Laboratory Experiment To Determine Major Factors Controlling Landslides Triggered by Rising of Ground Water Level

Landslide is the most devastating hazard in Malaysia apart from flood. It is because
the aftermath of the landslide is it pose fatalities and also could ruin any existing
structures and hallmark in its route. The occurrence of landslide is very common in
Malaysia every year especially during monsoon seasons. There are various factors
that could contribute to the occurrence of the slope failures, and rainfall is one of the
inevitable triggers particularly in tropical countries such as Malaysia. Hence, this
paper is intended to focus on the nature of rainfall activated landslides, the rise of the
groundwater level from the bottom of the slope which would lead to slope failures
due to pore pressure evolution and the impact of rainfall infiltration. The study is
examined in a fabricated model for work validation to ensure that it works on natural
soil slope. The type of soil used was sandy silt. From the observation, the conclusion
can be made as the groundwater table rises due to the rainwater infiltration. Soil with
high permeability enables higher rate of rainwater to reach the groundwater table and
cause groundwater level to rise faster. Quick rise of groundwater level may trigger a
landslide. Thus, this landslide can be mitigated by control the groundwater level by
adopting groundwater withdrawal system in laboratory experiment.