Abstract
Soil-moisture fluctuation in the unsaturated zone of shallow colluvial landslides is influenced by many geologic, geomorphic, and seasonal conditions. Long-term field monitoring of variables such as water content, water potential, and electrical conductivity that can establish relationships used for geotechnical and landslide hazard investigations is deficient, particularly in regard to the shallow unsaturated zone. In addition, using electrical-conductivity data as a means to calculate related parameters such as shear strength and suction stress is even less common. The hydrologic conditions in the soil, rainfall, and movement were monitored within an active landslide in southeastern Kentucky to (1) assess soil moisture fluctuations within the landslide and (2) establish soil-water relationships across the slope using constitutive models and a new equation for predicting suction stress. In-situ measurements of volumetric water content and water potential were used in a framework that incorporates electrical conductivity to estimate unsaturated soil properties (soil-water characteristic curves) and suction stress. The framework proves that the relative constitutive equations are valid for long-term soil hydrologic monitoring and that electrical data can be used as a predictor of suction stress. The practical application of developing this framework is to further the understanding of the dynamic movement of water through shallow colluvial soils, which can support landslide hazard and geotechnical investigations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 146-157 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Engineering Geology |
| Volume | 251 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 9 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Thank you to the Kentucky Geological Survey and U.S. Geological Survey for providing in-kind financial and logistical support. Particular gratitude goes to Francis Ashland at the U.S. Geological Survey Landslide Hazards Program who provided logistical and technical support, as well as field assistance. We would like to thank the faculty, staff, and several graduate students of the University of Kentucky Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Department of Civil Engineering who helped with field work and provided technical advice. Special thanks to Junfeng Zhu, John Hickman, and Meg Smath of the Kentucky Geological Survey who provided technical reviews that improved the content and clarity of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.
Keywords
- Electrical conductivity
- Hydrologic monitoring
- Landslides
- Soil moisture
- Suction stress
- Unsaturated soil mechanics
- Water potential
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
- Geology