2026· E3S Web of Conferences· 0 citations· 17 references
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.
Having reliable tools for characterizing rainfall-induced soil erosion is fundamental to the effective management of agroforestry systems in order to increase resilience against climate change. Physics-based models provide a robust, comprehensive and widely applicable framework to quantify runoff generation and soil erosion during intense rainfall events in agroforestry catchments. In this work, we propose a novel hydro-erosive model to simulate hydrodynamical flow and bed mobilization, movement and deposition. This hydro-erosive model solves the two-dimensional shallow water equations (SWE-2D) with hydrological source terms for runoff generation, coupled with the 2D depth-averaged solid transport and the soil surface evolution equations. The partial differential system is solved using a finite volume method. Alternative Integral/Differential Bed Slope and explicit upwind/implicit pointwise friction term discretization options can be used to improve performance in terms of numerical stability and conservation. The behavior of different discretization options in this hydro-erosive model is evaluated through an analytical hillslope verification, a benchmark V-catchment rainfall–runoff test and a laboratory dam-break experiment over an erodible bed. The results show that the Differential Bed Slope formulation combined with the upwind friction discretization provides the most accurate and conservative predictions. Also, an Upwind Bed Updating method for integrating soil surface elevation change is compared with the cell-centered integration of the bed change term by suppressing non-physical oscillations without compromising computational efficiency. Overall, the proposed open-source hydro-erosive model provides a reliable and computationally efficient framework for high-resolution simulations of rainfall-induced soil erosion and represents a valuable tool for environmental and agroforestry applications, but appropriate calibration and mesh resolution are required to ensure reliable predictions.
A. Braga, S. Martínez-Aranda, P. García-Navarro· Water· 0 citations
Rainfall-induced slope instability poses a significant risk to dam infrastructure in tropical regions, where intense and prolonged precipitation frequently alters subsurface stress conditions. This study aims to evaluate the effects of rainfall infiltration on slope stability in the Rajui Dam area, Aceh, Indonesia, by quantifying changes in safety factor and deformation behavior under existing and high-rainfall conditions. A finite element–based numerical approach was employed using two-dimensional slope models representing critical slopes near the dam access road and spillway. Soil mechanical and hydraulic properties were derived from field and laboratory data, while rainfall was modeled as surface infiltration corresponding to a high-intensity scenario of 150 millimeters over ten days. Slope stability was evaluated using the strength reduction method, with safety factor and total displacement adopted as primary indicators of stability. The results indicate that rainfall infiltration consistently reduces the safety factor and increases slope displacement at both locations. One slope exhibited lower safety factor values, indicating higher susceptibility to instability, while the other showed greater deformation despite maintaining a marginally higher safety factor. Displacement patterns concentrated near slope toes and propagated along potential shear zones, suggesting progressive instability driven by increased pore water pressure and reduced effective stress. These findings demonstrate that identical rainfall conditions can produce different stability responses depending on slope geometry and material characteristics, highlighting the importance of site-specific evaluation.
Thaariq Ziad Mardhatillah, R. P. Munirwan, Munirwansyah et al.· IOP Conference Series: Earth...· 0 citations