Volume 50, Issue 6 e70088
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Instability mechanism and control measures of loess slope induced by heavy rainfall

Guangcheng Shi

Guangcheng Shi

State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China

School of Mechanic and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China

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Xiaojie Yang

Xiaojie Yang

State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China

School of Mechanic and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China

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Fan Yang

Corresponding Author

Fan Yang

State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China

School of Mechanic and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China

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Zhigang Tao

Zhigang Tao

State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China

School of Mechanic and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China

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Xiaoyu Zhang

Xiaoyu Zhang

State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China

School of Mechanic and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China

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Jie Dong

Jie Dong

State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China

School of Mechanic and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China

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First published: 25 May 2025

Abstract

Loess slopes are susceptible to rainfall due to the water sensitivity and collapsibility of loess. The aim of this study is to investigate the instability mode, failure mechanism and control effect of homogeneous loess landslide under rainfall by using physical model experiments and numerical simulation, combined with a new anchor cable with negative Poisson ratio (NPR) structural effect. The findings indicated that the loess slope's failure under heavy rainfall is characterized by progressive shallow flow-slip instability, encompassing three deformation modes and seven deformation characteristics. Water content, pore water pressure and earth pressure monitoring instruments capture the dynamic response of internal hydromechanical properties within the loess slope during intermittent heavy rainfall, clarifying its failure mechanism. Rainfall leads to soil softening and a reduction in strength. The effective stress of shallow soil and potential sliding surfaces diminishes due to decreased matrix suction and increased pore water pressure. The accumulation of internal and external deformation eventually leads to the disintegration of the shallow layer of the loess slope. Numerical simulation results indicated that rainfall significantly affects the shallow layer of the loess slope, with greater subsidence deformation observed at the slope's crest. Indoor and field monitoring findings revealed the pattern of Newton force on the loess slope in response to rainfall and demonstrated its seasonal dynamics, characterized by an increase during the thaw-collapse and flood periods, followed by a decrease in the frost-heave period.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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