Abstract

As development on hill slope areas has increased in Ulu Klang Malaysia, a number of landslides have occurred during the rainy season in this area since 1993, including Highland Towers (1993), Taman Zooview (2006), and Bukit Antarabangsa (2008). Recent studies have suggested the large influence of antecedent rainfall, amount of rainfall, rainfall intensity, and the physical properties of the soil on slope stability. In order to clarify the physical processes between water and soil interaction, and its effect on soil slope stability, this study conducted physical observation using mini-centrifuge modeling of 50 cm radius. This physical model was subsequently used to monitor the settlement and stability of the slope. Granite soils from the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide area were used as a soil embankment. We conducted the experiment by imposing various conditions of soil water content, soil density, slope gradient, soil particle diameter and soil thickness. Results showed that higher soil moisture content, soil density, soil thickness and smaller soil particle as well as steeper slope gradient, resulted in deeper soil settlement and greater potential for slope failure.

Key words: Centrifuge, soil water interaction, settlement and slope failure.