Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: Ana Paola do Nascimento Dantas

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : Ana Paola do Nascimento Dantas
DATE: 08/11/2022
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Online-Teams
TITLE:

Equipment for Simulating Surface Slides on Unsaturated Soils Induced by Precipitation
Events

KEY WORDS:

Infiltration, Unsaturated Soils, Surface Stability, Mass Movements, Physical
Modeling, Scale Slope

PAGES: 53
BIG AREA: Engenharias
AREA: Engenharia Civil
SUMMARY:

Title: Equipment for Simulating Surface Slides on Unsaturated Soils Induced by Precipitation
Events
Abstract:
The periodicity and intensity of climatic phenomena (e.g. heat waves, droughts, heavy rains) are
a global concern and challenge decision makers and researchers, because they are natural events
difficult to predict and determine. In Brazil and worldwide, adverse situations caused by
extreme precipitation events have promoted a recurrence of mass movements. Thus, rainfall
plays a key role in the promotion of landslides, because the infiltration of rainwater interacts
with intrinsic soil parameters, influencing in a complex and dynamic way the flow boundary
conditions on the slope, which in turn are determinant for the behavior and mechanical
performance of a slope.
The surface stability of slopes is seriously affected by precipitation, because the shear strength
of unsaturated soils is gradually reduced, due to the decrease of the matric suction, as a result of
infiltration that saturates the most superficial layers of the slopes, causing ruptures. Therefore,
the minimization of damage caused by mass movements has been carried out largely in two
categories. One through invasive control techniques with slope stabilization methods, such as
the use of retaining walls, water level lowering techniques, anchor piles, etc; and the uses
techniques related to the implementation of slope monitoring and mass movement prediction
systems, with the use of early warning systems and warnings to decision makers, for risk
management and emergency action planning.
With the evolution of analytical models for characterization of unsaturated soils and calculation
of slope stability, it is concluded that the adoption of warning systems and risk management has

become the most viable option in many regions, due to financial and environmental constraints.
To establish accurate warning systems, efforts focus on understanding the mechanisms of
instability evolution and the conditions that induce failure. Thus, the physical modeling of
landslides has been used by allowing the reproduction of the failure mechanisms in the
laboratory, facilitating the understanding, visualization and monitoring of the development of
rupture processes. It is in this context that this PhD project was developed, which is justified by
the need to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of mathematical models that promise to
describe the behavior of unsaturated soils subjected to seepage processes. The research
proposes, to analyze the physical phenomenon of failure in a slope at scale from a more
comprehensive perspective, in the sense that the flow and failure process can be experimentally
simulated and correlated with mathematical models, allowing the physical phenomenon to be
palpable and visible.

BANKING MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - Gilson de Farias Neves Gitirana Júnior - UFG
Presidente - 1805002 - ANDRE LUIS BRASIL CAVALCANTE
Interno - 404375 - ENNIO MARQUES PALMEIRA
Interna - 1519113 - MICHELE DAL TOE CASAGRANDE