Water control structure of loess plateau fill slopes: Composite of low-permeability interbedded strata and anti-erosion surface layer

Xiao-chao Zhang; Ming-li Li; Lin-wan Chen; Xiang-jun Pei; Jun-lin Jiang; Shan-shan Wang

doi:10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280080

Volume 14 Issue 2

Jun. 2026

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Article Navigation > Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering > 2026 > 14(2): 213-232

Zhang XC, Li ML, Chen LW, et al. 2026. Water control structure of loess plateau fill slopes: Composite of low-permeability interbedded strata and anti-erosion surface layer. Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering, 14(2): 213-232 doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280080

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Water control structure of loess plateau fill slopes: Composite of low-permeability interbedded strata and anti-erosion surface layer

doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280080

1.
State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, University of Technology, Chengdu 610054, China
2.
Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, Baoji 721013, Shaanxi, China

More Information

Corresponding author: limingli18@cdut.edu.cn
Received Date: 2025-04-03
Accepted Date: 2026-01-24

Available Online: 2026-04-30

Publish Date: 2026-06-30

Abstract

Abstract

The extensive fill engineering slopes formed by major projects such as "managing the ditch and creating land" in the Loess Plateau region face severe challenges of rainfall-induced instability. Inspired by the self-stable structure of natural loess-paleosol sequences and the Nature-based Solutions (NbS) concept, the water-control structure for loess fill slopes was propose, which is a composite of erosion-resistant surface layer (modified cellulose-treated) and low-permeability layers (mimicking paleosol properties using lime-improved loess). Indoor soil mechanics tests (liquid/plastic limits, compaction, permeability, shear strength) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that both modified materials significantly enhance soil strength and reduce permeability (e.g., lime treatment reduced saturated permeability by 95.18%). Artificial rainfall model experiments demonstrated that slopes with water—control structure exhibit delayed infiltration response (up to 1,565 minutes), reduced erosion volume (71.6% less than untreated slopes), and shifted failure modes from fluidized collapse to gradual shear-slip. Numerical simulations (GeoStudio) further optimized the low-permeability layer configuration, identifying a 3 m-thick, 2°-inclined layer as optimal for maximizing stability. This study reveals that the NbS structure effectively regulates rainfall infiltration and erosion processes, significantly reducing erosion volume and altering failure modes. Consequently, the NbS-based water-control structure provides a theoretical basis and key technical support for the prevention and control of instability in loess fill slopes.
- Loess fill slope,
- Nature-based Solutions (NbS),
- Rainfall-induced erosion,
- Water-control structure,
- Stability enhancement

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References

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