Unsaturated seepage behavior study using soil column test

Abstract

The occurrence of shallow rainfall-induced landslides can be attributed to a rapid rise of ground water table. The primary objective of this work is an experimental and numerical investigation on the development of perched water table in prolonged rainfall condition. Column infiltration tests were conducted to observe the progression of the wetting front over time in both drained and undrained conditions. Measurements taken during the column infiltration tests included water contents, matric suctions and pore water pressure heads. Results show that the rapid increase in positive pore-water pressure was observed during the advance of the wetting front, suggesting the development of a perched water table within the column. Finite element analyses, which were carried out to compare with the experimental data were consistent with the results obtained from the column tests.