Considering the Effect of Reservoir

Water Level Lifting on

Slope Stability
Qin Rong
Postgraduate
Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's
Republic of China Science and Technology Planning Projects (No.2012-
K8-43); School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Southwest
Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500,China; e-
mail:120138424@qq.com

Pan HaiZe
Lecturer
School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Southwest Petroleum
University, Chengdu 610500, China; e-mail: 52832036@qq.com

Han LingFeng
Lecturer
School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Southwest Petroleum
University, Chengdu 610500, China

Chen MengJie
Postgraduate
School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Southwest Petroleum
University, Chengdu 610500, China; e-mail: 469018619@qq.com

ABSTRACT
Using SEEP/W, SIGMA/W and SLOPE/W Module of GEO-SLOPE software, studied slip mass change rule
with the water level lifting, variation of the stress field and displacement fields of action under the reservoir
water level lifting, and on the basis of the results of seepage and stress-strain calculation results, considering
finite element method and limit equilibrium method to calculate the landslide stability analysis and
comprehensive evaluation. Based on the landslide stability calculation, found that the slope stability safe
factor of the finite element method than the limit equilibrium method (Morgenstern-Price method) is small,
meanwhile, the deformation characteristics of the stability and the analysis of the calculation results, as the
water level rising or falling process, the stability of the landslide will appear descending and ascending
changes in the process. This important phenomenon for the correct understanding of groundwater in slope
engineering, for the potential landslide hazard prevention, for long-term treatment for landslide, has important
guiding significance.

KEYWORDS: Reservoir water level lifting, Slope stability, Seepage field, Displacement field,

Warning forecast

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 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. N 3292

INTRODUCTION
Reservoir engineering both at home and abroad, especially large reservoir projects, reservoirs
and the cycle of periodic fluctuation water, often induce the generation of new and old landslide or
resurrection of reservoir bank, cause casualties, also cause great economic loss, destruction of
waterways, threatening the safety of ships, destruction of the ecological environment at the same
time, accelerate the reservoir sedimentation, and so on [1]. Due to the number of reservoir bank
landslide is more complex, large scale, complex formation mechanism, limited to economic or
technical conditions, cannot be fully implement all landslide engineering management, and avoid
moving completely ignored the secondary disasters of reservoir bank landslide problem. It can be
said reservoir slope stability for safe and efficient operations, and waterway safety and security of
life and property of people conservancy and hydropower project reservoir all have the extremely
important practical significance.

RESERVOIR WATER LEVEL FLUCTUATION SLOPE

MODEL

Project Background
(1) Topography
The project features terraced hillside area, the highest peak elevation of 146.45 meters.
Exploration area is located in the foot of the slope a plain transition zone, terrain height elevation
20~106.45 meters, lying north to south. Because the slope transformation, forming more 1~10
meters scarp and steep slope. Exploration area northwest is the platform edge area, basalt scarp
shaped distribution, candy 10 meters tall; Scarp top as the platform, is relatively flat, elevation above
l00m.

(2) Hydrogeological conditions

According to aquifer characteristics, groundwater district can be divided into two categories:
Quaternary loose bed pore water and bedrock fissure water; bedrock fissure water is also divided
into muddy siltstone fissure water and basalt fissure water.

1) Quaternary loose bed pore water

Quaternary loose bed pore water mainly occurs in the filled soil, slope diluvium containing
gravel cohesive soil, aquifer structure loose, water permeability and aquosity better, directly to
atmospheric precipitation recharge, discharge to downstream aquifer or terrain cutting, generally
between 0.30~3.60 meters depth, water level with the seasonal variation is obvious, surface water
infiltration underground sharply when the rainy season, heading up, so that the soil is saturated soil,
pore water pressure, weight increase, the strength of the soil is reduced, easy cause the instability of
soil slope zone.
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. N 3293

2) Bedrock fissure water

Bedrock fissure water occurs in purple argillaceous siltstone and conglomerate, and fissures are
not developed, poor permeability and water bearing, the low-lying beneath the slope seepage
excretion and supplies (soil) pore water.

Gray-black basalt, columnar joint development for good space of surface water infiltration,
runoff and discharge, because of the basalt in platform is relatively high, directly to atmospheric
precipitation recharge, downward slope under seepage and supplies of pore and fissure aquifer. But
distribution of basalt on the northeast side in exploration area, has no direct effect on the lower slope
stability. Bedrock water is controlled by the stratum structure, the joint and the degree of fracture,
with heterogeneity.

The reservoir high bank slope seepage material parameters

When using the SEEP/W seepage slope analysis software, we must first determine the cross-
sectional analysis of the reservoir slope, and infiltration parameters section of various materials.
Seepage calculation model developed mainly consider the role of reservoir water level lifting impact
on slope stability. In determining the reservoir slope section, the description of permeability
parameters for the material of slope districts, based on the engineering geological conditions.
Reservoir Slope district name and seepage calculation parameters as shown in Table 1.

As a result of the limitation of experimental conditions failed to determine the required function
of the volume of the water content on transient analysis, so using the closed solution of the fitting
parameters define the curve, or using the measured size curve estimation method to get a estimate
the volumetric water content function [3-5]. This paper uses the empirical formula Van Genuchten;
the layers of soil mechanics parameter as shown in Table 1.

Table 1: reservoir slope geological parameter values

Strongly
weathered
Parameter Name Slip mass Marlstone Unit
argillaceous
sandstone
Material model Model MC MC MC —
Dry unit weight rdry 25 19.7 26 KN/m3
Moist unit weight rwet 26 21 27 KN/m3
Horizontal penetration coefficient kx 5.0 0.001 0.00064 m/day
Vertical penetration coefficient ky 5.0 0.001 0.00064 m/day
Young's modulus Eref 4000 7000 3900 KN/m2
Poisson's ratio v 0.3 0.334 0.334 —
Cohesive force c 15 73 850 kPa
Frictional angle ϕ 20 23 34 °
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. N 3294

Penetration coefficient function is proposed by Van Genuchten in 1980, this equation is a

function of matric suction.

( )
2

( ) 
1 − aψ n −1 1 + aψ n − m 

Kw = Ks  m

(1 + aψ )n 2

where K s ——saturated penetration coefficient

a, m, n ——curve-fitting parameters,=n 1/ (1 − m )
ψ ——Required matric suction range

Reservoir slope model

The following is a reservoir slope cross-sectional geometry model of the Bank Slope established
as shown in Figure 1:

Figure 1: Reservoir Slope Geometric Model

In determining the reservoir slope cross section, the material parameters of slope districts based
on the engineering geological conditions to develop. The name and calculation parameters of
reservoir slope district as shown in Table 2.1.

Material’s penetration coefficient must be defined by the equation in SEEP/W, a single value
cannot be used. In the analysis, the soil materials are saturated, the penetration coefficients are all at
a constant value, the permeability coefficients are saturated [6-8], as shown in Figure 2.
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. N 3295

Figure 2: Reservoir Slope Material Model

Set the node boundary conditions (water level rises, keep and drop in three stages). Seepage
analysis node boundary conditions can be set to the total head (H), total nodal flow or flux (Q), the
boundary flow of unit boundary per unit length (q). Since the analysis required in the two
conditions, namely, the normal water level conditions and check the water level conditions, the
analysis need to be set in two boundary conditions [9], as shown Figure 3.

Figure 3: Reservoir Slope boundary conditions

Stress-strain analysis should set the initial stress and displacement boundary conditions [10];
displacement conditions set left and right sides, the degrees of freedom in X-direction displacement
is zero; the bottom of the model is to limit the degrees of freedom in the X and Y directions; in order
to numerical analysis in the various stages can simulate the balance stress, only the initial stress state
obtained, this paper preclude use the intitu module in SIGMA/W software to get the model initial
stress state [11].

According to the reservoir slope water level condition, the model can be divided into three
stages: the water level rise, the water storage stage, the water level drop; the three-stage boundary
conditions on reservoir water level lifting model changes in the time required and the water level as
shown Table 2.
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Table 2: Slope Water Level lifting

Three stage Boundary conditions Working condition

Time(d) from day 1th to 30th day

the water level rise
Water level(m) 5m → 20m

the water storage Time(d) from 30th day to 180th day

stage Water level(m) 20m

Time(d) from 180th day to 360th day

the water level drop
Water level(m) 20m → 5m

Since the beginning of the reservoir slope simulation, there is certain hydrops in reservoir
downstream, its action time is uncertain, the study made similar treatment on the initial boundary
head, treatment option as follows: the constant head of model slope downstream is 5 meters.

Initial analysis use the steady-state analysis, the water level rise, keep and drop use the transient
analysis.

Stability analysis use the results of seepage analysis and the stress-strain analysis, carried out in
SLOPE/W module [12].

SLOPE STABILITY STUDY UNDER RESERVOIR WATER

LEVEL LIFTING

Reservoir bank slope Stability Analysis

After seepage analysis and stress-strain analysis in SEEP/W module and SIGMA/W module
analysis on reservoir slope, reservoir slope stability analysis can be available in SLOPE/W model,
this is the key issue on slope monitoring information feedback system and long-term stability study
[13-14].

This paper research three stages and two conditions of reservoir slope, namely the reservoir
slope water level rising stage I (0-30day), water level maintain stage II (30day-180day), water level
drawdown stage III (180-360day) . Each condition considers seepage analysis based on stress and
strain condition and limit equilibrium method based on the seepage condition. Physical and
mechanical parameters of the design value of the filling material as shown Figure 1.
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. N 3297

Results and analysis

Table 3: The calculation results of landslide stability analysis
Limit equilibrium
Stage Method Finite element method method（Morgenstern-
Price）
day 0 1.363 1.404
day 5 1.332 1.368

water level day 10 1.296 1.328

rising stage day 15 1.237 1.257
I day 20 1.155 1.185
day 25 1.216 1.247
day 30 1.284 1.301
day 0 1.339 1.382
day 30 1.131 1.143
water level
day 60 1.187 1.217
drawdown
day 90 1.253 1.305
stage
day 120 1.325 1.369
III
day 150 1.371 1.427
day 180 1.507 1.548

(1) Reservoir water level rising process landslide stability

According to the results in Table 3, when the water level rises, whether it is based on the
stability of the finite element method or limit equilibrium method, the stability coefficient has
decreased, as shown in Figure 4. The results show that the landslide based on the finite element
method when the water level in the 5 meters, stability coefficient is 1.363, water for 5 days, the
stability coefficient decreased to 1.332, after a certain time (20 to 21 days) reached its lowest point,
and then again on the rise, after 30 days, the water level rise to 20 meters, stability coefficient is
1.284, a decline of 5.8%. The stability of the landslide based on limit equilibrium method, when the
water level in its stable 5m, the stability coefficient is 1.484 (Morgenstern-Price method), water for
5 days, the stability coefficient decreased to 1.368, after a certain time (20 to 21 days) reached its
lowest point, and then again on the rise, while 30 days, the water level rise to 20 meters, stability
coefficient is 1.301, a decline of 7.3%. The analysis shows that the water level rises in the whole
stage, the results based on the finite element method than based on the limit equilibrium method is
small, the study shows that the result based on finite element method is more stable than the result
based on the limit equilibrium method.
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. N 3298

Figure 4: Slope stability change curve on water level rising stage

(2) Reservoir water level drawdown process landslide stability

According to the results in Table 3, when the water level drop, the stability coefficient of the
finite element method and limit equilibrium method are all gradually reduced with the time, after a
certain time (30 days) to reach the lowest point, and then an upward trend, as shown in Figure 5. The
results showed that landslide stability coefficient based on the finite element method on downward
stage decrease 15.5%, and up 33.2% on gain stage. The stability coefficient based on limit
equilibrium method decrease 17.3%, and up 35.4% on gain stage. The study shows that the result
based on finite element method is more stable than the result based on the limit equilibrium method.

Figure 5: Slope stability change curve on water level drawdown stage

Water level drawdown process, the stability coefficient of the landslide begin decline and then
gradually rise, the reason is landslide slip surface morphology is shaped seat, so the initial stage
when the reservoir water level dropped, when the water level reaches the river level correspond to a
peak of riparian initial moment, the hydrodynamic type of reservoir slope is outward flow
hydrodynamic pressure, due to the hydrodynamic pressure effect, increasing the force of gravity or
the slope of decline, resulting in reduced stability. But this moment is limited to the initial level of
riparian initial moment, when the water level is decline, due to the large landslide penetration
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. N 3299

coefficient values, groundwater levels and river water is near the "sync down", so hydrodynamic
pressure gradually decrease, when the water level continued decline, landslide stability coefficient
continues to increase.

CONCLUSIONS
Based on the seepage calculation, found that the water level rise process, the landslide body
groundwater level changes almost "sync" with river water level position, there is only a short "lag"
effect, so it will have a brief "back" phenomenon on the rise process; in the process of falling, the
ground water level position of the landslide is also synchronized with changes in the water level of
the river, there is only a short "lag" phenomenon.

Based on the landslide stability calculation, found that in the process of the water level rise,
stability coefficient have been reduced based on the finite element method and limit equilibrium
method(Morgenstern-Price method), with the water level gradually increased, the stability
coefficient gradually increase, the stability falling range of landslides body based on the finite
element method stability decline of approximately 5.8%, and based on the limit equilibrium decline
of approximately 7.3%; in reservoir level falling process, the stability coefficient of the two methods
in the initial stages all decrease , with the water level falling, stability coefficient gradually increase.

Through the analysis of the deformation characteristics and stability calculation results, in the
process of water level rise or fall, the stability coefficient of the landslide will appear from big to
small, and then small to large changes in the process.

Slope stability safe coefficient based on the stress results by finite element method is small than
slope stability safety coefficient based on the limit equilibrium method, but for a simple example of
slope, the difference is small, shows that the finite element method is applicable in simple slope, and
the results will be safe.

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