人工降雨条件下冲沟型泥石流起动试验研究

下垫面以位于贡嘎山东坡的熊家沟为模型,开展了不同降雨强度条件下冲沟型泥石流起动的模拟试验,初步研究了冲沟型泥石流的形成机理和演化特征.试验研究表明:(1)在强降雨条件下,水体入渗速度、不同深度土体含水量变化与降雨强度呈反比例关系,降雨强度越大,越不利于水体入渗,而有利于坡面汇流、冲沟径流和下切侵蚀; (2)在强降雨和径流条件下,土体破坏方式、破坏程度以及泥石流形成机理表现出差异性.相对较小雨强降雨条件下,土体破坏方式以滑坡为主,泥石流形成模式表现为滑坡液化与转化起动,雨强较大降雨条件下,土体破坏方式以侵蚀垮塌为主,泥石流形成模式为洪流席卷垮塌体和沟床揭底; (3)起动试验中泥石流阵性特征明显.在强降雨条件下,雨强与泥石流的规模、黏度之间没有正相关性,雨强越大,泥石流黏度越小,试验中多出现的是高含砂洪流,而相对较小雨强作用下由土体液化转化形成的泥石流黏度较大.试验现象和结果与熊家沟泥石流起动、发生过程具有较高的一致性.     

茂县新磨特大滑坡-碎屑流的发育特征与运移机理

2017年6月24日茂县叠溪镇新磨村发生体积近800×104 m3的灾难性特大型滑坡-碎屑流灾害。通过现场调查、遥感解译和资料分析,本文对灾害发育的地质环境条件,崩滑危岩体及运移堆积特征,降雨及地震对崩滑的触发作用等进行了研究,探讨了影响碎屑流运动性的主要效应及其致灾机理,并评价了类似灾害的监测预警新方法。研究认为:（1）新磨村位于1933年叠溪M_S7.5地震前已经存在的大型老滑坡堆积体上,多次历史强震和历年降雨循环使滑源区砂板岩坡体表层卸荷带失稳剥离,内部岩体完整性和强度进一步损伤劣化,滑源区在2003年之前已经发育了多条宽大裂缝,并存在显著滑前变形前兆,新磨滑坡本质上是一次后地震机制的灾难性高速岩质滑坡-碎屑流。（2）新磨基岩顺层滑坡体积约150×104 m3,但有约600×104 m3沟道老崩坡积体被刮铲、裹携。滑坡体高位撞击使老堆积体内“土拱效应”快速丧失并获得加速,“刮铲-裹携效应”促进了滑坡-碎屑流的流动性和扩散性,但大规模的裹携也限制了碎屑流运移得更远。这种冲击加载-刮铲裹携的破坏机制与1986年新滩滑坡、2000年易贡滑坡和2004年贵州纳雍左营滑坡等类似。（3）滑坡-碎屑流产生的地震信号分析可再现整个滑坡、冲击、运移、停积等全过程,震前InSAR形变资料分析则揭示了显著的变形前兆,两者结合应是未来这类超视距崩滑-碎屑流灾害早期识别、评价和预警的新方法。（4）鉴于滑后新磨流域仍然存在大量新老裂缝及其切割而成的危险块体,建议立即开展详细的灾害调查、风险评价和监测预警工作,避免类似灾害重复发生。     

Response of a loess landslide to rainfall: observations from a field artificial rainfall experiment in Bailong River Basin,China

Rainfall-induced landslides are a significant hazard in many areas of loess-covered terrain in Northwest China. To investigate the response of a loess landslide to rainfall, a series of artificial rainfall experiments were conducted on a natural loess slope, located in the Bailong River Basin, in southern Gansu Province. The slope was instrumented to measure surface runoff, pore water pressure, soil water content, earth pressure, displacement, and rainfall. The hydrological response was also characterized by time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography. The results show that most of the rainfall infiltrated into the loess landslide, and that the pore water pressure and water content responded rapidly to simulated rainfall events. This indicates that rainfall infiltration on the loess landslide was significantly affected by preferential flow through fissures and macropores. Different patterns of pore water pressure and water content variations were determined by the antecedent soil moisture conditions, and by the balance between water recharge and drainage in the corresponding sections. We observed three stages of changing pore water pressure and displacement within the loess landslide during the artificial rainfall events: Increases in pore water pressure initiated movement on the slope, acceleration in movement resulting in a rapid decrease in pore water pressure, and attainment of a steady state. We infer that a negative pore water pressure feedback process may have occurred in response to shear-induced dilation of material as the slope movement accelerated. The process of shear dilatant strengthening may explain the phenomenon of semi-continuous movement of the loess landslide. Shear dilatant strengthening, caused by intermittent or continuous rainfall over long periods, can occur without triggering rapid slope failure.     

Effects of Material Composition and Water Content on the Mechanical Properties of Landslide Deposits Triggered by the Wenchuan Earthquake

Abundant landslide deposits were triggered by the Wenchuan earthquake, providing a rich source of material for subsequent debris flows or slope failures under rainfall conditions. A good understanding of the physical and mechanical properties of the landslide deposits is very important to the research on slope failure mechanisms and the initiation of debris flow. Laboratory biaxial compression tests are used to study the material compositions and water content impacts on the mechanical properties of landslide deposits, and a discrete element method (a bond-contact model) is used to study the particle stiffness, bond force, friction coefficient and confining stress impact on the mechanical behaviors and the relationships between the numerical and experimental parameters. The experimental results show that the failure stress of landslide deposits is decreased with increasing content of fine particles and also with increased water content, especially at the initial increasing stage. Cohesion of the saturated landslide deposits is increased, but the friction angle is decreased with the increase in the fine particle content. Shear strength parameters (the cohesion and friction angle) are decreased with the increasing water content at the initial increasing stage, and then, they slowly decrease. There is a critical value of the water content at 5%–7% (in weight) for the failure stress and shear strength parameters of the landslide deposits. Quadratic equations are presented to describe the relation between the bond force and cohesion, and the numerical friction coefficient and the experimental friction angle.     

四川都江堰三溪村710高位山体滑坡研究

2013年7月10日上午10时,四川都江堰市中兴镇三溪村受极端暴雨影响发生高位山体滑坡灾害,滑坡-碎屑堆积体方量超过150104m3,其中1#滑坡-碎屑堆积体长度1.26km,造成三溪村一组重大人员伤亡。笔者在野外实地调查和室内研究分析的基础上,总结了都江堰三溪村滑坡的基本特征,研究了其启动运动机制和滑动速度,主要认识如下:（1）该滑坡为一处高位山体滑坡,后缘白垩系砂砾岩地层高速滑动后剧烈撞击-铲刮-偏转后铲动坡体上的松散堆积层而形成高位山体滑坡-碎屑流灾害。（2）根据滑坡的运动及堆积特征,将1#滑坡划分为砂砾岩滑动区、碰撞铲刮区和碎屑流堆积覆盖区3部分。（3）7月8日8时至10日8时,中兴镇三溪村的持续强降雨天气过程（都江堰市3d的降雨量相当于该地区年降雨总量的44.1%）,直接触发了滑坡的发生。（4）三溪村滑坡的发生受2008年汶川地震、特殊的岩土体性质、地形地貌条件以及极端暴雨事件的综合影响,地震、地形为其发育提供了基础条件,极端暴雨事件为其直接诱发因素。（5）建议加强高位山体滑坡的研究,尤其是远程滑坡-碎屑流的早期识别和预警。     

Comprehensive analyses of the initiation and landslide-generated wave processes of the 24 June 2015 Hongyanzi landslide at the Three Gorges Reservoir,China

Reservoir landslides pose a great threat to shipping safety, human lives and properties, and the operation of the hydropower station. In this paper, the 24 June 2015 Hongyanzi landslide at the Three Gorges Reservoir is considered as an example to study the initiation mechanism and landslide-generated wave process of a reservoir landslide. The finite difference method and limit equilibrium analysis are used to analyze the deformation and failure characteristics of the Hongyanzi slope. Simulation results show that a large deformation (about 358 mm) happens in the shallow deposits under intermittent rainfall condition, and the slope is in a limit state. At the same time, continuous rapid drawdown of the water level (about ?0.55 m/day during 8–24 June 2015) reduced the support and accelerated the drainage of the water for the bank slope. A coupling effect of intermittent rainfall and rapid drawdown of the water level was the triggering factor of the 24 June Hongyanzi landslide. Landslide-generated wave process was simulated using a fluid–solid coupling method by integrating the general moving object collision model. Simulation results show that the landslide-generated wave is dominated by the impulse wave, which is generated by sliding masses entering the river with high speed. The maximum wave height is about 5.90 m, and the wave would decay gradually as it spreads because of friction and energy dissipation. To prevent reservoir landslides, the speed for the rising or drawdown of the water level should be controlled, and most importantly, rapid drawdown should be avoided.     

Critical shallow and deep hydrologic conditions associated with widespread landslides during a series of storms between February and April 2018 in Pittsburgh and vicinity,western Pennsylvania,USA

The potential for widespread landslides is generally increased when extraordinary wet periods occur during times of elevated subsurface hydrologic conditions. A series of storms in early 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, overlapped with a period of increased shallow soil moisture and rising bedrock groundwater levels resulting from seasonally diminished evapotranspiration and induced widespread landslides in the region. Most of the landslides were shallow slope failures in colluvium, landslide deposits, and/or fill. However, deep-seated landslide activity also occurred and corresponded with record cumulative precipitation from late February to April and bedrock groundwater levels rising to an annual high. Landslides blocked or damaged roads, adversely affected multiple houses, disrupted electrical service, crushed vehicles, and resulted in considerable economic losses. The initial landslides occurred during or immediately after a rare period of three successive days of heavy rain that began on February 14. Subsequent landslides between late February and April were induced by multiday storms with smaller rainfall totals. As shallow soil moisture at a monitoring site rose above a volumetric water content of 32%, the mean rainfall intensities necessary to induce slope failure in colluvium and other surficial deposits decreased. Deep-seated landslide movement occurred in the region mostly when the groundwater level in a bedrock observation well was shallower than 1.7 m. The availability of hydrologic and landslide movement monitoring data during this extraordinary series of storms highlighted the evolution of the landslide hazard with changing moisture conditions and yielded insights into potential hydrologic criteria for anticipating future widespread landslides in the region.

     

湘西陈溪峪滑坡变形机理及稳定性评价

浅层滑坡在我国广泛分布,但在区域范围内分布规律性较差,且具有突发性、隐蔽性和破坏性强等特点。湘西武陵山区地质条件复杂、降雨丰沛、人类工程活动强烈,突发性地质灾害频发,尤以降雨诱发的浅层滑坡为主。文章以湘西地区慈利县陈溪峪滑坡为例,开展了降雨量、基质吸力、地下水位和地表变形等的监测;结合滑坡的现场调查及监测成果,分析滑坡的形成条件和变形机理;在此基础上,考虑基质吸力对边坡稳定性的贡献,将强度折减有限元法推广到非饱和土边坡,计算得到了不同降雨工况下滑坡稳定性。结果表明:当强降雨降落到滑坡体上时,坡内基质吸力值均迅速减小,直至一定值后（9.5 kPa左右）不再变化;坡内地下水位受季节性降雨影响显著,短时强降雨引起地下水变化幅度不如长时间降雨对地下水位造成的影响大;陈溪峪滑坡的地质力学成因为蠕滑推移式土质滑坡,运动形式为沿基覆界面的浅层滑坡;短时强降雨是诱发滑坡变形的最关键因素。陈溪峪滑坡在持续降雨条件下的降雨量预警值约为280 mm,在短时强降雨条件下的降雨强度预警值约为240 mm/d。     

崩塌诱发其下部滑坡变形过程的分析研究

崩塌冲击或崩积物重力加载作用都可能诱发坡脚滑坡的变形或失稳。在查明坡体结构的基础上,采用3DEC离散元数值模拟方法,对高陡斜坡在地下开采作用下崩塌所产生的机理、失稳模式、破坏规模、运动轨迹进行了全过程模拟,特别是斜坡失稳后和坡脚滑坡的相互作用效应进行了深入分析。结果表明:通过地下开采诱发的崩塌过程模拟及其研究,发现斜坡在地下开采的扰动下会产生大规模的崩塌,其滚石会对滑坡体产生强烈的冲击作用,且所形成的崩积物会对滑坡体产生重力加载作用。再通过监测数据以及现场收集的资料分析得出滑坡的蠕滑变形主要是由于崩积物重力加载作用引起的,且有继续变形的趋势,在暴雨季节时,滑坡的变形速率可能会增大,有潜在大规模滑动的危险,需做好相应的防护工作。     

浅谈湖南711矿山体滑坡群的成因及治理措施

711矿位于湖南省郴州市东北11km的许家洞镇。滑坡主要发生在711矿主矿带斗岭组地层，由3个滑坡体组成滑坡群。斗岭组地层上覆第四纪残坡积层，斗岭组地层为隔水层。通过对发生在711矿山体上的滑坡群的勘探及降雨和堆石的调查情况，结合对边坡角的演化、渗入坡体水的软化作用等因素的分析，阐明了该滑坡群发生的主要原因是废石堆置超荷、降雨通过第四纪土层的垂直入渗后在斗岭组和残坡积层之间形成软弱带。同时采矿中经常性的爆破震动也是诱发滑坡的原因之一。最后对滑坡群提出了刷方减重、埋设抗滑桩等治理方案。     

三峡库区树坪滑坡变形失稳机制分析

树坪滑坡自2003年三峡水库蓄水以来,就一直持续变形。为了对其稳定性及变形发展趋势进行评价和预测,有必要对其变形失稳机制进行深入研究。为此,采用现场地质调查和勘探的方法确定了滑坡的形态和性质;充分挖掘变形监测数据,详细分析了滑坡的变形特征。在此基础上,深入研究了变形失稳机制及影响因素,并对滑坡的稳定性进行了计算和预测。结果表明,滑坡区地形、岩性及地质构造等地质因素控制了树坪滑坡的形成和发展;库水位下降和大气降雨进一步激励了滑坡的变形。库水位下降,坡体内地下水位随之下降,但其速度远小于库水位下降速度,导致坡体内水力梯度和渗透力明显增大,从而使滑坡稳定性急剧下降,并且库水位下降速度越快,滑坡的位移速率也越大,是典型的水库下降型滑坡。在库水位下降过程中,若出现明显的降雨过程,更加剧了滑坡的变形,有产生大规模滑动的可能性,须采取防护治理措施。     

An integrated model simulating the initiation and motion of earthquake and rain induced rapid landslides and its application to the 2006 Leyte landslide

A gigantic rapid landslide claiming over 1,000 fatalities was triggered by rainfalls and a small nearby earthquake in the Leyte Island, Philippines in 2006. The disaster presented the necessity of a new modeling technology for disaster risk preparedness which simulates initiation and motion. This paper presents a new computer simulation integrating the initiation process triggered by rainfalls and/or earthquakes and the development process to a rapid motion due to strength reduction and the entrainment of deposits in the runout path. This simulation model LS-RAPID was developed from the geotechnical model for the motion of landslides (Sassa 1988) and its improved simulation model (Sassa et al. 2004b) and new knowledge obtained from a new dynamic loading ring shear apparatus (Sassa et al. 2004a). The examination of performance of each process in a simple imaginary slope addressed that the simulation model well simulated the process of progressive failure, and development to a rapid landslide. The initiation process was compared to conventional limit equilibrium stability analyses by changing pore pressure ratio. The simulation model started to move in a smaller pore pressure ratio than the limit equilibrium stability analyses because of progressive failure. However, when a larger shear deformation is set as the threshold for the start of strength reduction, the onset of landslide motion by the simulation agrees with the cases where the factor of safety estimated by the limit equilibrium stability analyses equals to a unity. The field investigation and the undrained dynamic loading ring shear tests on the 2006 Leyte landslide suggested that this landslide was triggered by the combined effect of pore water pressure due to rains and a very small earthquake. The application of this simulation model could well reproduce the initiation and the rapid long runout motion of the Leyte landslide.     

Field monitoring of groundwater responses to heavy rainfalls and the early warning of the Kualiangzi landslide in Sichuan Basin,southwestern China

The Kualiangzi landslide was triggered by heavy rainfalls in the “red beds” area of Sichuan Basin in southwestern China. Differing from other bedrock landslides, the movement of the Kualiangzi landslide was controlled by the subvertical cracks and a subhorizontal bedding plane (dip angle < 10°). The ingress of rainwater in the cracks formed a unique groundwater environment in the slope. Field measurement for rainfall, groundwater movement, and slope displacement has been made for the Kualiangzi landslide since 2013. The field monitoring system consists of two rainfall gauges, seven piezometers, five water-level gauges, and two GPS data loggers. The equipments are embedded near a longitudinal section of the landslide, where severe deformation has been observed in the past 3 years. The groundwater responses to four heavy rainfall events were analyzed between June 16 and July 24 in 2013 coincided with the flood season in Sichuan. Results showed that both of the water level and the pore-water pressure increased after each rainfall event with delay in the response time with respect to the precipitation. The maximum time lag reached 35 h occurred in a heavy rainfall event with cumulative precipitation of 127 mm; such lag effect was significantly weakened in the subsequent heavy rainfall events. In each presented rainfall event, longer infiltration period in the bedrock in the upper slope increased the response time of groundwater, compared to that of in the gravels in the lower slope. A translational landslide conceptual model was built for the Kualiangzi landslide, and the time lag was attributed to the gradual formation of the uplift pressure on the slip surface and the softening of soils at the slip surface. Another important observation is the effect on the slope movement which was caused by the water level (H _w) in the transverse tension trough developed at the rear edge of the landslide. Significant negative correlation was found for H _w and the slope stability factor (F _s), in particular for the last two heavy rainfall events, of which the drastic increase of water level caused significant deterioration in the slope stability. The rapid drop (Δ?=?22.5 kPa) of pore-water pressure in the deep bedrock within 1 h and the large increase (Δ?=?87.3 mm) of surficial displacement were both monitored in the same period. In the end, a four-level early warning system is established through utilizing H _w and the displacement rate D _r as the warning indicators. When the large deformation occurred in flood season, the habitants at the leading edge of the landslide can be evacuated in time.     

A rapid loess flowslide triggered by irrigation in China

A loess landslide occurred in the morning of October 6, 2006, in Gaolou district of Daming town, Hua country, Shaanxi, China. The landslide originated from a valley side slope of the loess ‘yuan’ (dissected loess plateau), below which many houses are densely located. The displaced materials smashed several houses and killed 12 persons, after traveling down a long but gentle valley channel. Field surveys revealed that the displaced materials were highly fluidized. Because there was no rainfall before this event, the leakage of irrigation water from the canal on the top of the slope may be the reason for the initiation. To investigate the possible mechanisms underlying the initiation and movement of this landslide, laboratory tests on the loess samples from the source area were performed. Some preliminary research results are presented in this report.     

The January 10, 1997 Pozzano landslide, Sorrento Peninsula, Italy

From 1997 to 1999, a huge number of slides, often turning into extremely rapid debris-earth flows, repeatedly affected the late Quaternary volcaniclastic deposits mantling the carbonate slopes of Campania region, Italy. The Sorrento Peninsula was the epicentral district of the 1997 regional slope-instability crisis. Some hundred shallow mass movements took place during January 1997 in this area. These were the last episode of a long series of slope failure events dating back to mid-18th century. Results from geological and geomorphologic surveys are presented. Landslide mechanism and triggering factors are analysed for the most important mass movement, which occurred during the January 9-11, 1997, regional event. On January 10, 1997, at about 8:15 PM, a rainfall-induced debris slide-debris flow occurred at Pozzano (province of Naples), mainly affecting the 79 AD pyroclastic products. Following a J-path, the landslide destroyed a private house and invaded the State Road no. 145. This event resulted in four deaths, 22 persons injured and road closure for about 2 months. There was less than 200 mm of rainfall in the 72-h period prior to the landslide, although intense precipitation had occurred during a preceding 4-month period. However, the slope failure event was not preceded by an extreme short-term antecedent rainfall, as already noticed in previous landslides of this type in Campania. Finally, following a preliminary geotechnical characterization of volcaniclastic soils, a slope-stability back analysis was carried out, which adopted the classical infinite slope scheme. This analysis gave further evidence of the role played by pore pressure in reducing the overall shear strength of pyroclastic soils.     

贵州纳雍普洒滑坡动力触发机制离散元模拟分析

采用UDEC离散单元法数值模拟,再现了贵州纳雍张家湾镇普洒滑坡在煤层采空区、深大岩溶裂隙、强降雨和回采爆破振动协同作用下的动力响应特征,揭示出该崩滑的动力触发机制与主控因素。结果表明:（1）在原始坡体下伏煤层自下而上依次开采时,其采空区上覆岩层中“冒落带”、“裂缝带”和“弯曲下沉带”范围逐渐扩大,当位于最上部的煤层被开采后,其上覆岩层中发育的“弯曲下沉带”已触及坡脚;期间该原始坡体处于累积变形阶段,其变形具有明显的整体“下座”和“顺时针旋转”特征;（2）在强降雨作用时,已受采空区作用的坡体进入累积变形扩大阶段,其宏观变形仍具有“下座”和“顺时针旋转”特征;（3）当回采爆破振动持续作用时,已受采空区和强降雨耦合作用的变形坡体进入持续“渐进损伤”、“临界崩滑”、“解体破碎”、“震荡抛射”和“堆积压实”动力响应阶段,期间滑坡体宏观位移表现出明显的“下座”、“溃屈”和“顺时针旋转”特征。      

南京市浦口区某山前缓坡滑坡复活机制再分析

南京猪头山滑坡属于典型的覆盖层滑坡,2003年5月边坡发生缓慢变形失稳,没有对周围造成很大的危害,故未引起足够重视,2016年6~7月间受强降雨的影响再次发生大规模的滑动。研究发现,该滑体的地层具有特殊地质结构,在强降雨条件下会产生暂时性承压水,在其承压水的渗透力及浮托力作用下,其稳定性将会大大下降,因此该滑坡的再滑动与降雨密切相关。本文运用数值模拟方法分析了滑坡变形过程与降雨时长及降雨强度之间的关系,结果表明猪头山山前缓坡的稳定性随降雨时长和降雨强度增大逐渐降低,且具有一定的突变性,其滑坡面的位置位于坡体填土层的下部,较好地揭示了猪头山降雨型滑坡形成的机理以及滑坡再滑动机制。这一研究为所在地区的降雨性滑坡预报和治理提供了科学依据。     

基于离心机模型试验的甘肃江顶崖古滑坡复活机理研究

位于白龙江断裂带的甘肃舟曲江顶崖古滑坡规模巨大,受断裂活动、降雨入渗与河流侵蚀和人类工程活动等因素影响,多次发生复活-堵塞白龙江灾害事件,造成极大危害。为研究江顶崖古滑坡的复活机理,本文在野外地质调查的基础上,重点开展了滑体在含水率为10%、15%和20%条件下的离心机模型试验。研究表明:在滑体含水率为10%情况下,试验结束后仅在坡体中后部产生少量裂缝,但滑坡体整体还处于稳定状态; 而在滑体含水率为15%和20%情况下,滑坡均发生了破坏,在滑体含水率分别为15%、20%情况下坡体失稳所需离心加速度分别为100g和50g。试验测试分析表明,江顶崖古滑坡为推移式滑坡,其变形先从坡体中后部开始,坡体中后部产生裂缝,随后裂缝逐渐向前缘扩展,最终裂缝贯通造成滑坡滑动破坏。滑坡体的变形过程主要分为3个阶段: ①变形启动阶段(裂缝开始形成阶段); ②变形加速阶段(裂缝加速发展阶段); ③失稳阶段。通过离心模拟试验,结合野外调查分析,认为江顶崖古滑坡复活的因素主要受降雨和孔隙水压力的影响,是受前缘河流侵蚀牵引、降雨入渗造成滑坡中后部推移的耦合滑动。     

Characteristics and formation mechanism of a catastrophic rainfall–induced rock avalanche–mud flow in Sichuan, China, 2010

A catastrophic rock avalanche–mud flow was triggered by the heavy rainfall in Sichuan, China, on July 27, 2010. A mass of strongly weathered basalts with a volume of ∼480,000 m³ was initiated from a valley side slope and then moved downstream along the valley, entraining a large amount of unconsolidated substrate and bilateral materials and colluviums. The entrainment increased the volume of slide to ∼1.0 million m³ and may also enhance the mobility of the landslide. Approximately 30 min after the first failure, the deposits of the rock avalanche in the steepest part of the valley started to creep slowly down as a mud flow. It reached a small town at the foot of the slope after several hours, causing the damage of 92 houses and the urgent evacuation of 1,500 people. The field investigation, mapping, grain size test, and aerial photo interpretation were applied to analyze the dynamic process and the formation mechanism of the landslide. The strongly weathered and fragmented basalts as well as the most vulnerable combination of joint sets were revealed to be the most contributive factors. The antecedent torrential rainfall is the direct trigger, which affected the slope stability in three aspects: induced debris flow that scoured the toe of the sliding surface of rock avalanche; caused the increase of the slope unit weight, and penetrated into the steep joints reducing the strength of the materials.     

Mechanism and failure process of Qianjiangping landslide in the Three Gorges Reservoir,China

The Qianjiangping landslide is a large planar rock slide which occurred in July 14, 2003 shortly after the water level reached 135 m in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. The landslide destroyed 4 factories and 129 houses, took 24 lives, and made 1,200 people homeless. Field investigation shows that the contributing factors for the landslide are the geological structure of the slope, the previous surface of rupture, the water level rise, and continuous rainfall. In order to reveal the mechanism and failure process of the landslide, numerical simulation was conducted on Qianjiangping slope before sliding. Based on the characteristics and the engineering conditions of the landslide, the topography and the geological profiles of Qianjiangping slope before sliding is reconstructed. The seepage field of Qianjiangping slope before sliding was simulated with the Geostudio software. The results show that ground water table rises and bends to the slope during the rise of water level, and the slope surface becomes partially saturated within the period of continuous rainfall. Using the ground water table obtained above, the failure process of Qianjiangping slope is simulated with the Flac3D software. The results demonstrate that the shear strain increment, displacement, and shear failure area of the slope increased greatly after the water level rose and continuous rained, and the landslide was triggered by the combined effect both of water level rise and continuous rainfall. The development of shear strain increment, displacement, and shear failure area of the slope shows that the landslide was retrogressive in the lower part of the slope and progressive in the upper part of the slope.