A new approach to soil characterisation for hydrology–stability analysis models

Landslide stability analysis increasingly utilises high-resolution coupled hydrology–slope stability models (CHASM) to improve stability assessments in areas subject to dynamic pore pressure regimes. In such environments, the estimation of soil hydraulic conductivity (K) is a key parameter but one which is not always readily available or determined with the required resolution. By using basic soil particle-size distribution (PSD) data, we evaluate the microscopic composition of the actual soil, and applying the analytical relations obtain by a Self-Consistent Method (SCM) approach, we determine an appropriate value of K. This is of importance in that it allows within-soil type variability to be reflected in terms of K and hence within the model structure. The SCM methodology is briefly reviewed and an illustrative application is undertaken for a slope typical of Hong Kong. The results show model output sensitivity in terms of moisture content and factor of safety (FOS) when comparing K values determined using the SCM approach and the conventional field determination. In attempting to determine slope hydrological processes and attendant stability conditions, we conclude that the application of SCM approach offers a novel methodology for potentially improving the parameterisation of hydrology–slope stability models.