A large and rapid planar failure: causes,mechanism, and consequences (Mordut,Gumushane, Turkey)

Gumushane is a small city located on highway connecting the harbour city Trabzon in the Black Sea Region of Turkey to the Eastern Anatolia. Following an excavation to create an area for housing on the northeast side of this highway, a large and rapid planar failure inclined to the southwest occurred. A large amount of fractured and weathered granitic material moved downward over this planar failure. After the failure, the highway was closed to traffic for 1 week, and more than ten houses on top of this failure were collapsed completely. The present study aims to investigate the mechanism of this failure. The study was performed using kinematical, limit equilibrium and numerical analyses for both post- and pre-failure conditions. Based on the detailed field observations, the failure mode was determined to be planar, and the slide mechanism was determined to be controlled by three fault planes. As a result of these analyses, it can be concluded that the slope before failure had critical conditions and that the excavation and uncontrolled blasting triggered and accelerated the slope failure.     

Formation and characteristics of the Xiaoba landslide in Fuquan,Guizhou, China

On August 27, 2014, a large-scale landslide occurred in Fuquan, Guizhou, China. This high-speed landslide caused considerable destruction; 23 people were killed, 22 were injured, and 77 houses were damaged. Field investigations, deformation monitoring, and numerical analyses have been performed to examine the characteristics and formation processes of this landslide. In the Xiaoba area, the slope showed a two-layered structure with a hard upper layer and a soft lower layer. Dolomite of the Dengying Formation in the slope front formed a locked segment controlling slope stability. Based on deformation and failure characteristics, the landslide is divided into sliding source area A and accumulation area B. The landslide is also divided into the following stages: bedding slip, tension cracking at the slope scarp, and the appearance of the locked section at the slope toe. Numerical calculations show that excavation led to maximum shear strain concentration along the interface of siltstone and slate in the middle of the slope, which became a potential sliding surface. Stress concentration and distribution of the plastic zone of the locked segment of the Dengying Formation dolomite occurred in the slope toe. Continuous rainfall caused the groundwater level to rise in the Xiaoba slope. The unfavorable geological structure was a determinant factor, and the combined effects of excavation and continuous rainfall were triggering factors that induced the landslide. The geomechanical mode for the Xiaoba landslide is sliding tension–shear failure.     

Charnockite bedrock,Chennai coast,Tamil Nadu: Micromorphology and geochemical signatures in stages of the weathering processes

Occurrences of landslide are most common and critical issue in North-East India. The various types of slope failures have been affected most part of slopes and road section between Malidor to Sonapur area (approx 30 Km) along NH-44 within Jaintia hills district, Meghalaya, India. These slope failures causes considerable loss of life and property along with many inconveniences such as disruption of traffic along highways. The unscientific excavations of rock slopes for road widening or construction purposes may weaken the stability of the slopes. The rocks exposed in the area are highly jointed sandstone and shale of Barail Group of Oligocene age. The Sonapur landslide is most dangerous and destructive rock fall-cum debris flow. The present study includes the kinematic analysis of the slope to assess the potential failure directions as the rocks are highly jointed in some parts of road cut sections. The continuous slope mass rating (CSMR) technique has been applied for slope stability analysis at five vulnerable locations. Kinematic analysis indicates mainly wedge type of failure along with few toppling and planar failures. These failure required immediate treatment to prevent the slide and long term stability of the slope.     

坡脚开挖诱发古滑坡复活的机制分析

黄土地区存在许多古滑坡体,由于滑后土体土质疏松,裂隙发育,在坡脚开挖作用下极易发生变形破坏,造成大量财产损失,同时也对开挖施工安全构成了极大的威胁,因此对坡脚开挖诱发古滑坡复活的失稳机制的研究十分迫切和必要。以延安市王窑村滑坡为例,通过室内试验分析了三轴应力环境下围压、含水量对土体变形破坏的影响,并运用数值模拟研究了开挖过程中最危险滑面上的应力及强度变化趋势,揭示了坡脚开挖诱发古滑坡复活的变形破坏机理。研究结果表明:坡脚开挖改变了坡体中下部的应力分布,抗滑段土方开挖减小了滑坡抗滑力,增大了下滑力,最终滑坡下滑力超过抗滑力,导致古滑坡复活。     

The 1979 Abbotsford Landslide, Dunedin, New Zealand: a retrospective look at its nature and causes

The Abbotsford Landslide of 8 August 1979 occurred in an urban area of Dunedin, New Zealand, causing much damage to houses and urban infrastructure. Rapid failure occurred after weeks of preliminary movements, resulting in the formation of a approximately 5 million m³ block slide. It caused the loss of 69 houses, with an overall cost of about NZ $10–13 million. After several months of investigations, a commission of inquiry found that unfavorable geology (weak clay layers in a 7°-dip slope) was the underlying cause of the landslide. An old sand quarry at the toe of the slope and a leaking water main above the slide area were found to be man-made factors that contributed to the failure. Slope stability analysis showed that after sand excavation (approximately 300,000 m³), the water table had to rise 0.3 m less for failure to occur. Because the quarry closed 10 years before the landslide occurred, it is concluded that a long-term rise in groundwater levels because of the increased rainfall over the previous decade and leakage from the water main controlled the timing of the failure and, in this sense, are considered to have triggered the landslide.     

Stability assessment of slide zones in Lesser Himalayan part of Yamunotri pilgrimage route,Uttarakhand, India

The present study deals with the slope stability analysis and geotechnical assessment of a part of pilgrimage route to one of the holy shrines of India, i.e. Yamunotri. The route also embraces a proposed site for 204 m high concrete gravity dam across River Yamuna near Lakhwar village with the aim of generation of 300 MW power. Several slide zones were identified and based on the discontinuity orientation, structural features and debris materials, they are recognised as planar, wedge or circular failure types. The morphological dimensions, structural data, orientations and geotechnical parameters of circular failure slides within weathered quartzites, phyllites and shales were evaluated by extensive field work and by laboratory tests for their stability analysis. Internal mechanisms, cohesion and angle of internal friction that resist shear stress in slope materials, obtained from direct shear test are showing minor variation due to relatively consistent grain size distribution and mineralogical composition. General slope is about 40°–43° with sparse vegetation. Materials in and around slide zones are sands with appreciable amount of fines falling in SP–SM category as per Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), except Niste B slide which has clean sands lying in SP group. Factor of safety, computed by requisite parameters of strength, soil and slope properties in circular failure charts, varies from 1.02 to 1.23 in dry conditions while it reduces below unity with increasing saturation, representing stable conditions in dry conditions but with seepage and saturation along the cracks and discontinuities during rainfall make them unstable. Presence of steep slopes, proximity to stream channels and significant weathered and jointed area are causative factors in the route with rainfall and road widening as major triggers initiating the failure.     

Progressive evolution and failure behavior of a Holocene river-damming landslide in the SE Tibetan Plateau,China

This paper presents a study on an ancient river-damming landslide in the SE Tibet Plateau, China, with a focus on time-dependent gravitational creep leading to slope failure associated with progressive fragmentation during motion. Field investigation shows that the landslide, with an estimated volume of 4.9?×?10⁷ m³, is a translational toe buckling slide. Outcrops of landslide deposits, buckling, toe shear, residual landslide dam, and lacustrine sediments are distributed at the slope base. The landslide deposits formed a landslide dam over 60 m high and at one time blocked the Jinsha River. Optically stimulated luminescence dating for the lacustrine sediments indicates that the landslide occurred at least 2,600 years ago. To investigate the progressive evolution and failure behavior of the landslide, numerical simulations using the distinct element method are conducted. The results show that the evolution of the landslide could be divided into three stages: a time-dependent gravitational creep process, rapid failure, and granular flow deposition. It probably began as a long-term gravitationally induced buckling of amphibolite rock slabs along a weak interlayer composed of mica schist which was followed by progressive fragmentation during flow-like motion, evolving into a flow-like movement, which deposited sediments in the river valley. According to numerical modeling results, the rapid failure stage lasted 35 s from the onset of sudden failure to final deposition, with an estimated maximum movement rate of 26.8 m/s. The simulated topography is close to the post-landslide topography. Based on field investigation and numerical simulation, it can be found that the mica schist interlayer and bedding planes are responsible for the slope instability, while strong toe erosion caused by the Jinsha River caused the layered rock mass to buckle intensively. Rainfall or an earthquake cannot be ruled out as a potential trigger of the landslide, considering the climate condition and the seismic activity on centennial to millennial timescales in the study area.

     

The Murang'a landslide, Kenya

On 15 May 1991, a landslide occurred at Gacharage Village in the Murang'a District of Kenya; it buried a house near the toe of a cliff, killing all eight residents in their sleep. The principal determining factors of the slide were a high, mechanically unstable slope of deeply weathered volcanic soil and a high sorption capacity of the surface soil layer. The slide was triggered by rapid saturation of the soil following a heavy downpour. Based on field investigations and laboratory studies, this paper discusses the physical properties and environmental factors that affected slope stability at Murang'a. It also points out the economic and social impact of landslides in the region and suggests remedial measures.     

Characteristics and remediation of a landslide complex triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan, China earthquake-case from Yingxiu near the earthquake epicenter

During the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the river valley from Yingxiu to Wenchuan experienced numerous landslides and became a prominent area of landslide complexes. The present large landslide complex near the earthquake epicenter consisted of Laohuzui slide 1, Laohuzui slide 2 and Douyaping slide. The scale, geology, morphology, sliding process, and failure mechanism of the landslide complex are analyzed by means of field investigation, aerial photograph and stereographic projection technique. Characteristics of these three slides including seismic response of slope, landslide debris, damage and potential failure are discussed: the convex slope and the upslope of fractured granitic rock at high altitude are highly prone to landsliding under earthquake; the high source altitude and long travel path determine grain sizes and the deposit angle of the slide debris; the landslide complex completely buries the G213 roadway and dams up the Minjiang River in these sections; after the earthquake, rainfall, aftershocks and river erosion may retrigger new failures, such as retrogressive slide of weathered fractured rock, colluvial landslide, debris flow, embankment failure and rockfall. The following are presented as suggested remedial measures to protect the roadway and stabilize the slope: the removing and trenching, protective concrete/rock blocks against erosion, retaining structure, rockfall stopping wall, rockfall restraining net, rock bolt, and the planting of vegetation.     

The July 1, 2017 Wangjiawan landslide in Ningxiang County,China

Many landslides were triggered by heavy rainfall from 29 June to 1 July 2017 in Ningxiang County, Hunan Province, China. A field investigation into one of the landslides, known as the Wangjiawan landslide, was undertaken on July 3, 2017, to understand the landslide mechanisms and the factors that triggered the event. The landslide is a translational and rotational slide that degraded downslope to an earth flow. It occurred on a steeply dipping mud-rich slate intercalation. Field investigation shows that the landslide had a movement rate of more than 25 m/s and had been triggered by up to 338 mm of continuous rainfall over 2 days. The landslide was fast-moving because it occurred on a steep slope and showed a rapid reduction in shear strength. The landslide resulted in nine fatalities and 19 injuries, most during initial rescue efforts. To mitigate a possible secondary landslide disaster, later emergency measures including evacuation of the survivors, setting up warning signs, and covering landslide cracks with plastic sheeting were adopted.     

四川省雷-马-屏监狱通木溪滑坡形成机制分析与稳定性评价

通木溪滑坡为一老滑坡。其前缘为滑坡强变形区；中部为弱变形区；上部为老滑坡区。滑坡复活始于1998年。2001年滑坡发生。造成5400m^2的建筑变形破坏，直接经济损失300多万元。老滑坡的形成是滑坡复活的基础条件之一。中部生活用水入渗滑体滑带，大量建筑物加载，修筑公路局部开挖坡脚，前缘通木溪河常年掏蚀坡脚及降雨冲刷坡体和入渗补给滑体滑带成为滑坡前部复活的重要诱因。目前，老滑坡处于稳定状态。弱变形区和强变形区处于欠稳定一基本稳定状态。滑体饱水及地震工况下，强、弱变形区均处于欠一不稳定状态，且强变形区稳定性最差。横向上，中部稳定性较两侧差；纵向上，滑坡中前部稳定性比后部差。因此，开展对该滑坡的形成机制研究，将具有十分重要的现实意义。     

延安市阳崖黄土边坡开挖破坏离心模拟试验研究

人工开挖是黄土地区滑坡形成的主要诱发因素之一,开挖导致斜坡一定范围内产生卸荷回弹和应力重分布,斜坡应力重新平衡的过程伴随着斜坡形变,甚至破坏。延安市宝塔区枣园镇阳崖滑坡为典型开挖诱发的黄土边坡,本文选取阳崖滑坡为地质原型,采用TLJ-500大型土工离心机对边坡坡脚开挖状态下变形破坏过程进行模拟试验,通过对模型控制点监测数据分析,研究边坡坡脚开挖前后坡体形变位移特征、坡体内部土压力响应特征以及边坡变形破坏机理。结果表明:坡脚开挖后临空面附近产生局部垮塌,其坡体位移、潜在滑移面以及拉张裂缝均由坡体前缘往后部渐进性变化发展。开挖后坡体内部产生明显的应力松弛,且越靠近开挖面卸荷效应越明显,开挖主要影响坡体的中前部分,对坡体后部影响较小甚至无影响,分析得知坡体变形破坏机理为典型的渐进后退式。     

Geotechnical characteristics of volcanic soil from seismically induced Aratozawa landslide, Japan

This paper seeks to investigate the properties of volcanic soil from the Aratozawa landslide, the largest failure triggered by the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku earthquake, Japan. The Aratozawa landslide, which extended about 1,200 m long and 800 m wide, consisted of a complex system of ridges and depressions, including a number of smaller failures that occurred within the slide body. Field investigation was carried out to study the geotechnical properties of pumice that was exposed at the scarp of two smaller slides. The pumice was found to be heavily weathered, having low dry density and high moisture content. Portable cone penetration tests were performed to evaluate the in situ properties of soil as well as to determine the thickness of the weathered zone. Laboratory examination included slake-durability tests, grain-size distribution analysis, and a series of cyclic loading triaxial compression tests conducted on undisturbed and reconstituted samples. Laboratory test data indicated that the soil had a high potential for generation of excess pore-water pressures, suggesting that liquefaction might have occurred in the weathered mass of pumice during the earthquake.     

Finite element modeling approach to assess the stability of debris and rock slopes: a case study from the Indian Himalayas

Landslides and slope failures are recurrent phenomena in the Indian Himalayas. The study area comprises the hill slopes along a road stretch of 1.5 km at a distance of 9 km from Pipalkoti on Chamoli–Badrinath highway (NH-58) in the Garhwal Himalayas, India. Based on the field survey, contour map, and the hillshade, the study area has been divided into different zones. Three different zones/slopes in this study area including one potential debris slide, one stable debris slope, and one potential rock slide have been undertaken for investigation and modeling. Field mapping, data collection related to slope features and soil/rock sample collection, and discontinuity mapping for all the slopes have been carried out in field. Soil samples have been tested in the laboratory to determine the physico-mechanical properties. These properties along with some material properties from the literature have been used as input parameters for the numerical simulation. To investigate the failure process in the debris/rock slides as well as stable debris slope, the slopes were modeled as a continuum using 2D finite element plain strain approach. Shear strength reduction analysis was performed to determine the critical strength reduction factor. The computed deformations and the stress distributions, along the failure surface, have been compared with the field observations and found to be in good agreement. The analysis results indicated rock/debris slide slopes to be highly unstable. The debris slide modeling depicted failures both above and below road levels as observed in field. The rock slide modeling could depict the exact pattern of failure involving 3 sets of discontinuities simultaneously as observed in real-field scenario which is a major limitation in case of limit equilibrium analysis. The field-observed stable slope comes to be stable through FE analysis also. Based on these analyses, landslide hazard assessment of the study area could be done.     

Development of Taprang landslide,West Nepal

This paper is about a large landslide located at Taprang, on the right bank of the Madi River in the west Nepal Himalaya. It attempts to reconstruct the evolution of the landslide from its initial state to the present conditions. Many large landslides involve multiple failure incidents in different times to attain their present size and shape. The Taprang landslide has also been active for more than 75 years and experienced many failure episodes. The slide lies in a very complex geological setting characterized by the presence of Main Central Thrust and some other folds as well as several joint sets and shear zones. It is developed on weathered graphitic schists, highly fractured and jointed quartzites, marbles, gneisses, and a few amphibolites. Landslide mapping revealed that the rocks are deformed and fractured. They have also undergone intense weathering. Laboratory analysis of rock and soil samples collected from the landslide and surrounding area shows that the weathered rocks, joint infillings, and shear zones are rich in clay minerals, especially smectite and montmorillonite having swelling properties. Besides, hydrologic, climatic, and anthropogenic factors operating simultaneously since a long time have also contributed significantly to the enlargement of the slide. The study indicates that the landslide has a high potential of future enlargement towards upper slopes.     

Reservoir induced landslide at Assar,Jammu and Kashmir: A case study

In February 2009, a huge landslide occurred at Assar in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir state. The slide triggered after the reservoir level of the Baglihar dam increased from initial water level of 850 m to 870 m. The impounding of reservoir water created high angle scarps at number of fossil slide sites on either side of the river within the reservoir area. One such scarp (about 250 m long) at Assar caused a huge landslide washing out about 150 m road stretch. The sliding material is dominated by finer fraction (71.5 %) of micaceous silty sand and coarser fraction of gravel to boulder size. Over saturation of the slope forming material, weak rocks and high absorption and swelling nature of the soil, high slope angle and toe cutting by the water are the main reasons that triggered this slide.     

四川省盐源玻璃村特大型玄武岩古滑坡复活机制

受前期14 d持续累计350.6 mm降雨影响,2018年7月19日盐源玻璃村一巨型玄武岩古滑坡体发生大规模复活,复活体积为1 390×104 m3,损坏房屋186间,造成重大经济损失。基于现场调查、无人机航测、钻探揭露、物理力学试验及数值模拟分析,在查明滑坡体地质结构、失稳特征基础上,对其影响因素及复活机制进行了探讨。研究结果表明,破碎岩土体及地形地貌是滑坡复活的孕灾基础,持续降雨及其引起的地下水位升高是滑坡复活的诱发因素。复活滑坡可分为主滑区和侧滑区两种破坏模式不同的区域。降雨作用下滑坡体内渗流场明显变化,孔隙水压力增大,导致7月13日古滑坡体开始发生变形,稳定性系数逐渐降低。受微地貌约束,主滑区具有多级、多次失稳,渐进破坏的特点。侧滑区斜坡前缘临空条件受坡脚主滑坡控制,在主滑坡运动过程中,侧滑区坡体位移量、最大剪切应变增量逐渐增大,塑性区扩展,破坏过程表现出与主滑坡一定的关联性和滞后性。分析表明,受地下水长期影响,滑带土体强度逐渐削弱,降雨导致坡体渗流作用加剧,抗剪强度降低,从而诱发滑坡复活。     

北京市戒台寺滑坡发生发展机理研究

戒台寺滑坡位于北京市门头沟区马鞍山的北麓,马鞍山背斜的北翼,组成边坡的岩性较为软弱。由于多期构造运动的影响,岩体中裂隙发育,岩体结构破碎,风化卸荷严重。边坡为顺倾结构,边坡中顺倾坡外的软弱夹层、软弱结构面及断层发育,它们分别为边坡的滑动提供了滑动面和切割面的作用。由于边坡中岩层倾角大于边坡的坡度,因此并没有剪出的临空面,只是一个受特定边坡结构控制的蠕变体。但是近年来在胜利煤矿和石厂煤矿的大规模采掘Ⅳ级平台山梁下煤层影响下,形成采空移动盆地,造成Ⅳ级平台山梁整体塌陷,客观上为蠕变体提供了变形空间,引起戒台寺SN向山梁Ⅰ～Ⅲ级平台坡体依附于断层破碎带或软弱夹层的松弛,导致各块坡体沿软弱结构面向临空产生蠕动和滑动。采石场大药量爆破的地震波的频繁作用影响,使坡体内的构造结构面扩展松弛张开,表水易于下渗,岩体强度及变形特性显著降低,斜坡稳定性对降雨入渗的敏感性显著提高,最终导致了蠕变体变形的加速。     

强度折减法在高含水滑坡稳定性分析中的应用

文章依据滑坡体岩体破碎、地下水丰富、坡体含水量高、滑坡面积大、厚度小、稳定性差等特点,选取青海省麦秀山1^#滑坡为例。结合麦秀山地区的工程地质特点,利用FLAC-3D有限差分程序,基于强度折减法对该滑坡进行了稳定性分析。通过对滑体岩土体强度指标的折减,模拟地下水对岩土体的影响,当边坡的塑性区由坡脚贯通至坡顶、坡体上特征点的位移值产生突变,且无限制的增长时,认为边坡达到临界破坏状态,此时的强度折减系数即为滑坡的稳定系数,同时可得到滑坡失稳破坏的潜在滑动带,以揭示滑坡的失稳破坏机理。分析计算表明：强度折减法不仅能够模拟出滑坡渐进破坏的过程,而且所求得的稳定系数更符合滑坡的实际状态,在滑坡稳定性分析中具有明显的优势。     

Assessment of a coastal landslide subjected to building loads at Sinop, Black Sea region, Turkey, and stabilization measures

The large landslides along the Black Sea shore in Turkey are well-known instability phenomena and responsible for considerable economic losses each year. The severity of the problem increased particularly in recent years as increased scarcity of land forced utilization of inherently unstable areas. In 1988, severe rainstorms at the city of Sinop on the Black Sea shore triggered ground movements on a gentle coastal slope subjected to building loads and caused extensive damage to buildings founded on the slope. Comprehensive investigations of the failure were carried out and used to establish a geotechnical model for the slide. The model allowed consideration of building loads and different groundwater conditions. In addition, the model studies were complimented by limit-equilibrium and finite-element stress analyses. The results indicated movements on a circular sliding surface through stiff clay. The toe of the landslide is located at the shoreline and remains active. The failure was probably initiated by rising groundwater level combined with surcharge loads imposed by buildings on the slope. Other contributing factors include sand extraction and coastal erosion. Remedial works are recommended involving a rockfill buttress at the toe of the slide and drainage improvements on the surface of the slope.