The role of soil processes in determining mechanisms of slope failure and hillslope development in a humid-tropical forest eastern Puerto Rico

Translational failures, with associated downslope earthflow components and shallow slides, appear to be the primary mechanism of hillslope denudation in the humid tropical forests of the mountains of eastern Puerto Rico. In-situ weathering of quartz diorite and marine-deposited volcaniclastics produces residual soil (saprolite; up to 21 m deep) / weathered rock profiles. Discontinuous zones of contrasting density and permeability particularly in quartz-diorite slopes at 0.5 m, and between 3 and 7 m, create both pathways and impedances for water that can result in excess pore pressures and, ultimately, aid in determining the location of failure planes and magnitudes of slope failures. In combination with relict fractures which create planes of weakness within the saprolite, and the potential significance of tensile stresses in the upper zone of saprolite (hypothesized to be caused by subsurface soil creep), shear failure can then occur during or after periods of heavy rainfall.Results of in-situ shear-strength testing show negative y-intercepts on the derived Mohr-Coulomb failure envelopes (approximately 50% of all tests) that are interpreted as apparent tensile stresses. Observation of tension cracks 1–2 m deep support the test data. Subsurface soil creep can cause extension of the soil and the development of tensile stresses along upper-slope segments. Shear-strength data support this hypothesis for both geologic types. Apparent values of maximum and mean tensile stress are greatest along upper slopes (16.5 and 6.29 kPa). Previously documented maximum rates of downslope movement coincided with local minima of shear strength, and the shear-strength minimum for all tests was located near 0.5 m below land surface, the shallow zone of contrasting permeabilities. These results indicate that subsurface soil creep, a slow semi-continuous process, may exert a profound influence on rapid, shallow slope failures in saprolitic soils.Data indicate that cove slopes in quartz diorite tend to be the most unstable when saturation levels reach 75%. Deep failures (7 m deep) appear the most critical but not the most frequent because pore pressure build-up will occur more rapidly in the upper perched zone of translocated clays before reaching the lower zone between 3 and 7 m. Frequent shallow failures could reduce the probability of deeper failures by removing overburden and reducing shear stress at depth. Deep failures are more likely to result from storm events of great duration and intensity.Sixty-six ‘naturally occurring’ and more than 100 ‘road-related’ landslides were mapped. Forest elevations exceed 1000 m, but the majority of these failures were found between 600 and 800 m in elevation. This appears to be the area where there is sufficient concentration of subsurface water to result in excess pore pressures. The high percentage of slope failures in the 600–800-m range, relative to the percentage at higher elevations, suggests that differences in soil-water processes are responsible for the form of these mountain slopes. Steep linear segments are maintained at higher elevations. Slope angles are reduced in the 600–800-m range by frequent shallow slides, creating a largely concave surface. In combination, slope segments above 800 m, and those between 600 and 800 m, produce the characteristic form of the mountains of eastern Puerto Rico.     

张溪滑坡--台风诱发滑坡成因分析

14号台风“云娜”造成我国东部沿海地区发生多处滑坡地质灾害,张溪滑坡便是其中个案。通过对张溪滑坡成因进行分析,得出了张溪滑坡是在一定厚度覆盖层、特定地形条件、植被条件下,台风风力加载作用及暴雨的淘蚀、软化、增重等一系列过程共同作用下滑动失稳的滑坡。它与暴雨型滑坡的形成机理有显著不同,这一分析成果对类似滑坡的研究和防治具有一定的意义。     

GIS支持下三峡库区秭归县滑坡灾害空间预测

基于GIS空间分析和统计模型相结合进行区域评价与空间预测是滑坡灾害研究的重要方向之一。以三峡库区秭归县为研究区,选择坡度、坡向、边坡结构、工程岩组、排水系统、土地利用和公路开挖作为评价因子。为提高模型的预测精度、可信度和推广能力,利用窗口采样规则降低训练样本之间的空间相关性。建立Logistic回归模型,对滑坡灾害与评价因子进行定量相关性分析。计算研究区滑坡灾害易发性指数,对其进行聚类分析,绘制滑坡易发性分区图,其中高、中易发区占整个研究区面积的38.9%,主要分布在人类工程活动频繁和靠近排水系统的区域。经过验证,该模型的预测精度达到77.57%。     

佛山市顺德区飞鹅山Ⅲ号滑坡形成机理与防治技术

采用工程地质钻探、物探、地质测绘及室内试验等技术方法探讨飞鹅山Ⅲ号滑坡形成机理与防治技术。结果表明：1）滑坡体主要岩性为泥质粉砂岩,飞鹅山滑坡属于新形成的深层中型牵引式滑坡,在平面上呈圈椅状。2）滑坡属于双层滑面滑坡,主滑面以中型深层滑坡为主,主滑体上部发育中型中厚层滑坡。3）滑坡产生的原因为：(1)泥质粉砂岩倾向与坡向基本一致,且岩层倾角为中等倾角;(2)人工开挖使坡脚形成高陡临空面,抗滑力大为降低;(3)雨水沿层面及节理裂隙入渗至坡体深部,大大增加岩土体容重,同时泥质粉砂岩遇水软化,抗剪强度显著降低。4）结合该滑坡区地质环境条件,采用坡面削坡+锚杆（索）+格构梁+双排预应力锚拉抗滑桩+三维网植草绿化+截排水+毛石挡墙的综合治理方法进行防治,监测结果显示该滑坡变形及位移已得到有效控制,整治效果良好。     

Numerical modelling of the gravity-induced destabilization of a slope: The example of the La Clapière landslide, southern France

A finite difference two-dimensional model with Hooke–Mohr–Coulomb properties and topography derived from the DEM are used to reproduce the La Clapière landslide. The principal factor defining the gravity-driven destabilization of the model is a gradual reduction in the cohesion. This reduction simulates a degradation of the material properties with time because of weathering/alteration processes. The inelastic deformation, fracturing, and faulting first occur at mountain scale and results in normal fault formation causing crest sagging. Later, the failure process is concentrated in the lower part of the slope and leads to the formation of a localized fault subparallel to the slope surface at a depth of ca. 100 m. This corresponds to the initiation of the La Clapière landslide and its propagation upslope. A slow crest sagging continues during the whole model evolution.     

An investigation of periglacial slope stability in relation to soil properties based on physical modelling in the geotechnical centrifuge

Results are presented from eight scaled centrifuge modelling experiments designed to investigate mass movement processes on thawing ice-rich slopes. Four pairs of simple planar slope models were constructed, one in each pair being of sufficient gradient to promote slope failure during soil thaw and the second having a gradient below the threshold for instability. Four frost susceptible soils were used, three were normally consolidated and had different clay contents (2%, 12% and 20%) and the fourth comprised the 20% clay soil, but was over consolidated prior to model testing. Modelling protocols included freezing from the surface downwards under an open hydraulic system, and thawing from the surface downwards under an enhanced gravitational field within the geotechnical centrifuge, thereby utilising scaling laws to simulate correct prototype self weight stresses during thaw. Slopes below the stability threshold gradient were subjected to between 2 and 4 cycles of freezing and thawing, simulating annual cycles. Those above the stability threshold were subjected to only one cycle, since they failed during the first thaw phase. Thermal conditions, pore water pressures, surface movements, and profiles of displacement are reported. Measured pore pressures are used in slope stability analyses based on a simple planar infinite slope model. Profiles of solifluction shear strain and mechanisms of slope failure are both shown to be sensitive to small changes in soil properties, particularly clay content and stress history. In all cases, pore pressures rose rapidly immediately following thaw, remained below the threshold for failure in low gradient models, but exceeding the threshold to trigger landslides on steeper slopes. Upward seepage of melt water away from the thaw front contributed to loss of shear strength. Mechanisms of slope failure differed between test soils, ranging from mudflow in non-cohesive silt to active layer detachment sliding in over consolidated silt–clay. During solifluction, shear strain was greatest at the surface in non-cohesive silt and decreased rapidly with depth, but in test soils containing clay, the zone of maximum shear strain was located lower in the displacement profiles.     

金龙山地区斜坡滑动优势面分析

据优势面分析原理和方法,对金龙山地区斜坡各种结构面所作的优势面分析结果显示:浅层强风化岩体中顺坡向剪切裂隙,是控制浅层顺层滑坡发生发展的滑动优势面;深层弱风化岩体中粘土岩风化软弱夹层、斜坡上段拉张裂隙与斜坡下段顺坡向剪切裂隙三者相组合,是控制深层顺层滑坡发生的滑动优势面。当地受滑动优势面控制的滑坡变形破坏模式有:浅层为蠕滑—拉裂,深层为滑移—弯曲。     

基于遥感与地理信息系统的分布式斜坡稳定性定量评估模型

文章介绍一种进行斜坡稳定性定量研究的分布式模型——SINMAP模型。该模型以水文学理论为基础,耦合稳定状态水文模型TOPMODEL与大范围斜坡稳定性模型,在充分考虑各种影响因素的基础上,对研究区域进行斜坡稳定性评价。选取汉江江口流域作为试验研究区,以DEM、遥感影象、各种专题图件及地面考察资料作为信息源,利用SINMAP方法获得可视化的研究区地表稳定性指数专题图。经实际资料检验表明,该模型可获取较高的预测精度,尤其在流域尺度上具有极大的应用价值。     

滑坡稳定性判别的非计算方法

用计算来确定滑坡的稳定性，由于参数选取存不确定因素，就必然导致了其计算结果的不确定性。而滑坡稳定性判别的非计算方法，是通过对滑坡发育程度、形成条件的综合分析来确定滑坡的稳定程度的方法。文中通过归纳分析波坡的形成条件，然后从滑坡地貌条件、动力作用、堆积物特征、诱发因素等方面详细阐述了滑坡稳定性判别的方法，最后，例举了川藏公路102滑坡实例对该方法进行了验证。实践证明该方法是滑坡稳定性中非常实用和有效的方法。     

Landslide susceptibility mapping based on Support Vector Machine: A case study on natural slopes of Hong Kong, China

The Support Vector Machine (SVM) is an increasingly popular learning procedure based on statistical learning theory, and involves a training phase in which the model is trained by a training dataset of associated input and target output values. The trained model is then used to evaluate a separate set of testing data. There are two main ideas underlying the SVM for discriminant-type problems. The first is an optimum linear separating hyperplane that separates the data patterns. The second is the use of kernel functions to convert the original non-linear data patterns into the format that is linearly separable in a high-dimensional feature space. In this paper, an overview of the SVM, both one-class and two-class SVM methods, is first presented followed by its use in landslide susceptibility mapping. A study area was selected from the natural terrain of Hong Kong, and slope angle, slope aspect, elevation, profile curvature of slope, lithology, vegetation cover and topographic wetness index (TWI) were used as environmental parameters which influence the occurrence of landslides. One-class and two-class SVM models were trained and then used to map landslide susceptibility respectively. The resulting susceptibility maps obtained by the methods were compared to that obtained by the logistic regression (LR) method. It is concluded that two-class SVM possesses better prediction efficiency than logistic regression and one-class SVM. However, one-class SVM, which only requires failed cases, has an advantage over the other two methods as only “failed” case information is usually available in landslide susceptibility mapping.     

Spatially and temporally distributed modeling of landslide susceptibility

Mapping of landslide susceptibility in forested watersheds is important for management decisions. In forested watersheds, especially in mountainous areas, the spatial distribution of relevant parameters for landslide prediction is often unavailable. This paper presents a GIS-based modeling approach that includes representation of the uncertainty and variability inherent in parameters. In this approach, grid-based tools are used to integrate the Soil Moisture Routing (SMR) model and infinite slope model with probabilistic analysis. The SMR model is a daily water balance model that simulates the hydrology of forested watersheds by combining climate data, a digital elevation model, soil, and land use data. The infinite slope model is used for slope stability analysis and determining the factor of safety for a slope. Monte Carlo simulation is used to incorporate the variability of input parameters and account for uncertainties associated with the evaluation of landslide susceptibility. This integrated approach of dynamic slope stability analysis was applied to the 72-km² Pete King watershed located in the Clearwater National Forest in north-central Idaho, USA, where landslides have occurred. A 30-year simulation was performed beginning with the existing vegetation covers that represented the watershed during the landslide year. Comparison of the GIS-based approach with existing models (FSmet and SHALSTAB) showed better precision of landslides based on the ratio of correctly identified landslides to susceptible areas. Analysis of landslide susceptibility showed that (1) the proportion of susceptible and non-susceptible cells changes spatially and temporally, (2) changed cells were a function of effective precipitation and soil storage amount, and (3) cell stability increased over time especially for clear-cut areas as root strength increased and vegetation transitioned to regenerated forest. Our modeling results showed that landslide susceptibility is strongly influenced by natural processes and human activities in space and time; while results from simulated outputs show the potential for decision-making in effective forest planning by using various management scenarios and controlling factors that influence landslide susceptibility. Such a process-based tool could be used to deal with real-dynamic systems to help decision-makers to answer complex landslide susceptibility questions.     

Qualitative landslide susceptibility assessment by multicriteria analysis: A case study from San Antonio del Sur, Guantánamo, Cuba

Geomorphological information can be combined with decision-support tools to assess landslide hazard and risk. A heuristic model was applied to a rural municipality in eastern Cuba. The study is based on a terrain mapping units (TMU) map, generated at 1:50,000 scale by interpretation of aerial photos, satellite images and field data. Information describing 603 terrain units was collected in a database. Landslide areas were mapped in detail to classify the different failure types and parts. Three major landslide regions are recognized in the study area: coastal hills with rockfalls, shallow debris flows and old rotational rockslides denudational slopes in limestone, with very large deep-seated rockslides related to tectonic activity and the Sierra de Caujerí scarp, with large rockslides. The Caujerí scarp presents the highest hazard, with recent landslides and various signs of active processes. The different landforms and the causative factors for landslides were analyzed and used to develop the heuristic model. The model is based on weights assigned by expert judgment and organized in a number of components such as slope angle, internal relief, slope shape, geological formation, active faults, distance to drainage, distance to springs, geomorphological subunits and existing landslide zones. From these variables a hierarchical heuristic model was applied in which three levels of weights were designed for classes, variables, and criteria. The model combines all weights into a single hazard value for each pixel of the landslide hazard map. The hazard map was then divided by two scales, one with three classes for disaster managers and one with 10 detailed hazard classes for technical staff. The range of weight values and the number of existing landslides is registered for each class. The resulting increasing landslide density with higher hazard classes indicates that the output map is reliable. The landslide hazard map was used in combination with existing information on buildings and infrastructure to prepare a qualitative risk map. The complete lack of historical landslide information and geotechnical data precludes the development of quantitative deterministic or probabilistic models.     

The use of surface monitoring data for the interpretation of landslide movement patterns

The Tessina landslide is a large, seasonally active slope failure located on the southern slopes of Mt. Teverone, in the Alpago valley of NE Italy, consisting of a complex system that has developed in Tertiary Flysch deposits. The landslide, which first became active in 1960, threatens two villages and is hence subject to detailed monitoring, with high quality data being collected using piezometers, inclinometers, extensometers, and through the use of a highly innovative, automated Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) system, which surveys the location of a large number of reflector targets once every 6 h. These systems form the basis of a warning system that protects the villages, but they also provide a very valuable insight into the patterns of movement of the landslide.In this paper, analysis is presented of the movement of the landslide, concentrating on the EDM dataset, which provides a remarkable record of surface displacement patterns. It is proposed that four distinct movement patterns can be established, which correspond closely to independently defined morphological assessments of the landslide complex. Any given block of material transitions through the four phases of movement as it progresses down the landslide, with the style of movement being controlled primarily by the groundwater conditions. The analysis is augmented with modelling of the landslide, undertaken using the Itasca FLAC code. The modelling suggests that different landslide patterns are observed for different parts of the landslide, primarily as a result of variations in the groundwater conditions. The model suggests that when a movement event occurs, displacements occur initially at the toe of the landslide, then retrogress upslope.     

Theoretical regime equations for mobile gravel-bed rivers with stable banks

A system of rational regime equations is developed for gravel-bed rivers with stable banks using the optimality theory (OT). The optimality theory is based on the premise that equilibrium river geometry is characterised by an optimum configuration, defined here as maximum sediment-transport efficiency. Theoretical dimensionless equations are derived for width, depth, slope, width/depth ratio, and meandering–braiding transition. Independent dimensionless variables comprise discharge, sediment concentration, and relative bank strength, μ′, which is defined as the ratio of the critical shear stresses for the bank and bed sediments. Discharge exponents and general form of the equations agree well with previously developed empirical relations. Relative bank strength, μ′, is used to parameterise the influence of riparian vegetation on bank strength and is evaluated by calibrating against observed width/depth ratio. Once calibrated, the hydraulic geometry of natural gravel rivers is well described by the theoretical equations, including discrimination between meandering and braiding channels. The results provide strong support for the assumption that equilibrium or regime river behavior is equivalent to an optimal state and underline the importance of bank strength and sediment load as controls on hydraulic geometry.     

Columbia Mountain landslide: late-glacial emplacement and indications of future failure, Northwestern Montana, USA

The well preserved and undissected Columbia Mountain landslide, which is undergoing suburban development, was studied to estimate the timing and processes of emplacement. The landslide moved westward from a bedrock interfluve of the northern Swan Range in Montana, USA onto the deglaciated floor of the Flathead Valley. The landslide covers an area of about 2 km², has a toe-to-crown height of 1100 m, a total length of 3430 m, a thickness of between 3 and 75 m, and an approximate volume of 40 million m³. Deposits and landforms define three portions of the landslide; from the toe to the head they are: (i) clast-rich diamictons made up of gravel-sized angular rock fragments with arcuate transverse ridges at the surface; (ii) silty and sandy deposits resting on diamictons in an internally drained depression behind the ridges; and (iii) diamictons containing angular and subangular pebble-to block-sized clasts (some of which are glacially striated) in an area of lumpy topography between the depression and the head of the landslide. Drilling data suggest the diamictons cover block-to-slab-sized bedrock clasts that resulted from an initial stage of the failure.The landslide moved along a surface that developed at a high angle to the NE-dipping, thinly bedded metasediments of the Proterozoic Belt Supergroup. The exposed slope of the main scarp dips 30–37°W. A hypothetical initial rotational failure of the lower part of a bedrock interfluve may have transported bedrock clasts into the valley. The morphology and deposits at the surface of the landslide indicate deposition by a rock avalanche (sturzstrom) derived from a second stage of failure along the upper part of the scarp.The toe of the Columbia Mountain landslide is convex-west in planview, except where it was deflected around areas now occupied by glacial kettles on the north and south margins. Landsliding, therefore, occurred during deglaciation of the valley while ice still filled the present-day kettles. Available chronostratigraphy suggests that the ˜1-km thick glacier in the region melted before 12,000 ¹⁴C years BP—within 3000 years of the last glacial maximum. Deglaciation and hillslope failure are likely causally linked. Failure of the faceted interfluve was likely due tensile fracturing of bedrock along a bedding-normal joint set shortly after glacial retreat from the hillslope.Open surficial tension fractures and grabens in the Swan Range are limited to an area above the crown of the landslide. Movement across these features suggests that extensional flow of bedrock (sackung) is occurring in what remains of the ridge that failed in the Columbia Mountain landslide. The fractures and grabens likely were initiated during failure, but their morphologies suggest active extension across some grabens. Continued movement of bedrock above the crown may result in future mass movements from above the previous landslide scarp. Landslides sourced from bedrock above the scarp of the late-glacial Columbia Mountain landslide, which could potentially be triggered by earthquakes, are geologic hazards in the region.     

Tree-ring evidence linking late twentieth century changes in precipitation to slope instability,central New York state,USA

The Burtonsville landslide in central New York, USA, is a kilometer-scale rotational block failure in glacial till that was likely initiated by incision of the adjacent Schoharie Creek. Although the timing of initial failure is unknown, relatively fresh scarps and tilted surfaces suggest that movement is post-glacial and active. The river currently erodes the toe slope and it removed significant material during flooding associated with Hurricane Irene (August 2011). We retrieved tree cores from 111 trees across the landslide to reconstruct modern movement and block tilting as it related to moisture conditions in the region. Our data show that trees across the slide are in sync with respect to the stress response indicated by reaction wood. The magnitude of response to slope instability, as inferred from eccentric growth, has varied considerably across the site. We hypothesize that macropore development during the driest periods, and the differential rate at which water has reached subsurface failure planes, has caused the observed slope instability. The combination of a wetter precipitation regime and slope instability leads to higher sediment loads in the adjacent stream and serves as a useful analogy for similar watersheds in the region.     

曾文水库保护带泰山滑坡之调查与治理

崩塌与滑坡灾害之治理，首重破坏诱因了了解与破坏机制之调查。再根据调查观测所得之资料与参数，着手进行设计适当之防治对策，方能得到良好的治理成效。泰山滑坡位于台湾南部极重要之曾文水库的保护带。其边坡由陆陆续续的崩陷而逐渐演变为坍滑，甚至造成交通中断受阻。调查发现本区为属浅层滑动，滑动区平面类似酒瓶状，主要原因为长期受到雨水之漫流与渗透软化的影响，加上蚀沟之切割淘刷作用，使得边坡容易失去支撑而滑动。经施以经济有效的蚀沟控制工程兴建多座潜坝，跌水与排水设施后，发现确定提高了边坡之稳定性，地区产业因而可以持续动作，是一次相当成功的治理案例模式，但由于施工便道之开 当，遂再度诱发部份边坡的坍滑，故尔后之维护管理工作极为重要。     

Ductile shear zones: some aspects of constant slip velocity and constant shear stress models

Summary The thermomechanical differential equations governing deformation in viscous shear zones have been solved for both constant velocity and constant stress boundary conditions. The solutions show that the inertial term in these equations can be neglected everywhere.
The starting condition of the constant velocity model has been shown to be a constant velocity gradient and not a Heaviside function. The temperature anomaly produced by shear heating at the centre of the shear zone is shown to increase gradually and continuously with time, not reaching an asymptotic value. Conclusions for the constant velocity boundary condition are otherwise generally similar to those presented by Yuen et al , and agree with Fleitout & Froidevaux. The temperatures reached by constant velocity shears are sufficient for partial melting.
Constant stress boundary condition shear zone models show an initially broad shear zone with uniform shear velocity gradient. Depending on the level of applied shear stress and ambient temperature, localized intense shear heating may develop followed by thermal runaway. At lower ambient temperatures relatively high stresses are required to produce thermal runaway.
The broadening of the constant velocity shear zone proceeds more rapidly with increased ambient temperature. This can be used to show that shear zones broaden with depth. The merging of parallel shear zone pairs has been investigated and shear zones separated by distances of less than 10km coalesce to form a single shear zone within 3 Myr. Only shear zones separated by 50km or more remain distinct over periods of tens of millions of years.     

Determining landslide susceptibility in Central Taiwan from rainfall and six site factors using the analytical hierarchy process method

This work provides a landslide susceptibility assessment model for rainfall-induced landslides in Central Taiwan based on the analytical hierarchy process method. The model considers rainfall and six site factors, including slope, geology, vegetation, soil moisture, road development and historical landslides. The rainfall factor consists of 10-day antecedent rainfall and total rainfall during a rainfall event. Landslide susceptibility values are calculated for both before and after the beginning of a rainfall event. The 175 landslide cases with detailed field surveys are used to determine a landslide-susceptibility threshold value of 9.0. When a landslide susceptibility assessment value exceeds the threshold value, slope failure is likely to occur. Three zones with different landslide susceptibility levels (below, slightly above, and far above the threshold) are identified. The 9149 landslides caused by Typhoon Toraji in Central Taiwan are utilized to validate the study's result. Approximately, 0.2%, 0.4% and 15.3% of the typhoon-caused landslides are located in the three landslide susceptibility zones, respectively. Three villages with 6.6%, 0.4% and 4.9% of the landslides respectively are used to validate the accuracy of the landslide susceptibility map and analyze the main causes of landslides. The landslide susceptibility assessment model can be used to evaluate susceptibility relative to accumulated rainfall, and is useful as an early warning and landslide monitoring tool.