Abstract: The rainfall is the main environmental factor that triggering landslides. The soil types and degrees of compaction of the backfill materials will directly affect the rainwater infiltration pattern within the embankment. The transient seepage field of high fill embankments subject to the rainwater infiltration is simulated by an unsaturated seepage finite element software. The element stress field is obtained by the finite element method. The element stress is then applied to the limit equilibrium analysis. The slope stability under the seepage action under the precipitation conditions can therefore be analyzed. The results show that the degree of compaction of limestone gravelly soil between 90%-95% have a good performance under seepage conditions. It is also stable under the strong rainfall events. The results will provide scientific basis for selecting backfill materials and minimizing and mitigating hazards induced from strong precipitations.

Key words: Rainfalls, High Fill Embankments, Gravelly Soils, Unsaturated Seepage, Stability Analysis