Page 147 - Numerical Analysis and Modelling in Geomechanics

128 C.W.W.NG AND Q.SHI

Figure 4.14 Ground water response for the anisotropic water permeability.

Figure 4.15 Factor of safety vs anisotropic water permeability.

significant rise of the main water table, but it can substantially change the
negative pore water pressure regime above the main groundwater table. The
reduction of the magnitude of negative pore water pressure, which seems to
depend on the intensity of the rainfall, leads to a fall in the factor of safety for a
given slope.
The location of the initial groundwater table has a significant effect on the
stability of a slope. The current parametric analyses clearly illustrate that the
factor of safety of the slope not only depends on the rainfall intensity but it also
relies on the initial groundwater conditions prior to the rainfall. This implies that