Coupled finite element analysis of a partially saturated slope in Norway.

Paper in proceeding, 2023

Climate change induces high variability in environmental loading, such as rainfall patterns, snowing and melting processes, temperature variations. These climatic variables are expected to influence the occurrence of landslides in the upcoming years. Specifically, significant variations in rainfall frequency and intensity would affect the risk posed to structures and linear infrastructures. As a result, more efficient and real-time monitoring techniques and stability analyses will be required. The aim of this study is to couple predictive numerical models with monitoring data for slopes along infrastructures to set-up warning tools to help stakeholders in decision making. The hydro-mechanical response of a well-monitored unsaturated slope, adjacent to a railway line, when subjected to rainfall events is investigated. A numerical Finite Element model has been developed and validated with in-situ measurements. The hypotheses at the base of the modelling, together with the calibration of unsaturated conditions, will be discussed. The results of a fully coupled hydro-mechanical analysis for different rainfall scenarios will be shown.