Validation of the particle finite element method

The analysis of landslides in reservoirs is particularly interesting because the oscillation of the water surface elevation (especially rapid drawdowns) can foster their occurrence. The existence of the reservoir for a long enough time makes the material of the slopes turn saturated, thus its pore pressure raises and, as a consequence, its effective stress is reduced. This unstabilizing effect is partially compensated by the raise of total stress due to hydrostatic pressure generated by the water in the reservoir. A rapid drawdown eliminates the stabilization in a lapse which is frequently not enough for the pore pressure to be dissipated (this depends on the permeability of the material as well as on the velocity of the water level drop, but is quite frequent). In this situation, the probability of occurrence of a landslide is greater.