Influence of extreme long-term rainfall and unsaturated soil properties on triggering of a landslide – a case study

Abstract. A case study of a natural slope in Eastern Norway that failed after extreme long-term rainfall in year 2000 was performed. Effect of soil suction on soil shear strength was investigated for intact specimens of Quaternary silt/sand, using an unsaturated shear box apparatus. Common prediction models under-predicted the unsaturated shear strength, particularly for small suctions. Analyses of rainfall infiltration were performed for silt and sand slopes, based on retention curves measured in laboratory. For normal annual rainfall of 800 mm/year the model slope is theoretically stable. Extreme rainfall (240 mm in 30 days) during the autumn of year 2000 results in a rise of groundwater and loss of soil suction in the vadose zone. To reach theoretical slope failure, lower cohesion had to be assumed than measured in laboratory. High cohesion may be caused by cementation in shallow soil layers, and lower cohesion may be appropriate. Slope stability analyses based on transient seepage analysis of rainfall show gradual decrease of slope stability towards slope failure (for the silt slope). With expected future increase in rainfall, more attention is needed on the role of unsaturated soil properties in rainfall triggering of landslides in different soil types, climatic conditions and geologic settings.