Does vertical seismic force play an important role for the failure mechanism of rock avalanches? A case study of rock avalanches triggered by the Wenchuan earthquake of May 12, 2008, Sichuan,China

The Wenchuan earthquake triggered 15,000 rock avalanches, rockfalls and debris flows, causing a large number of causalities and widespread damage. Similar to many rock avalanches, field investigations showed that tensile failure often occurred at the back edge. Some soil and rock masses were moved so violently that material became airborne. The investigation indicates that this phenomenon was due to the effect of a large vertical seismic motion that occurred in the meizoseismal area during the earthquake. This paper analyses the effect of vertical earthquake force on the failure mechanism of a large rock avalanche using the Donghekou rock avalanche as an example. This deadly avalanche, which killed 780 people, initiated at an altitude of 1,300 m and had a total run-out distance of 2,400 m. The slide mass is mainly composed of Sinian limestone and dolomite limestone, together with Cambrian slate and phyllite. Static and dynamic stability analysis on the Donghekou rock avalanche has been performed using FLAC finite difference method software, under the actual seismic wave conditions as recorded on May 12, 2008. The results show that the combined horizontal and vertical peak acceleration caused a higher reduction in slope stability factor than horizontal peak acceleration alone. In addition, a larger area of tensile failure at the back edge of the avalanche was generated when horizontal and vertical peak acceleration were combined than when only horizontal acceleration was considered. The force of the large vertical component of acceleration was the main reason rock and soil masses became airborne during the earthquake.     

Source characteristics of long runout rock avalanches triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake,China

The May 12, 2008 Wenchuan, China Earthquake which measured M_w = 8.3 according to Chinese Earthquake Administration – CEA (M_w = 7.9 according to the USGS) directly triggered many landslides, which caused about 20,000 deaths, a quarter of the total. Rock avalanches were among the most destructive landslides triggered by this seismic event, and have killed more people than any other type of landslide in this earthquake. The Donghekou rock avalanche, one example of a catastrophic avalanche triggered by the Wenchuan earthquake, occurred in Qingchuan and buried one primary school and 184 houses, resulting in more than 780 deaths, and in addition, caused the formation of two landslide dams, which formed barrier lakes.Combining aerial images (resolution of 0.5 m) with field investigations, this paper lists some parameters of 66 cases in one table, and details source characteristics of six typical cases. It has been found that most of the long runout rock avalanches have source areas with high relief and steep inclination, causing the debris in the travel courses to accelerate. There was also a large amount of saturated Holocene-age loose deposits formed by a river or gully that existed in the travel courses. Comparison studies indicate that saturated Holocene loose deposits in the travel courses could be the most important factor for the causes of the long runout characteristic of the rock avalanches especially when they traveled over gentle or even flat ground surfaces.Furthermore, the relationships among the relief slope gradient, runout and covered area are investigated, and a threshold line for predicting the maximum horizontal runout distance under certain change in elevation is presented.     

沟道型滑坡-碎屑流运动距离经验预测模型研究

沟道型滑坡-碎屑流具有隐蔽性强、危险性高、力学机理复杂的特点,研究其运动距离预测模型具有重要的理论意义和实践意义。本文基于遥感GIS技术,结合野外调查,获取了汶川地震触发的38个沟道型滑坡-碎屑流的基础数据。通过相关性分析确定沟道型滑坡-碎屑流最大水平运动距离L的影响因素从大到小依次是滑坡体积V、最大垂直运动距离H、滑源区高差Hs、沟道段坡度β。采用逐步回归方法建立了滑坡-碎屑流最大水平运动距离L的最优多元回归模型,检验结果表明模型具有较高精度。将最优多元回归模型与国际上应用较多的滑坡运动距离和泥石流运动距离预测模型进行对比,表明考虑滑坡体积、地形落差和沟道段坡度的运动距离预测指标体系,具有最高的拟合优度和较好的物理含义,可为沟谷山区滑坡-碎屑流危险性评价提供参考依据。     

The Wenchuan Earthquake (May 12, 2008), Sichuan Province,China, and resulting geohazards

On Monday, May 12, 2008, a devastating mega-earthquake of magnitude 8.0 struck the Wenchuan area, northwestern Sichuan Province, China. The focal mechanism of the earthquake was successive massive rock fracturing 15 km in depth at Yingxiu. Seismic analysis confirms that the major shock occurred on the Beichuan–Yingxiu Fault and that aftershocks rapidly extended in a straight northeast–southeast direction along the Longmenshan Fault zone. Fatalities approaching a total of 15,000 occurred, with a significant number resulting from four types of seismically triggered geohazards—rock avalanches and landslides, landslide-dammed lakes (“earthquake lakes”), and debris flows. China Geological Survey has identified 4,970 potentially risky sites, 1,701 landslides, 1,844 rock avalanches, 515 debris flows, and 1,093 unstable slopes. Rock avalanches and landslides caused many fatalities directly and disrupted the transportation system, extensively disrupting rescue efforts and thereby causing additional fatalities. Landslide-dammed lakes not only flooded human habitats in upstream areas but also posed threats to potentially inundated downstream areas with large populations. Debris flows become the most remarkable geohazards featured by increasing number, high frequency, and low triggering rainfall. Earthquake-triggered geohazards sequentially induced and transformed to additional hazards. For example, debris flows occurred on rock avalanches and landslides, followed by landslide-dammed lakes, and then by additional debris flows and breakouts of the landslide-dammed lakes and downstream flooding. Earthquake-induced geohazards occurred mainly along the fault zone and decreased sharply with distance from the fault. It can be anticipated that post-earthquake geohazards, particularly for debris flows, will continue for 5–10 years and even for as long as 20 years. An integrated strategy of continuing emergency response and economic reconstruction is required. The lesson from Wenchuan Earthquake is that the resulted geohazards may appear in large number in active fault regions. A plan for geohazard prevention in the earthquake-active mountainous areas is needed in advance.     

Characteristics and numerical runout modelling of a catastrophic rock avalanche triggered by the Wenchuan earthquake in the Wenjia valley,Mianzhu, Sichuan,China

The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake triggered more than 100 rock avalanches with volumes greater than 10 million cubic metres. The rock avalanche with the longest runout amongst these destructive landslides occurred in the Wenjia valley, Mianzhu, Sichuan, China. The landslide involved the failure of about 27.5 million cubic metres of sandstone from the source area. The displaced material travelled about 4,170 m with an elevation descent of about 1,360 m, equivalent to a fahrböschung of 16.9° and covered an area of 1.5 million square metres, with the final deposited volume of approximately 49 million cubic metres. The catastrophic event destroyed the village of Yanjing, killed 48 people and buried some houses at the mouth of the Wenjia valley. On the basis of a detailed field investigation, we introduce basic characteristics of the rock avalanche and find that the rock avalanche resulted in two run-ups and a superelevation along the runout path, and downslope enlargement due to the entrainment of path materials. A numerical model (DAN3D) is used to simulate the post-failure behaviour of the rock avalanche. By means of trial and error, a combination of the frictional model and Voellmy model is found to provide the best performance in simulating this rock avalanche. The simulation results reveal that the rock avalanche had a duration of about 240 s and an average velocity of 17.4 m/s.     

The July 2007 rock and ice avalanches at Mount Steele, St. Elias Mountains, Yukon, Canada

A large rock and ice avalanche occurred on the north face of Mount Steele, southwest Yukon Territory, Canada, on July 24, 2007. In the days and weeks preceding the landslide, several smaller avalanches initiated from the same slope. The ice and rock debris traveled a maximum horizontal distance 5.76 km with a maximum vertical descent of 2,160 m, leaving a deposit 3.66 km² in area on Steele Glacier. The seismic magnitude estimated from long-period surface waves (M _s) is 5.2. Modeling of the waveforms suggests an estimated duration of approximately 100 s and an average velocity of between 35 and 65 m/s. This landslide is one of 18 large rock avalanches known to have occurred since 1899 on slopes adjacent to glaciers in western Canada. We describe the setting, reconstruct the event chronology and present a preliminary characterization of the Mount Steele ice and rock avalanches based on field reconnaissance, analysis of seismic records and an airborne LiDAR survey. We also present the results of a successful dynamic simulation for the July 24 event.     

The Cheam rock avalanche,Fraser Valley,British Columbia,Canada

The Cheam rock avalanche, which occurred about 5,000 years ago in the lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, is the largest known catastrophic landslide in western Canada (175×10⁶ m³). A photo-draped digital elevation model of the rock avalanche reveals two morphologically distinct areas, an eastern area of arcuate hummocky ridges separated by flat-floored depressions and a lower western area with a subdued, gently rolling surface. Debris is up to 30 m thick and consists of rubbly, clast- and matrix-supported diamicton derived from local argillaceous metasedimentary rocks. Failure was probably caused by high pore water pressures on a thrust fault that daylights in the source area. Plastic deformation of sediment beneath the rock avalanche debris suggests that liquefaction occurred due to undrained loading when the debris struck the Cheam terrace. Liquefaction also explains the morphology and travel distance of the western debris lobe. The coincidence of well-sorted sands (the Popkum Series soil) with the rock avalanche debris indicates that significant amounts of water flowed over the surface of the landslide just after it came to rest. Stó:lõ Nation oral history suggests that the debris may have buried a village, causing the first known landslide fatalities in Canada.     

从水井岩大型滑坡表面高温降解喷出物特征到汶川地震天然气体溢出爆炸模型

汶川大地震中XI级烈度区内水井岩滑坡现场等地爆炸声、特大型滑坡现场巨大环形坑和远距离抛射碎石等记录和现象,需给出科学解释。在地震发生后多次现场地质调查和走访、样品采集和多项分析测试及其结果比较等基础上,对主中央断裂F₂控制的下盘陈家坝水井岩大型滑坡体上环形坑周边不同距离范围内散落烧焦残留的硅酸盐和碳酸岩等采样后,开展了物质成分和微观结构分析。结果发现：与原生溶蚀灰岩、薄层煤岩结构和有机质成分不同,这些抛散在滑体表面的样品中富含经强烈高温作用的块石,一些成分以锰碳酸盐岩等为主的暗棕色样品中稠环芳烃是其经历过强烈热作用过程而使有机质发生环化芳构化反应的结果,即样品经过了强烈热降解作用,显示其形成时出现强烈热作用过程和高温裂解现象。结合本区地质构造特征和煤层气分布情况、地震后实施的汶川地震带深钻在穿越主中央断裂带F₂深度处监测到余震过程中甲烷含量异常增高、东河口地震遗址公园发现温泉及天然气溢出等资料和研究结果,讨论了地震诱发的富含甲烷的天然气爆炸,其加剧或伴生着地震次生地质灾害。由此推测：与碳质岩或煤系共存的喀斯特溶洞中封闭煤层气在地震过程中突溢和爆炸燃烧,叠加或放大了地震作用,结果在滑坡堆积体表面残留了多处环形爆炸坑,引发了一些岩块大规模长距离水平抛撒等。研究结果对监测和认识发震断层带在地震过程中天然气爆炸诱发和加剧滑坡灾害有重要意义。     

Study of kinematic characteristics of a rock avalanche and subsequent erosion process due to a debris flow in Wenjia gully,Sichuan, China

Natural Hazards - This paper aims to systematically study kinematic characteristics of Wenjiagou rock avalanche triggered by the M8.0 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and one of subsequent debris flows...     

Landscape and sedimentary response to catastrophic debris avalanches, western Taranaki, New Zealand

Catastrophic volcanic debris avalanches reshape volcanic edifices with up to half of pre-collapse cone volumes being removed. Deposition from this debris avalanche deposit often fills and inundates the surrounding landscape and may permanently change the distribution of drainage networks. On the weakly-incised Mt. Taranaki ring-plain, volcanic debris avalanche deposits typically form a large, wedge shape (in plan view), over all flat-lying fans. Following volcanic debris avalanches a period of intense re-sedimentation commonly begins on ring-plain areas, particularly in wet or temperate climates. This is exacerbated by large areas of denuded landscape, ongoing instability in the scarp/source region, damming of river/stream systems, and in some cases inherent instability of the volcanic debris avalanche deposits. In addition, on Mt. Taranaki, the collapse of a segment of the cone by volcanic debris avalanche often generates long periods of renewed volcanism, generating large volumes of juvenile tephra onto unstable and unvegetated slopes, or construction of new domes with associated rock falls and block-and-ash flows. The distal ring-plain impact from these post-debris avalanche conditions and processes is primarily accumulation of long run-out debris flow and hyperconcentrated flow deposits with a variety of lithologies and sedimentary character. Common to these post-debris avalanche units is evidence for high-water-content flows that are typically non-cohesive. Hence sedimentary variations in these units are high in lateral and longitudinal exposure in relation to local topography. The post-collapse deposits flank large-scale fans and hence similar lithological and chronological sequences can form on widely disparate sectors of the ring plain. These deposits on Mt. Taranaki provide a record of landscape response and ring-plain evolution in three stages that divide the currently identified Warea Formation: 1) the deposition of broad fans of material adjacent to the debris avalanche unit; 2) channel formation and erosion of Stage 1 deposits, primarily at the contact between debris avalanche deposits and the Stage 1 deposits and the refilling of these channels; and 3) the development of broad tabular sheet flows on top of the debris avalanche, leaving sediments between debris avalanche mounds. After a volcanic debris avalanche, these processes represent an ever changing and evolving hazard-scape with hazard maps needing to be regularly updated to take account of which stage the sedimentary system is in.     

翠华山山崩地质遗迹景观离散元数值模拟

城市地质遗迹景观调查研究是城市地质工作的一项重要内容,而探索地质遗迹景观的成因则是挖掘其科学价值和实施保护措施的关键问题。以中国山崩奇观的翠华山山崩为研究对象,采用典型天然地震记录作为地震输入条件,借助离散元动力分析模块,对翠华山山崩的动力响应规律进行了数值模拟,再现了地震山崩的启动、加速、解体、堆积的全过程。研究结果表明:地震惯性力作用使山体质点加速度和速度产生放大效应,特别是山体顶部的动力放大效应最为显著,加速度放大系数达2.0; 翠花山山崩具有高速远程的特点,其前缘的崩塌体最大水平速度达44ms-1,崩落水平距离达460m,堵塞沟谷形成堰塞湖; 地震山崩的整个破坏过程包括4个阶段,分别为启动阶段、加速阶段、减速阶段和堆积阶段。     

The Cascade rock avalanche: implications of a very large Alpine Fault-triggered failure,New Zealand

Catastrophic deep-seated rock slope failures (RSFs; e.g., rock avalanches) can be particularly useful proxies for fault rupture and strong ground motion, and currently represent an underappreciated hazard of earthquakes in New Zealand. This study presents observations of the previously undescribed Cascade rock avalanche (CRA), a c. 0.75 km³ single-event, long-runout, catastrophic failure interpreted to have been coseismically triggered by a large to great earthquake c. 660 AD on the Alpine Fault. Despite its size and remarkable preservation, the CRA deposit has been previously identified as a terminal moraine and fault-damaged outcrop, highlighting the common misinterpretation of similar rock avalanche deposits. Comparisons are drawn between the CRA and other Alpine Fault-attributed rock avalanches, such as the better-studied c. 860 AD Round Top rock avalanche, to re-assess coseismic rock avalanche hazard. Structural relationships indicate the rock mass comprising the CRA may have formerly been a portion of a larger (c. 3 km³) RSF, before its catastrophic collapse on a deep-seated gravitational collapse structure (sackung). Sackungen and RSFs are common throughout the Southern Alps and other mountainous regions worldwide; in many cases, they should be considered potential precursors to catastrophic failure events. Two masses of rock in the Cascade River Valley show precursory signs of potential catastrophic failures of up to c. 2 km³; a similar mass may threaten the town of Franz Josef.     

Characteristics and geomorphic effects of earthquake-initiated landslides in the adelbert range, Papua New Guinea

On November 1, 1970, an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 occurred 32 km north of Madang on the north coast of Papua New Guinea, and on the fringes of the Adelbert Range. Dense landsliding occurred over an area of 240 km². Debris avalanches removed shallow soil and forest vegetation from slopes of 45°. Earthflows occurred on deeper soils and lower-angled slopes. The nature of the landslides and disposition of the vegetation debris suggest that falling trees triggered the landslides during the earthquake. Logs in the deposits were an important influence on the movement of landslide debris in the channel systems.     

A 36Cl age determination for Mystery Creek rock avalanche and its implications in the context of hazard assessment, British Columbia, Canada

The Sea to Sky Corridor has experienced hundreds of historic and prehistoric landslides. The most common types of historical landslides are rock falls and debris flows, which are relatively small in volume but can be damaging. These types of failures are more common in the southern part of the corridor, between Horseshoe Bay and Porteau, where infrastructure has been built in close proximity to steep slopes. Farther north, fewer landslides have been reported historically, but those that have been recorded are usually large and date to prehistoric time (e.g., Cheekye fan and Mystery Creek rock avalanche). As part of a Geological Survey of Canada surficial geology and landslide inventory mapping study, Mystery Creek rock avalanche, near Whistler, British Columbia, was sampled for ³⁶Cl dating. Samples were collected from three large flat boulders of quartz diorite in the rock avalanche deposit to test a correlation with the previously reported radiocarbon age of 800 ± 100 years BP on charcoal. One sample revealed a mean age of 2,400 years and the other two, 4,300 and 4,800 years, respectively. These new results point to four possible interpretations: (1) Mystery Creek landslide is about 800 years old; (2) Based on the overlapping 2σ uncertainties, the rock avalanche took place between 2,200 and 3,600 years ago; (3) The rock avalanche deposit is 2,400 years old and the other two blocks are too old; and (4) The rock avalanche is between 4,300 and 4,800 years old. Although there is strength in numbers and it is likely that the age varies between 4,300 and 4,800 years, we favor the second interpretation where the age range is broader and statistically significant for all three samples. Moreover, at this time, we favor discounting the radiocarbon age based on a greater number of samples analyzed for ³⁶Cl analysis and lack of detailed information on the charcoal sampling. The causes and triggers of the Mystery Creek rock avalanche remain unknown, but direct glacial debuttressing can be ruled out. Some of the causes are likely a combination of the regional tectonic setting which produced preferential planes of weakness reflected in the trend of major faults, headscarp, and reverse scarps. Yearly cycles of freezing and thawing are considered a plausible cause based on present-day climate records. Finally, a large earthquake still remains a possible trigger because of the active tectonic setting and the presence of potentially contemporaneous landslides in the same area. Mystery Creek rock avalanche and other historic and pre-historic landslides contributed to validation of a heuristic rock fall/rock slide/rock avalanche susceptibility mapping study, in which their headscarps correlated well with medium-high to high susceptibility zones. In terms of hazard assessment, Mystery Creek rock avalanche, although pre-historic in age, occurred in present-day climatic and geological conditions. This poses a threat to infrastructure such as the Sea to Sky Highway, railway, and power line.     

汶川八级地震地质灾害研究

汶川地震触发了15000多处滑坡、崩塌、泥石流,估计直接造成2万人死亡。地质灾害隐患点达10000余多处,以崩塌体增加最为显著,反映出地震对山区高陡斜坡的影响差异性非常大,在山顶上的放大作用非常显著。通过综合分析堰塞湖库容、滑坡坝高以及坝体物质组成和结构,对地震形成的33处坝高大于10m的滑坡堰塞湖进行了评估,划分出极高、高、中和低4种溃决危险。汶川地震滑坡滑床往往不具连续平整的滑面,尖点撞击是极震区滑坡的一大共性,可以分为勺型滑床、凸型滑床和阶型滑床等类型。据实地调查,滑坡附近震毁建筑物垂向震动非常明显,具有地震抛掷撞击崩裂高速滑流三阶段特征。在高速滑流中,发生3种效应:(1)高速气垫效应,滑坡体由较大块石和土构成,具有一定厚度,飞行行程可达1~3km;(2)碎屑流效应,撞击粉碎的土石呈流动状态,特别是含水丰富时,形成长程流滑;(3)铲刮效应,巨大撞击力导致下部岩体崩裂,形成新滑坡、崩塌,但是,其厚度不大,滑床起伏不平。本文以北川城西滑坡和青川东河口滑坡为例,分析了地震滑坡高速远程滑动及成灾机理。北川县城城西滑坡导致1600人被埋死亡,数百间房屋被毁,是汶川地震触发的最严重的滑坡灾难,举世罕见。青川东河口滑坡碎屑流是汶川地震触发的较为典型的高速远程复合型滑坡,滑程约2400m,高速碎屑流冲抵清江河左岸,形成滑坡坝,致使7个村庄被埋,约400人死亡。     

Rock avalanches of the Ardon River valley at the southern foot of the Rocky Range,Northern Caucasus,North Osetia

Deposits of very large rock avalanches were identified at the southern foot of the Rocky Range of the Northern Caucasus. Cliffs facing the Ardon River are 1–1.5 km high and composed of Cretaceous and upper Jurassic, hard, crystaline limestone, underlain by softer, middle Jurassic shale, siltstone and sandstone flysh. The largest rock avalanche, at Karivhoh, is ~2×10⁹ m³ in volume, travelled more than 7 km, and covered about 18 km² with deposits up to 200–300 m thick. All rock-avalanche bodies are composed of intensively crushed debris overlain by a blocky carapace. Numerous subsequent landslides develop within these deposits, and pose a threat to villages built on them.     

A statistical approach to evaluate debris avalanche activity in central Virginia

On August 19–20, 1969, the heavy rainfall associated with hurricane Camille triggered numerous debris avalanches in the Blue Ridge Province of central Virginia. Most slope movements occurred in Nelson County in an area that is predominantly underlain by Precambrian granites, gneisses, and schists. This study was undertaken to determine which geotechnical properties of soil and rock were important in promoting debris avalanche activity in central Virginia.

Twenty-one first-order drainage basins in Nelson County were randomly selected and classified as unstable based on their values of horizontal curvature and average gradient as measured on topographic maps. Slope orientation, total soil thickness, and soil horizon thicknesses were measured in the field. Soils from the study basins were tested for geotechnical properties including natural water content, grain-size distribution, Atterberg limits,in situ dry density, and shear strength. These geomorphic and geotechnical properties were subsequently analyzed to ascertain what significant differences existed at the 99% confidence level between three failure classes of unstable basins. Where rock outcrops were present, information regarding discontinuity type, orientation, spacing, continuity, roughness, waviness, aperture, and water quantity was obtained. Values of hand sample hardness were also procured. The role of these bedrock characteristics in determining unstable basin failure class was statistically analyzed at the 95% confidence level.

In general, the results indicate that basins classified as geomorphically unstable are particularly susceptible to debris avalanche activity if they contain coarse-grained soils with low values of plasticity index and moisture content. Geotechnical properties are also found to be significantly different when analyzed with respect to the underlying bedrock unit, which helps explain why basins underlain by certain bedrock units failed more often than basins underlain by other bedrock units. Differences in topography, due to the nature of the underlying bedrock unit, also explain the frequency of debris avalanche occurrences in a given bedrock unit. Characteristics of bedrock discontinuities do not appear to have influenced drainage basin failure.     

The Keylong Serai rock avalanche, NW Indian Himalaya: geomorphology and palaeoseismic implications

This paper describes the geomorphology of rock avalanche deposits that resulted from a major mountain slope failure at Keylong Serai on the north slope of the Indian High Himalaya, an area of high altitude desert. Cosmogenic ¹⁰Be exposure ages of the widespread deposits indicate their formation 7,510 ± 110 years BP. Proxy records for this region of the Himalaya imply a similar dry climatic regime to the present day at this time, suggesting that precipitation was an unlikely trigger for this rock avalanche. An alternative mechanism associated with rock-wall stress relaxation is also unlikely, given the earlier timing of deglaciation in this area. Given the enormous volume of debris generated by this event, the most likely trigger for this mountain collapse and resultant rock avalanche is high ground acceleration during a great earthquake (M > 8). It is proposed that rock avalanches can be used to extend the limited palaeoseismic record and improve information on the recurrence interval of great earthquakes within the Himalaya arc.     

Transport process and mechanism of the Hongshiyan rock avalanche triggered by the 2014 Ludian earthquake,China

The Hongshiyan rock avalanche is a remarkable landslide disaster with approximately volume of 12?×?10⁶ m³, triggered by the 2014 Ms. 6.5 Ludian earthquake in Yunnan Province, China. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis by the model based on discrete element (DEM-based) numerical simulation to understand the transport process and mechanism for this rock avalanche. The simulation results showed that the transport process of the rock avalanche depends on the input seismic duration and motion. The average velocity of the rock avalanche sharply increases to peak value of 27 m/s and then gradually decreases to zero, and 64% and 36% of the total energy are dissipated by collision and friction, respectively. In this process, the progressions from simple disintegration along pre-existing discontinuities to fragmentation that creates new fracture surface are documented, and gradual increase of the fragmentation degree over time results in the decrease of fragment size and the formation of well-graded and narrower-interval gradation. This fragmentation evolution creates a conductive condition to the development of internal shear, and is closely associated with the dense flow regime that dominates the main body of the rock avalanche but presents discontinuous distribution along the flow thickness direction. In addition, further analyzing the simulated results indicates that more likely effects of fragmentation on mobility of rock avalanches depend on fragmentation-induced special flow structure, which makes a rock avalanche in a flow state with lower friction and lower energy consumption.

     

Research on catastrophic rock avalanche at Guanling, Guizhou, China

On June 28, 2010, a catastrophic rock avalanche occurred after an extreme rainstorm at Guanling with N 25°59′10′′ in latitude and E 105°16′50′′ in longitude, Guizhou, China. This rock avalanche has a long run-out distance of 1.5 km, with 1.75 million cubic meters of debris instantly burying two villages and resulting in 99 deaths. It originated in the coal measure strata, with the upper part of limestone and dolomite, the middle part of the sandstone with gentle inclination, and the lower part of shale and mudstone, together locally with coals. This kind of unique structure, with hard resistant caprock overlying softer ductile rocks, coupled with the central outflow region at the contact zone, has catastrophic potential for rock avalanches and creates challenges for engineering geological/hydrogeological analysis. The topography showed that the hillside slopes were steeper at the upper portion but gentler in the lower portion, looked like the shape of a “boot.” The upper steep landform easily led to slope instability due to its high static shear stresses, and the wide middle and lower parts provided kinematic conditions for long run-out. Transformation of the larger potential energy into kinetic energy contributed to the formation of a rapid long run-out rock avalanche. The rainfall from June 27 to 28 was the apparent trigger of this catastrophic avalanche. The measured rainfall of more than 310 mm within 24 h exceeded the local historical records that were recorded over the last 60 years. The pore pressure on discontinuities of sandstone had an effect on the slope stability. The valley runoff supplied a saturated base for the long run-out debris, inducing an additional increase of the terminus distance and the increased velocity of the avalanche movement.