Physical Tank Experiment Investigation on Rainfall Producing Groundwater Level in Homogeneous Material Slopes

Abstract

It has been recognized that pore water pressure (PWP) changes in response to precipitation play a critical role in rainfall-triggered landslides. Tank models as a kind of undetermined model are widely applied for estimating groundwater levels in slopes. Most of these applications treat the tank models as a theoretical model. Therefore, in this study, physical tank experiments are reported, indicating an evaluation of three typical conceptual tank models (i.e., simple tank model, surface runoff tank model, and lateral water flow supply tank model). To reduce the slope structure controlling affection, the study takes homogenous soil material as the simulation of the slope mass. The experimental results demonstrated how the groundwater tables producing pore water pressure were affected by infiltration time lags, surface runoff, and lateral flow.