by different rainfall durations at the rainfall intensity of 100mm/d. Through the research, the
paper summarized the deformation mechanism of Shihuixi landslide triggered by rainfalls, and
theoretically probed into the deformation mechanism of similar landside patterns in Fanjingshan
mountain area.

KEYWORDS: Rainfall duration, seepage field, landslide stability

INTRODUCTION
Located in the southeastern part of mainland China, Fanjingshan mountain area is a part of the
plateau mountain of western China in terms of landform, presenting higher in the east and lower in
the west. It is a region with climatic instability and annual precipitation approximately 1300mm.
Rainfalls mostly in rainstorms occur frequently in summer. However, precipitation is rather small
during fall and winter, incurring drought and other climatic hazards. During the dry seasons, the rock

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soil of slope presents relatively higher stability as it contains small amount of water. In summer,
rainstorms can infiltrate the rock-soil mass from slope surface, increasing the amount of water inside
it; thus reduce the matric suction. This will result in the increase in the weight of rock-soil mass and
the decrease in its shearing strength. When infiltrating the accumulation horizon and the contact
surface of bed rock, the precipitation can even function as lubricant, reducing the anti-sliding
properties of the contact surface and incurring landslide.

In recent years, domestic and foreign researches on slope stability affected by rainfall infiltration
are mainly carried out from the effects of underground water on the physical, chemical and
mechanical aspects of the slope soil mass. Pradel, etc. [1] selected southern California as research area
and analyzed shallow landslide phenomenon occurred to homogeneous slope at prolonged rainfall
duration and high rainfall intensity. Based on careful analysis, they put forward slope model of
infinite plane sliding pattern. W. T. Oh, etc.[2] studied the impact of rainfall infiltration on the
shearing strength of soil mass and slope stability. Wang Fadu[3] carried out a large number of
experiments based on qualitative analysis of the relation between shallow accumulation landslide and
rainfall, and established his prediction model. Based on massive experiment platform for the physical
simulation of landslide through large artificial rainfall, Luo Xianqi[4] studied landslide permeability
and deformation and failure characteristics induced by rainfalls. Through frequent field tests, Zhou
Zhong [5] found that slope displacement tended to reduce from the surface slope to the interior slope
and the infiltration rate decreased with time. From analyzing the water motion laws of underground
percolation inside plan sliding-type (sliding-type) landslide in the condition of heavy rainfall
saturation , Gu Chengzhuang, etc. [6] proposed new ideas for the stability analysis of sliding-type
landslide slope under saturation with the consideration of the coupling effect of hydrostatic pressure
and hydrodynamic pressure. By establishing geological model for landslide, Zhang Ming, etc. [7]
carried out qualitative and quantitative analysis of the seepage field of underground water and the
distribution characteristics of hydrostatic pressure inside the slope mass before the occurrence of
landslide; he calculated the stability variation of slope mass under rainfall action, and through ring-
shear test, he analyzed the variation features of porewater pressure and shearing strength during the
process when slip band soil is influenced by slip mass shearing, and thus the landslide stability. Based
on saturated-unsaturated seepage theory, Gao Liantong, etc. [8] considered the influence of rainfall
infiltration and applied different modules in Geo-Studio to stimulate landslide stability affected by
different rainfall conditions. His research provided a comprehensive analysis of characteristics of
landslide seepage field, stress field and displacement field in varied rainfall durations. Through
generalization based slope numerical model, Zhang Sherong, etc. [9] conducted a coupling analysis of
the transient seepage field of saturated-unsaturated slope and stress field; he calculated the slope
stability under transient seepage action by using strength reduction technique, and studied the overall
stability of slope. Applying self-designed centrifugal machine to carry rainfall simulator, Zhang
Liangtong[10] stimulated the buckling failure process of unsaturated silt slope at different rainfall
 Vol. 21 [2016], Bund. 15 4987

intensity, and revealed that the buckling mode of rainfall-induced silt slope presented local buckling,
up-scaling and overall shallow sliding. Introducing Green-Ampt infiltration mode and considering the
effect of hydrodynamic pressure, Chan Jinyuan, etc. [11] established the conceptual mode of shallow
landslide under rainfall infiltration condition and deduced relational expression of slope safety factor
and rainfall duration based on whether there is underground water before the rainfall. Kun Song[12],
Liu Hui[13], Dapeng Zhu[14], Liangfu Xie[15], Ai-min Dong[16],and et al study on the stability of rainfall-
induced typical landslide in Three Gorges Reservoir Region.

From the above review and the landslide features of Fanjingshan mountain area, this paper
explored the evolutionary laws of landslide stress and strain triggered by rainfall, and studied the
deformation and failure mechanism of rainfall-induced landslide with the aim to provide theoretical
base and engineering reference for similar rainfall-induced landslide in this region.

EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS OF LANDSLIDE SEEPAGE

FIELD DURING RAINFALL INFILTRATION

Meteorological and hydrological conditions

Shihuixi landslide is taken as a case of typical landslide trigged by rainfall in Fanjingshan
mountain area. Situated in Yinjiang county, this landslide is in humid subtropical monsoon climatic
region, characterized by abundant and intense rainfalls in summer. According to statistics of
precipitation from 1983 to 2000, the average annual rainfall of the county is 100mm, reaching to the
highest of 1356.7mm in 1983, and the lowest of 897.4mm in 1988; in rainy season (from April to
August), the amount of precipitation adds up to 738.9mm; during the normal seasons (from
September to October), it is 178.89mm; in drought seasons (from November to March), it is
161.63mm, and in 24 hours, the maximum amount of precipitation is 179.4mm.

Landslide composition
1-Slip mass features
The slip mass is composed of Qhesl, mainly yellowish-brown clay with breakstones. It is
4.0 ～44.0mandthick,
32.0m with the ratio
the soil-rock average
4:1.thickness
Owing to the
difference in degree of soil-mass consolidation, the slip mass soil presents the transition of loose to
slightly dense state from top to bottom. The top-down spatial distribution makes it easy for the
infiltrated underground water to form perched water at the middle and lower part of the slip mass,
resulting in distinct softening of soil mass in this region.
 Vol. 21 [2016], Bund. 15 4988

2-Slip band features

Slip band is mainly determined by the material composition of Qesl and its structure. As the soil
at the middle-upper part of the slip mass has good permeability, the surface water can infiltrate the
holes in the soil mass, generating vertical groundwater runoff; while as the soil at the middle-lower
part has poor permeability, the transport of underground water is blocked, resulting in the long
retention of underground water in layer medium and the long softening process of soil mass, which
later forms a soft stratum.

3-Slip bed features

The slip bed is composed of Silurian weathering gray and hoary arenaceous shale and calcareous
siltstone, and has an attitude of rock 135 ∠25° .

Evolutionary process of landslide seepage field during rainfall

infiltration
Numerical model and parameters of Shihuixi landslide
This paper selected Shihuixi landslide as a research sample. In order to attain an accurate and
precise result, we divided slip mass into high-low materials to calculate, namely totally three
materials (the higher material of slip mass, the lower material of slip mass and the slip bed material).
By using SEEP/W module in GeoStudio2004, we managed to establish a geometric model and
conducted mesh generation and obtained the numerical model of Shihuixi landslide in Fanjingshan
mountain area (see figure1), including 2213 nodes and 4218 units. Through data from survey report,
engineering experience and inverse analysis, we adopted soil water characteristic curve and
unsaturated seepage curve as parameters of seepage field to conduct the analysis.

Figure 1: the numerical model for Shihuixi landslide

 Vol. 21 [2016], Bund. 15 4989

The evolutionary features of landslide seepage field in different rainfall duration

Rainfall duration has significant effect on landslide seepage and stability. At certain rainfall
intensity, long duration allows large amount of precipitation infiltrate landslide, while short duration
does the opposite. Apparently, when the rainfall duration gets longer, the landslide gets less stable. In
SEE/W module, we selected rainfall intensity of 10mm/d, and simulated the landslide seepage field
and stability with rainfall parameters of 1-, 2-, and 3-day duration. In order to be precise, we applied
the method of increasing calculation steps, namely adopting second as the unified time unit in
SEEP/W module, and meter the unified length unit.

The results of Shihuixi seepage field at rainfall intensity of 100mm/d and rainfall parameters of 1-
, 2-, 3-day rainfall duration (the critical period of the end of the rainfall) can be seen in figure 2 to
figure 4.

Figure 2: the seepage field at rainfall intensity of 100mm/d and in duration of one day

Figure 3: the seepage field at rainfall intensity of 100mm/d and in duration of two days
 Vol. 21 [2016], Bund. 15 4990

Figure 4: the seepage field at rainfall intensity of 100mm/d and in duration of three days

Affected by different rainfall duration, the three conditions tend to form transient state saturation
zone and porewater pressure rise zone along slope surface and with the prolonged rainfall duration,
the area of transient state saturation zone increases significantly. Comparison between figure 2 and
figure 3 shows that at the same rainfall intensity of 100m/d, the transient state saturation zone
generated from 2-day rainfall duration is much larger than that from one day. This is because when
duration prolongs, the total amount of water in interior slope arises significantly as the slope can
maintain infiltrated precipitation at the speed of saturation infiltration rate, resulting in the increase in
transient state saturation region and rising region of porewater pressure. Comparison between figure 3
and figure 4 shows that at the rainfall intensity of 100mm/d, transient state saturation region induced
by 3-day rainfall duration is significantly larger than that by 2 days, and the slope mass experienced
3-day duration is almost in saturation state. This happens because the slope can basically maintain
saturated permeability, and with the rise of groundwater line results from previous rainfall supply, the
area of total porewater pressure increase zone tends to increase.

Figure 5: the seepage field seven days after the 1-day rainfall duration
 Vol. 21 [2016], Bund. 15 4991

Figure 6: the seepage field seven days after the 2-day rainfall duration

Figure 7: the seepage field seven days after the 3-day rainfall duration

Under the action of same rainfall intensity and seven days after different rainfall duration (figure
5-figure 7), the underground water in the slope presents significant rise. In the case of 3-day rainfall
duration, the slope mass surface emerges the overflow of underground water, which exceeds the
original set in the sense of boundary condition, and therefore, should be studied from the overflow
boundary condition.

THE EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS OF LANDSLIDE

STABILITY DURING RAINFALL INFILTRATION

The stability calculation mode and parameters of landslide

seepage
In the process of rainfall infiltration and runoff, the stability of landslide changes with the
dynamic evolution of seepage field inside slip mass, and generally, it reduces. By applying the
interoperability of SEEP/W and LOPE/W modules and SLOPE/E to invoke the calculation of
porewater pressure in SEEP/W in different rainfall durations, this paper worked out the coefficient of
 Vol. 21 [2016], Bund. 15 4992

landslide stability based on limit equilibrium theory, and explored the evolutionary laws of landslide
stability in different durations, which is of great theoretical significance and engineering value.

SLOPE/W can invoke the underground waterline and porewater pressure values stimulated
from SEEP/W and calculate the stability value of landslide or slope based on limit equilibrium theory.
Figure 8 is a slice model of Shihuixi landslide in Fanjingshan mountain area.

Figure 8: a slice model for Shihuixi landslide

In SLOPW/W module, the method to establish geological model is the same as that in SEEP/W
module, namely the whole model is divided into three different material types (A material at the
higher part of slip mass, B material at the lower part of slip mass, and slip bed C material); the
material model can be seen in figure 9, and the parameter assignment in table 1. In the table,γis the
natural bulk density;γl is the saturated unit weight; c is the effective cohesion,φis internal friction
angle,φb is the internal friction angle connected to matric suction.

Figure 9: the material model for Shihuixi landslide

Table 1: the parameters for stability calculation of Shihuixi landslide

γl（kN/m 3

categories γ 3
（kN
） c （k φ （° φb（°
）
）
A 18.2 18.7 24.6 20.4 15.6
B 18.6 19.1 26.6 18.7 13.8
C 25.1 25.6 150 35 25.5
 Vol. 21 [2016], Bund. 15 4993

The evolutionary features of landslide stability in different

rainfall durations
Based on the slice model and calculation parameters of different materials, we studied the
seepage stability at rainfall intensity of 100m/d and under the action of 1-, 2-, and 3-day rainfall
parameters, and compared the calculated results with the stability coefficient 1.276 (figure 3-35)
obtained from natural state.

In the calculation of seepage field, we set 8-day time steps so as to hysteresis quality of slope on
rainfalls, and calculated that under no rainfall influence (without setting flow boundary conditions
and allow the interior seepage field to adjust). During the process, we proceeded stability calculation
by assuming the rainfall intensity is 100mm/d and the duration has lasted one, two and three days, and
worked out 24 conditions. Comparing the analysis of the stability in natural state with that in other
different rainfall duration, we listed all the stability coefficients worked out from varied conditions in
figure 10.
Factor of Safety

Days

Figure 10: the results of landslide stability calculation in different rainfall durations

The figure shows that with the extension of rainfall duration, the stability of Shihuixi landslide
aggravates and the stability coefficients decrease quickly, demonstrating that Shihuixi landslide is
significantly affected by rainfalls. When the rainfall intensity is 100mm/d and the duration is one day,
landslide is in threshold state under the influence of relatively ideal external environment. But when
the external environment changes and goes against the stability, then the possibility of overall sliding
occurs. When the rainfall duration is two or three days, the stability coefficient of Shihuixi landslide
is smaller than 1, implying that overall sliding has already occurred and that this landslide is
significantly affected by rainfalls. Therefore, we reached the following preliminary understanding:
 Vol. 21 [2016], Bund. 15 4994

(1) Horizontal comparison of the three curves obtained from different rainfall durations reveals
some similar changing laws of stability. Landslide stability worsens and stability coefficients decrease
rapidly during raining process. One or two days after the rain, landslide stability presents some
fluctuation, revealing that the stress field of landslide has similar degree of adjustment; the occurrence
of landslide frequently appears in this stress-field adjusting period, and especially when there is any
interruption from outside. At this time, even the calculated coefficients reveal no overall sliding may
generate the possibility of sliding. Several days after the rainfall, landslide stability presents gradually
rise. However, under the condition of 2-day duration, as the landslide has already experienced overall
sliding, the calculated stability coefficients are only of theoretical significance, and can reveal the
changing laws of landslide stability.

(2) Longitudinal comparison of the three curves in different rainfall duration shows that with the
extension of rainfall duration, landslide stability aggravated significantly. When the duration is 2 days
and 3days, landslide has already lost its overall stability. Together with the fact that there are other
factors other than merely rainfalls that affects the stability and all will produce disadvantage factors
for landslide stability. Considering no reduction in related parameters and only the rainfall factors,
then the calculated stability is relatively safe.

CONCLUSION
This paper selected Shixihui landslide in Fanjingshan mountain area, Guizhou Province as typical
rainfall-induced landslide, and conducted simulated calculation and analysis of the evolutionary
features of seepage field and stability in different rainfall durations. It draws the following
conclusions:

(1) From the evolutionary aspect of landslide seepage field in different rainfall durations: during
the rain, the slope surface forms transient state saturation zone and porewater pressure increase zone
under the different duration action; with the extension of duration, the area of transient state
saturation zone increases; the transient state saturation zone generated from three-day duration is
much larger than that from two-day duration, and the slope is basically in water-saturated state. In the
case of seven days after the rainfall duration, the underground water level of the slope presents
significant rise; with the prolonged duration, the water level tends to rise as well, and the underground
water gradually overflows the slope mass surface.

(2) From the evolutionary aspect of landslide stability in different rainfall duration: horizontal
comparison shows that the stability curves during different durations basically reveal the same laws,
namely during the rain, landslide stability is greatly affected, reflecting in its rapidly shrinking
stability coefficients; longitudinal comparison shows that with the extension of rainfall duration,
 Vol. 21 [2016], Bund. 15 4995

landslide grows unstable, and when it is in 2-, and 3-day duration, then overall instability will occur
to the landslide. In real engineering cases, landslide stability is affected by other factors as well.

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© 2016 ejge

Editor’s note.
This paper may be referred to, in other articles, as:
Li Xinwei and Yan E’chuan: “Stability Analysis of Rainfall-Induced
Typical Landslide in Fanjingshan Mountain Area” Electronic Journal of
Geotechnical Engineering, 2016 (21.15), pp 4985-4996. Available at
ejge.com.