Work

Influence of rotational spatial variability in geotechnical parameters on the rainfall-induced stability of soil-like slopes

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Traditional methods typically assume homogeneous soil properties in soil-like slopes. However, in reality, parameters such as permeability and shear strength exhibit rotational spatial variability due to geological processes such as weathering and sedimentation. Neglecting this variability can lead to discrepancies in slope stability assessments. Therefore, this study employs stochastic field theory and fluid-solid coupling numerical simulations to develop an evaluation framework that accounts for the general rotational spatial variability of soil parameters. The impact of spatial variation structure and related parameters on the rainfall stability and destruction characteristics of soil like slopes was analyzed in detail. The key findings are as follows: The impact of rotational spatial variability on the stability of soil-like slopes is significant. When the direction of the weathered soil layer intersects with the slope surface at a small angle, the slope is most prone to instability. Further research reveals that when evaluating the stability of soil-like slopes, the influence of cohesion, internal friction angle, and weathering layer inclination should be mainly considered, while the fluctuation range can be ignored.These findings provide new insights for engineering design.

Source: Alexandria Engineering Journal

DOI: 10.1016/j.aej.2025.12.058