An Unsaturated Soil Material Point Method for Simulating Rainfall-Induced Landslides

Abstract

Rainfall infiltration frequently triggers slope failures by elevating pore water pressure and compromising the shear strength of unsaturated soil layers. Modeling these severe geological events remains computationally challenging. Standard grid-based techniques, such as the Finite Element Method (FEM), typically fail due to severe mesh distortion under large deformations, whereas the Discrete Element Method (DEM) demands excessive computational resources. Addressing this gap, we develop an advanced theoretical framework utilizing the Material Point Method (MPM) integrated with a liquid-solid-gas three-phase mechanics model. We first verify the algorithmic accuracy using a 1D unsaturated soil column test. Subsequently, the framework is deployed to capture the dynamic displacement and mechanical responses of a 2D rainfall-induced landslide. Benchmarking against FEM data confirms that our multiphase MPM accurately models the infiltration process and subsequent structural collapse. Ultimately, this approach offers a highly robust computational strategy for analyzing large-scale landslide deformations and improving predictive assessments.