Integrating soil suction in geotechnical education: a case study on partially saturated slope stability analysis in Sweden

Paper i proceeding, 2025

This paper explores the teaching of shear strength in partially saturated soils, emphasizingthe role of suction in slope stability—a key concept in geotechnical engineering in the face of growingclimate-related challenges. Through a problem-based coursework, students analyse a silty slope inSweden under two scenarios: one following the traditional approach of neglecting suction and anotherincorporating it using established theoretical models. Students are provided with comprehensive in-situdata, including slope geometry, CPT data, water content, bulk density, grain size distribution, Soil WaterCharacteristic Curves (SWCC), and precipitation data, to simulate real-world conditions. Missingparameters are estimated using empirical correlations. Through GeoStudio software (Slope/W andSeep/W), students evaluate slope stability under hydrostatic and varying infiltration conditions. Findingshighlight the importance of soil suction in slope stability, particularly in regions like Sweden, whereincreased rainfall and wetting/drying cycles have made this a critical issue. The coursework has beenwell received, providing students with practical skills to address soil stability in changing environmentalconditions while also highlighting the importance of integrating soil suction into geotechnical education.