This PhD thesis presents the impact of matric suction on the movements of Slano blato landslide. The first part of the thesis presents water retention curve and the empirical material models which describe the engineering properties of unsaturated soil as a function of matric suction. Methods for suction measurements, water movement in the vadose zone, the occurrence of shrinkage cracks and rheological models for landslide creep description are also presented.
In the practical part of the thesis Slano blato landslide is presented. Slano blato landslide is with an estimated volume of 106 m3 one of the four major landslides in Slovenia. Due to shown contribution of matric suction on landslide stability, Watermark suction sensors were installed in Slano blato landslide in autumn of 2007. For the landslide creep measurements measuring geodetic point were installed in 2011. In the next part the extensive laboratory tests for description of soil during wetting and drying or shearing with constant shear stress are presentment. Based on laboratory studies material model has been developed, which describes the water retention curve and landslide creep.
The obtained boundary conditions on the surface of the Slano blato landslide from the field observations (precipitation and potential evapotranspiration) were inserted into the numerical program. The program describes 1D water flow with the above-mentioned material model. Numerical calculations were compared with field measurements. On the basis of field measurements and numerical calculations the Slano blato landslide were estimated.
The final chapter presents conclusions and recommendations for further research.
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