ABSTRACT
Slopes along the track of Japan Railway Group often collapse, compromising safe transport, due to prolonged long rain during the rainy season or a localized torrential downpour of typhoon. To prevent such failures, it is necessary to (1)determine which slopes are susceptible, (2)implement hazard preventive work, (3)control train operation during heavy rainfall. To predict slope collapses with high precision, track maintenance staff may apply a risk estimation method that is easy to use in the field. First we will review control management of train operation during heavy rainfall and the traditional slope evaluation method. Then, we will describe the development of a new method of slope risk estimation by critical rainfall with respect to railway embankments. Lastly, we will add applications for the new method. One example of the applications will be shown.. By using the proposed method, we can approximately predict the critical value of rainfall for slope failure of railway embankments.
