Slope stability evaluation of mine rehabilitation project under different rainfall conditions

Objective Mountain restoration is currently one of the major projects in environmental engineering. The backfill formed in artificial slopes is relatively loose and highly susceptible to the impact of rainfall intensity, leading to slope instability. Methods In this study, a combination of numerical simulation method and onsite monitoring technology was used to analyze the stability of artificial slopes formed during the restoration of Dingguanfeng Mountain. By establishing precise geological models, defining material parameters, and setting boundary conditions, the stability coefficients of the slope under the four different rainfall working conditions set were obtained, and the distribution characteristics of the seepage field and deformation field of the slope under different conditions were simulated. A real-time monitoring cloud platform was established on the site to monitor the surface horizontal displacement and deep horizontal displacement of the fill slope on site. The monitoring results were compared with those obtained from numerical simulation to quantitatively assess the slope stability under different working conditions. Results The results indicate that the stability coefficients of the fill slope under different rainfall conditions are greater than the critical factor for interface sliding. Under various working conditions, the pore water pressure at the slope toe and the portion close to the slope surface increases considerably. Seepage channels are mostly developed at the front edge of the slope body and the steep areas of the slope surface, and the stability of these areas is relatively more affected by rainfall. With the increase in rainfall intensity, the maximum horizontal displacement in the middle and lower parts of the slope gradually enlarges. The greater the amount of rainfall infiltrating into the slope within the same time, the more significant the reduction in shear strength, the larger the area with large horizontal displacement, and it gradually extends towards the front and rear edges of the slope. By comparing the numerical simulation results with the data obtained from on-site monitoring, it is discovered that there is a good consistency between them, and the slope is basically in a stable state. Conclusion Henceforth, for the data generated from numerical simulation analyses, they should be combined with on-site monitoring data to conduct a more comprehensive assessment of the engineering stability.