Numerical simulation of rainfall tests on small-scale slope model

National Engineering School of Tunis, Civil Engineering Department, Tunis El Manar University, Tunisia

^a Corresponding author: fakher.hamrouni@gmail.com

Abstract

Rainfall-induced landslides are becoming ever more frequent in many regions in the world. In general, the slope failures occur during or immediately after the rainfall. In Tunisia, several regions are concerned by deep or shallow landslides induced by rainwater infiltration, particular in Beja (Tibar). However, due to the high cost of field tests, the quantification of rainwater effects still not adequately clarified. Different small scale slope models were used to study landslide as a result of change in saturation degree. In this paper, we present numerical simulation of rainfall tests on small scale model used clayey soil from a landslide site in Beja, Tibar. The aim of this paper is to study landslide in small scale clayey slope used the same characteristics and conditions of the experimental model realised by Rolando et al. (2004). For this simulation, we will use the numerical approach used to simulate rainfall tests already developed by Rolando et al. (2004). Numerical simulation is conducted using CODE-BRIGHT software.