JOURNAL

GEOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
INDIA
MUHAMMAD
MUKHLISIN
AND OF
OTHERS
Vol.83, May 2014, pp.586-594

586

Effect of Soil Hydraulic Properties Model on Slope Stability

Analysis Based on Strength Reduction Method
MUHAMMAD MUKHLISIN1,2, MARLIN RAMADHAN BAIDILLAH1, ANIZA IBRAHIM1,3
and MOHD. RAIHAN TAHA1
1

Dept. of Civil & Structural Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
2
Dept. of Civil Engineering, Polytechnic Negeri Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
3
Dept. of Civil Engineering, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Malaysia
Email: mmukhlis@eng.ukm.my and mmukhlis2@yahoo.com

Abstract: Soil hydraulic properties models which have been proposed were derived based on the empirical fitting curve
such as Brooks-Corey model (BC) and Van Genuchten model (VG), or based on soil pore radius distribution such as
Lognormal model (LN). Each model has different accuracy for predicting soil moisture distribution. In the analysis of
rainfall-induced slope failure, the soil hydraulic properties model was needed to describe the physical phenomena of
behavior characteristic of water in unsaturated soil. As moisture content has an effect on soil strength, it is vital to select
the suitable soil hydraulic properties model for predicting Factor of Safety (FOS) especially in forecasting landslide
hazard. In this study, a numerical model of seepage finite element analysis using BC, VG, and LN model were used and
compared in order to analyze the soil moisture distribution, water movement phenomenon, and slope stability characteristic
in unsaturated soil slope based on the strength reduction method (SRM). The results showed that the variations of the
parameters predicting the moisture content of soil leads to differences of FOS in some cases. The parametric study
showed that for the unsaturated soil condition, BC model has the greatest FOS value than the other model, while VG
model has the lowest. On the other hand, the FOS of all models have the same result for the saturated condition. Other
than that, it was found that the increasing of ESP value in the surface layer has significant effect in the sub-surface layer.
Keywords: Hydraulic conductivity, Rainfall-induced slope failure, Stability analysis, Numerical model.
INTRODUCTION

Recently, due to the rapid development, slope failure

due to the high intensity rainfall each year, rainfall-induced
landslide has become an essential topic in geotechnical
engineering in tropical regions. The mechanism of rainwater infiltration resulting in instability of soil slope has
been widely analyzed and reviewed. This is due to the
fact that rainwater infiltration is capable of changing soil
strength, and thus increases the probability of slope failure.
In other words, the increase of saturation value or decrease
of the negative pore water pressure of the soil consequently
will decrease its shear strength values. There are several
factors that contribute to the slope failure such as soil
thickness (Mukhlisin and Taha, 2009), soil porosity
(Mukhlisin et al., 2006), hydraulic properties (Rahimi et
al., 2010) and characteristics of infiltrated water (Gasmo et
al., 2000, Mukhlisin et al., 2011b; Mukhlisin and Taha,
2012). However, the effect of hydraulic properties on soil
instability has not been dealt so far.
In the analysis of rainfall-induced slope failure, the soil

hydraulic properties is needed to describe the physical

phenomenon of water behavior characteristic in unsaturated
soil (Mukhlisin et al., 2011a). Soil hydraulic properties
include the soil water retention curve (the relationship
between volumetric water content and soil capillary
pressure ) and the hydraulic conductivity function (the
relationship between unsaturated hydraulic conductivity K
and ). Generally, the soil hydraulic properties models which
have been proposed is derived based on the empirical fitting
curve or soil pore radius distribution. Some of the models
are based on the empirical fitting curve such as: BrooksCorey (BC) (Brooks and Corey, 1964) and van Genuchten
(VG) (van Genuchten, 1980) . Other than that, Lognormal
(LN) is based on the soil pore radius distribution (Kosugi,
1996). These models are intended to obtain prediction value
corresponding to the observed data. However, each model
has different accuracy of prediction of the soil moisture
distribution. van Genuchten and Nielsen (1985) concluded
that VG model was better than BC model with regard to the
accuracy of prediction of the moisture content for saturated

0016-7622/2014-83-5-586/$ 1.00 GEOL. SOC. INDIA

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.83, MAY 2014

SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS BASED ON STRENGTH REDUCTION METHOD

soil. This is due to the curve that has an inflection

point on it. Kosugi (1996) also concluded that the
models which are not derived based on soil pore radius
distribution are not effective enough to analyze moisture
characteristics. As the property of soil strength has
relationship with soil moisture distribution, it is necessary
to select the compatible soil hydraulic properties model.
In addition, the lack prediction of factor of safety (FOS)
leads to serious problem that might occur in landslide
hazard management.
In this study, a numerical model of seepage finite element
analysis using BC, VG and LN model were compared to
the analyzed soil moisture distribution, water movement
phenomena and slope stability characteristic in unsaturated
soil slope, based on strength reduction method. The study
was performed in two steps; pressure-head analysis, and
static analysis. These two analyses were conducted by
employing a commercial software product, COMSOL
Multiphysics. Pressure-head analysis was conducted to solve
the Richards equation by calculating the pore water
pressures distribution, while static analysis was used to
compute the FOS by solving the distribution of the effective
stress of a slope.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERICAL MODELS
Two-dimensional Unsaturated Flow Equation for Soil Water

In COMSOL Multiphysics, Richards equation is used

to solve the two-dimensional unsaturated flow problem.
The equation for soil water is as follow:

C
p
k

+ Se S + s kr ( p + f gD ) = Qs (1)
ts

f g
t

587

Brooks-Corey Model

Brooks and Corey (1964) proposed that the effective

saturation, Se is expressed as a power function with respect
to the matric pressure head y: The equations are as follows:
Se = (BC / ) for < BC

(2)

Se = 1 for BC

(3)

where BC [cm] is the bubbling pressure and [-] is

dimensionless soil characteristic parameter. Based on
Mualem model for relative hydraulic conductivity model
K r [-]= K/K s where Ks [cm/s] is saturated hydraulic
conductivity. The relationship of Kr - for BC model is
written as
Kr () = (BC / )2+(2+l) for < BC

(4)

Kr () = 1 for BC

(5)

Van Genuchten Model

This widely used model (Van Genuchten, 1980)

suggested that the effective saturation is expressed by
Se = { 1 + (av ||n ) }m

(6)

where a v [cm] and n [-] represent the empirical

parameters, and m is related to n where m=1-1/n. Therefore
the relative hydraulic conductivity for VG model is written
as

1 ( av
K r ( ) =

n 1

{ (

1 + av

1 + av

)}

n n

)}

ml

(7)

where p is pressure, ts is a scale time, C is the specific

capacity [1/cm], Se is the effective saturation, S is the storage
coefficient [1/cm], ks is the saturated hydraulic conductivity
[cm/s], is the fluid viscosity, kr is the relative hydraulic
conductivity, f is the fluid density, g is gravitational
acceleration, D is the vertical coordinate, and Qs is the fluid
source (COMSOL Multiphysics, 2007). It is noted that
all variables in this equation are constant except the
pressure, p.

Lognormal Model

Soil Hydraulic Properties Models

where s is a dimensionless parameter corresponding to the

standard deviation of log-transformed soil pore radius, m
[cm] is the matric pressure head related to median pore
radius. Q denotes the complementary normal distribution
function which defined as:

The three soil hydraulic properties models that were

used in this study to solve Eq. (1) are Brooks-Corey, Van
Genuchten, and Lognormal model. These equations will be
defining variables such as , C, Se and Kr .
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.83, MAY 2014

In 1994, Kosugi proposed a new model of soil water

retention known as the Lognormal model (LN) which was
developed by assuming a lognormal distribution of soil pore
size . But then, this model was modified in 1996. Kosugi
(1996) suggested that the effective saturation of LN model
is expressed as:

Se ( ) = Q ln ( m )

(8)

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MUHAMMAD MUKHLISIN AND OTHERS

Q ( x ) = ( 2 )

0.5

x2
exp
dx
2

factor Ft.

Then, the expression of K in term of Se and y are

K r ( Se ) = Se a Q Q 1 ( Se ) +

Cf = Ci / Ft

(12)

f = arctan (tan () / Ft)

(13)

(9)

(10)

1 1

K r ( ) = Q a ln
Q ln
+ (11)
m m

It is suggested that COMSOL Multiphysics can be

used to solve equations by using VG and BC model in the
earth science module. By using these equations mentioned
earlier, parameters such as BC , g, and l for BC parameters
or av, m and l for VG parameters are needed. Even though
COMSOL Multiphysics is using VG and BC model in the
analysis, other equations from other models also can
be used by applying the additional option to define the
equations.

In this case, material used is assumed to be highly

nonlinear stress-strain behavior. In this study, the material
failure model is studied using Drucker-Prager model (a
smooth approximation of the Mohr-Coulomb yield surface).
The yield surface form of Drucker-Prager is as follows:

f ( ) = I1 + J 2 = k

where I1 and J2 I2 is invariant of the Cauchy stress and

deviatoric part of the Cauchy stress respectively. The
equation of I1 and J2 are as follow:
I1 = 1 + 2 + 3

(15)

J2 = [(1 2)2 + (1 3)2 + (2 3)2]/6

(16)

where:

=
STRENGTH REDUCTION METHOD (SRM)

Strength Reduction Method (SRM) is used to analyze

the effect of negative pore water pressure changes to the
stability of a slope. SRM can be used as an alternative
method to the previous method, the Limit Equilibrium
Method (LEM). By using SRM, there will be no assumptions
about the shape of failure surface is needed compared to
the LEM. On the other hand, by using SRM, the calculation
is time consuming and more soil properties are needed.
Other than that, the value of FOS for SRM depends on the
parameter convergence (Hammah et al., 2005), mesh size
and the number of mesh.
Study on slope stability using the SRM covers the
determination of stress-strain parameters of the medium, the
influence of negative pore water pressure distribution,
determination of material failure and yield surface model
and a sequence of reduction of shear strength parameters
algorithm.
There are five soils strength parameters in analysing
slope stability with SRM; friction angle f, cohesion C,
Youngs modulus E, Poissons ratio n ,and unit weight g.
The basic idea of this analysis is the reduction of shear
strength parameters of soil until the solution of computation
stress distribution is non-convergence.
The soil strength parameters Cf and ff used in FEM
procedures are defined as the actual shear strength
parameters Ci and f divided by a shear strength reduction

(14)

sin ( )
3 3 + sin ( )
2

k=

3C cos ( )

3 + sin 2 ( )

(17)

The FOS using SRM can be determined by searching

the value of the reduction factor that caused the slope failure
when the computation of shear strength distribution is
leading to non-convergence (Griffiths and Lane, 1999),
with FOS equal to shear strength reduction factor, FS=Ft. In
order to find FS the constant parameter of C and f need to
be changed so that negative pore water pressure is also
changed.
SOIL PROPERTIES AND INITIAL CONDITION

In this study, the geometry of the soils slope is assumed

to be in two layers; surface layer and sub-surface layer. The
soil slope has 45o of inclination and each layer has 50 cm
thickness. The geometry was discretized by triangular mesh
with 3280 number of elements. For the analysis of pore water
pressure and water content, the data were evaluated at point
evaluation of 7, 7.2 (Fig.1).
Pressure-head Analysis

In solving pressure-head analysis using Richards

equation in the seepage face boundary (top surface
geometry) in COMSOL Multiphysics was defined as a
general mixed boundary condition (Chui and Freyberg,
2009). The right and bottom boundary was defined as
Zero flux/symmetry. While, the left boundary was defined
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.83, MAY 2014

SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS BASED ON STRENGTH REDUCTION METHOD

589

Table 1. Soil hydraulic parameters

3

qs [cm /cm ]
qr [cm3/cm3]
ESP
Ks [cm/s]

Fig.1. The schematic geometry of slope.

Subsurface

Surface

0.456
0.242
0.214
7.9e-3

0.621
0.370
0.251
32.2e-3

VG

av [1/cm]
m

0.051
0.465

0.113
0.49

BC

BC [cm]

-12.936
0.869

-6.134
0.9607

LN

m [cm]

-33.8
0.98

-14.3
0.92

pressure distribution within the whole slope was used for

initial condition for the main simulation. A number of data
set on the hydraulic properties of weathered granite soils
was obtained from Mukhlisin et al (2006). The soil hydraulic
parameter and fit parameters value for BC, VG and LN are
described in Table 1.
Static Analysis Elasto Plastic Material

as the pressure head condition that interface with a head of

1 m.
The hyetograph data which was used in this study was
based on localized torrential rainfall in the mid-southern
region of Kyushu in Japan. This area suffered a large-scale
debris flow along the Atsumari-gawa river in Hougawachi,
Kumamoto Prefecture on July 20, 2003. The total rainfall,
peak rate, and event duration were established as 379 mm,
91 mm/h, and 10 h, respectively (Fig. 2). To establish the
initial conditions for the numerical simulation, an antecedent
rainfall which is the reduction of 50% from the main
hyetograph as indicated in Fig. 2, was applied and the whole
slope has a constant matric pressure value, yini at -100 cm.
Drainage duration was set as 48 hours and resulting matric

The analysis of soil slope stability was done by assuming

that the dependency of cohesion Ci [Pa] to the negative pore
water pressure ui [Pa] using an equation by Sammori
(Sammori, 1994). The equations are as follows:
Ci = C'i ui tan

(18)

= MIN (1,11.25(/s))

(19)

where C'i is cohesion under saturated condition. In

Sammori (1994), Eq. [18] was derived from Bishop et al.
(1960), and Eq. [19] was developed based on the data by
Jennings and Burland (1962). He checked the validity of
Eq. [19] using measurements by Marui (1981). The value
of C'i and f is assumed as 2 kPa and 35o, respectively.
These values were used by Suzuki (1991) as typical values
for weathered granite soils. Another material properties for
soil slope stability analysis that used in this study were E, v,
and g with the value of 20 MPa, 0.3, and 10.5 kN/m3
respectively.
SCENARIOS FOR NUMERICAL MODELING

Three scenarios were performed for simulations in this

study; scenario 1, scenario 2, and scenario 3.
Scenario 1

Fig.2. Rainfall intensity.

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.83, MAY 2014

Numerical modelling for scenario 1 was conducted by

assuming six different cases of s values as summarized in
Table 2. The difference between s and r is the effective

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MUHAMMAD MUKHLISIN AND OTHERS

Table 2. The values of s and r for surface and subsurface layer assumed
for simulation cases
Case

Subsurface

Surface

s - r

s - r

1a
1b
1c

0.57
0.456
0.342

0.242
0.242
0.242

0.328
0.214
0.1

0.621
0.621
0.621

0.370
0.370
0.370

0.251
0.251
0.251

1d
1e
1f

0.456
0.456
0.456

0.242
0.242
0.242

0.214
0.214
0.214

0.77625
0.621
0.46575

0.370
0.370
0.370

0.40625
0.251
0.09575

soil porosity (ESP), and represents the total volume of

drainable soil pores per unit volume of soil. Case 1a, 1b
and 1c were simulation cases for qs variation on subsurface
layer. While, case 1d, 1e and 1f were simulation cases for qs
variation on surface layer. Case 1b and case 1e were the
observed data that was described previously. In case 1a, the
ESP value was increased by 53.27% from the case 1b. Other
than that, the ESP value of case 1c was decreased by 53.27%.
While in case 1d, the ESP value was 25% higher than case
1e. Other than that, case 1f is 25% lower than the case 1e.
These variation of parameter were based on the plotted
SWRC is shown in Fig.3 and Fig.4.

Fig.3.SWRC BC model of (a) (c) subsurface and (b) (d) surface

layer.

Scenario 2

In this scenario, there were three variations in hydraulic

conductivity parameters of VG, BC, and LN models. The
variations of parameters were av ,yBC ,and ym for VG, BC,
and LN respectively for sub-surface and surface. These
variation of parameter were based on the plotted
SWRC shown in Fig.3, and Fig.4. These variations of
assumption for simulation is also summarized in
Table 3.
Scenario 3

In this scenario, the analyses was done by differences

of soil slope angle. The slope angles in this scenario were
35o and 45o.
Table 3. The values of av, BC and m for surface and subsurface layer
assumed for simulation cases
Case

VG

BC

LN

Fig.4. SWRC VG model of (a) (c) subsurface and (b) (d) surface
layer.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Effect of Soil Water Retention Curve (SWRC) Model

Subsurface

Surface

Subsurface

Surface

Subsurface

Surface

av [1/m]

av [1/m]

BC [m]

BC [m]

m [m]

m [m]

2a
2b
2c

-0.5
-0.338
-0.2

-0.143
-0.143
-0.143

-0.2
-0.06134
-0.12937 -0.06134
-0.07
-0.06134

-0.5
-0.338
-0.2

-0.143
-0.143
-0.143

2d
2e
2f

-0.338
-0.338
-0.338

-0.3
-0.143
-0.12

-0.12937
-0.11
-0.12937 -0.06134
-0.12937
-0.02

-0.338
-0.338
-0.338

-0.3
-0.143
-0.11

Figure 6 shows that the pore water pressure distribution

in the whole soil slope was dissimilar among the three
models. It can be seen that the BC model predicts that the
unsaturated zone condition is wider than the LN and VG
models. It indicates that the results of VG model are almost
similar to the LN model.
Figure 7 shows the calculation of FOS when soil slope
experienced rainstorm. After 48 hours of rainfall the result
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.83, MAY 2014

SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS BASED ON STRENGTH REDUCTION METHOD

591

Fig.5. SWRC LN model of (a) (c) subsurface and (b) (d) surface
layer.

shows a significant difference in soil water content and pore

water pressure along the slope (see point evaluation in
Fig. 1). Curve in Fig.7 shows that the increasing of time
corresponds to the increasing rainfall intensity. At the
initial time, the soil slope changes from unsaturated to
saturated condition.
Figure 7 also shows the result of volumetric water
content, pore water pressure and FOS for the three models.
Figure 7(a) and (b) shows that during the initial stage of

Fig.7. Comparisons of the three soil-hydraulic models (a)

volumetric water content and (b) pore water pressure and
(c) safety factor value at point evaluation (see Fig. 1).

Fig.6. Distributions of pore water pressure [Pa] for initial

conditions after 48 hours drainage.
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.83, MAY 2014

rainfall, the soil water content and the pore water pressure
value for VG model were greatest compared to the other
models. On the other hand, when saturated condition
approaches, the LN and VG result is similar than in the BC
model.
All three models show different FOS when the slope is
in unsaturated condition. BC model shows a higher value of
0.0035 than LN model. For the VG model it is lower than
LN model by a value of 0.035. The results show that
approaching to the saturated condition, slope failure for VG
model is faster than the other two models.

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MUHAMMAD MUKHLISIN AND OTHERS

It can be seen that all models have similar result in the

timing of slope failure. Although BC model has greater
safety factor in the initial condition, it has similar value
during decreasing of FOS with the other models. The results
also show that rainstorm has a significant effect on the
increase of pore water pressure and decrease of FOS of
the slope.
On the other hand, all models show the same FOS at the
saturated soil condition. After the occurrence of the highest
rainfall intensity, the soil slope is still in the saturated
condition. At some point, although the pore water pressure
has been decreased, the cohesion value in the slope is still
remaining constant which is 2 kPa. This explains the fact
that after 8 hours of the highest rainfall, the FOS has not
decreased significantly.
Scenario 1

Figure 8 shows the results of case 1a, 1b and 1c. All

models have a consistent result at the saturated condition
as mentioned above and BC model has a highest FOS while
VG model has lowest FOS. The result proved that for all

models, the greater value of ESP will trigger longer slope

failure event. This shows the consistent result obtained
(Mukhlisin et al., 2006). On the other hand, Fig.9 shows the
comparison of FOS for the case 1d, 1e, and 1f. Similar with
case 1a, 1b, and 1c, the BC model has the highest FOS
compared to other models. It is noted that the increasing of
ESP in the surface layer has greater effect than increase of
ESP value in the sub-surface layer. It is also observed
that the result shown in Figure 7, 8, and 9, indicate that the
BC model has the highest and VG model has lowest FOS.
Scenario 2

For the effect of relative hydraulic conductivity, Kr, it is

observed from the result that only in case 2c the VG model
shows that the slope failure is faster than other models
(Fig.10). The simulation results show that in the case 2a,
BC model has greatest FOS value compared to the other
cases. Case 2c experienced the lowest FOS value in VG
model.
Figure 11 indicates that all cases 2d, 2e and 2f have
similar result of FOS from all models, with BC model

Fig.8.Comparison of safety factor between VG, BC, and LN results for case 1a, 1b and 1c.

Fig.9. Comparison of safety factor between VG, BC, and LN results for case 1d, 1e and 1f.
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.83, MAY 2014

SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS BASED ON STRENGTH REDUCTION METHOD

593

Fig.10. Comparison of safety factor between VG, BC, and LN results for case 2a, 2b and 2c.

Fig.11. Comparison of safety factor between VG, BC, and LN results for case 2d, 2e and 2f.

having greatest FOS value and the VG model has the lowest
FOS value. Therefore, Figure 11 shows that different Kr
at the surface layer has no significant effect on the FOS
value.
Scenario 3

Result for the effect of slope angle shows that BC model

has the highest FOS value and VG model has the lowest
FOS for both slope of 35o and 45o. This indicates that by
increasing the slope angle, the value of FOS is getting lower.
Therefore, it is proved that the inclination of the slope has
significant effect on the FOS value.
CONCLUSION

Fig.12. Comparison of safety factor as effect of 35o and 45o slope

angle.
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.83, MAY 2014

In this study, the effect of different of parameters for

SWRC, and soil hydraulic properties model was analyzed.
The results showed that the variation of these parameters
will affect the FOS value, based on the models. In the
unsaturated condition, the results show that BC model

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MUHAMMAD MUKHLISIN AND OTHERS

gives the greatest FOS than other models, while the VG

model the lowest.
On the other hand, the FOS of all model are almost
similar for the saturated soil condition. This study has also
analyzed the effect of ESP on the FOS value. It is believed
that the increasing of ESP value in the surface layer has
significant effect than in the subsurface layer.

It is observed from the result that all models have high

FOS value with the variations of Kr while different Kr values
at the surface layer has no significant effect on the FOS
value. Lastly, the variations of soil hydraulic properties
affect the FOS value with increasing slope inclination. It is
proved that the higher the slope angle, the lower the FOS
value for the soil slope.

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(Received: 16 July 2012; Revised form accepted: 23 January 2013)

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.83, MAY 2014