Publication

Abstract : Catastrophic hazards like landslides are generally associated with extreme hydraulic conditions. Western Ghats, India is characterized as one of the most landslide-prone areas in India, other than the Himalayas, with extreme hydrological conditions acting as the trigger. Although excessive rainfalls usually serve as the trigger, the presence of excess pore-pressure due to past rainfalls has been further identified amongst the factors leading to slope failures. Considering this, the current study is performed to identify the associated Critical Phreatic Level (CPL) triggering slope failure. To study the effect of hydraulic factors on slopes, laboratory-scale models of soil slopes are created. The simulated slopes are instrumented and the effect of change in hydrological condition is monitored in real-time until failure to identify the CPL. The obtained CPL for considered ground parameters are further validated for slope stability analyses using numerical methods, and a correlation is established for assessment of CPL using regression analysis.