Journal of Natural Disaster Science

A RESEARCH CONCERNING UNSATURATED SEEPAGE ANALYSIS RELATED TO SLOPE FAILURE IN KAGOSHIMA

Ryosuke KITAMURA
Professor, Dept. of Ocean Civil Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima
Takashi JITOUSONO
Research Associate, Dept. of Forestry, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima
Kazuyoshi JOUMOTO
Technical Clerk, Dept. of Ocean Civil Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima
and
Hirofumi TAGUCHI
Graduate Student of Kagoshima University，Kagoshima

(Received 5 October, 1988 and revised form 20 January, 1989)

Abstract

In the Kagoshima district located in the southern part of Kyushu Island, Japan, volcanic products are wide spread. Slope failure often is caused by the heavy rains that fall during the rainy and typhoon seasons in the steep slopes composed of these products. We here discuss the patterns and mechanisms of slope failure based on our investigation of slope failures that have occurred in the Kagoshima district and propose a research system for the prediction of slope failure. We also present a mechanical model of the voids in a soil mass that can be used to establish unsaturated seepage analysis which will have a key function in any system developed the prediction of slope failure accompanied by disasters in the Kagoshima district .

Key words

pyroclastic flow deposits (Shirasu), slope failure, soil test, modelling of voids, unsaturated seepage