Formation process of two massive dams following rainfall-induced deep-seated rapid landslide failures in the Kii Peninsula of Japan

Extreme heavy rainfall due to Typhoon Talas on September 2–4, 2011 in the Kii Peninsula, Japan, triggered numerous floods and landslides. This study investigates the mechanism and the entire process of rainfall-induced deep-seated landslides forming two massive dams in the Kuridaira and Akatani valleys, respectively. The mechanism of the rapid deep-seated landslides is examined through a series of laboratory experiments on samples from sliding surfaces by using undrained high-stress dynamic-loading ring-shear apparatus. The test results indicate that the failure of samples is triggered by excess pore water pressure generation under a shear displacement from 2 to 7 mm with a pore pressure ratio ranging from 0.33 to 0.37. The rapid movement of landslides is mainly attributed to high mobility due to the liquefaction behavior of both sandstone-rich and shale samples. Geomorphic settings and landslide mobility are major contributing factors to the dam formation. Additionally, shear displacement control tests show that a certain amount of shear displacement between 2 and 7 mm along the sliding surfaces of the gravitationally deformed slopes might have led to the failures. Importantly, computer simulation with LS-RAPID software using input parameters obtained from physical experiments is employed to interpret the entire formation process of the abovementioned two landslide dams. The simulation results are examined in accordance with the observed on-site geomorphic features and recorded data to explain the possibility of sliding processes. The results further point out that local failures are initiated from the lower middle part of the landslide bodies where the geological boundary exists. This condition most probably influences the landslide initiation in the two case studies. This research is therefore helpful for hazard assessment of slopes that are susceptible to deep-seated landslides and other sequential processes in areas with geology and geomorphology similar to that of the Kii Peninsula.     

地震诱发的高速远程滑坡过程中土结构破坏和土粒子破碎引起的两种不同的液化机理

本文的主要目的是探讨地震诱发的高速远程滑坡的液化机理。通过排水和不排水环剪的对比试验,以及对地震诱发的不同类型的滑坡实例的现场调查,考察了土结构破坏和土粒子破碎产生的滑动带液化的不同机理。土结构破坏引起的液化在滑坡发生时即可产生,而土粒子破碎引起的液化需要在滑动过程中产生。在此基础上提出了滑动带向滑体内的扩展模型,并分析了两种液化机理引起的滑坡体形态的差异。本文的独到之处在于揭示了土粒子破碎对高速远程滑坡的重要影响,强调了在滑坡灾害预测研究中必须同等重视滑坡体结构和土粒子易破碎性的调查分析。     

Mechanism of two rapid and long-runout landslides in the 16 April 2016 Kumamoto earthquake using a ring-shear apparatus and computer simulation (LS-RAPID)

Around hundred landslides were triggered by the Kumamoto earthquakes in April 2016, causing fatalities and serious damage to properties in Minamiaso village, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The landslides included many rapid and long-runout landslides which were responsible for much of the damage. To understand the mechanism of these earthquake-triggered landslides, we carried out field investigations with an unmanned aerial vehicle to obtain DSM and took samples from two major landslides (Takanodai landslide and Aso-ohashi landslide) to measure parameters of the initiation and the motion of landslides. A series of ring-shear tests and computer simulations were conducted using a measured Kumamoto earthquake acceleration record from KNet station KMM005, 10 km west of Aso-ohashi landslide. The research results supported our assumed mechanism of sliding-surface liquefaction for the rapid and long-runout motion of these landslides.     

On the initiation and movement mechanisms of a catastrophic landslide triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan (M<Subscript>s</Subscript> 8.0) earthquake in the epicenter area

The Niumiangou landslide (~7.5 × 10⁶ m³) was the largest that occurred in the town of Yingxiu (the epicentral area) during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. This landslide originated on a steep slope (~30°) that was located directly above the rupture surface of the responsible fault and then traveled ~2 km after flowing down the axes of two gently sloping (<12°) valleys. Evidence at the site indicates that the landslide materials were highly fluidized and underwent rapid movement. To examine the initiation and movement mechanisms of this landslide, we performed a detailed field survey, conducted laboratory tests on samples taken from the field, and analyzed the seismic motion. We conclude that the landside materials were displaced due to seismic loading during the earthquake and that liquefaction may have been triggered in saturated layers above the sliding surface with progressive downslope sliding, which resulted in the high mobility of the displaced materials. The liquefaction of colluvial deposits along the travel path due to loading by the sliding mass enhanced the mobility of the displaced mass originating in the source area. Using an energy-based approach, we estimated the dissipated energy in our cyclic loading test and the possible energy dissipated to the soil layer on the slope by the earthquake. We infer that the seismic energy available for the initiation of the slope failure in the source area may have greatly exceeded the amount required for the initiation of the liquefaction failure. The slope instability might have been triggered several seconds after the arrival of seismic motion.     

高速远程地震黄土滑坡发生机制试验研究

1920年海原大地震触发了多处典型高速远程地震黄土滑坡,本文在对西吉党家岔滑坡进行野外调研的基础上,采集了具有代表性的滑带土作为试验样品,以1940年5月18日美国帝国谷强震记录作为波动输入,利用DPRI环剪试验机,对该滑坡的发生机制进行了一系列环剪试验研究。结果表明,地震发生时,坡体潜在滑面的滑带土在强震作用下发生的滑动面液化（Sliding surface liquefaction）现象是导致高速远程滑坡形成的一个重要因素。伴随着滑动面液化过程,滑体产生了逐渐增大的剪切位移及孔隙水压力（地震力作用结束瞬间已分别达到2.03m及104kPa）,并获得了较大的速度,为高速远程滑坡的发生提供了条件。     

Mechanism of a long-runout landslide triggered by the August 1998 heavy rainfall in Fukushima Prefecture,Japan

Heavy rainfall from 26 to 31 August 1998 triggered many landslides in Nishigo Village of southern Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The Hiegaesi landslide, a long-runout landslide with travel angle of 11°, which occurred in loamy volcanic-ash/pumice layer and was deposited in a nearby rice paddy, was investigated. In an observation pit dug in the middle part of the landslide deposit, the sliding zone just above the deflected rice plants was observed, and it was confirmed that grain crushing occurred in the sliding zone. The triggering and sliding mechanisms of this landslide then were investigated by ring-shear tests in laboratory. For the triggering mechanism, one saturated naturally drained test (test A: torque-controlled test) and one saturated undrained test (test B: speed-controlled test) were conducted on the samples taken from the source area of the landslide. Even in the naturally drained test opening the upper drain valve of the shear box, a temporary liquefaction occurred. In the undrained test, excess pore-pressure was generated along with shearing, and “sliding-surface liquefaction” phenomenon was observed. The effective stress and shear resistance finally decreased to near zero. These results can explain the observed phenomenon of small friction resistance like a flow of liquid when the sliding mass slid out of the source area. For the sliding mechanism of the landslide in the rice paddy, saturated undrained test (test C: speed-controlled test) was performed on soil sample above the deflected rice plants. The apparent friction angle obtained in this test was 8°. In addition, the residual friction angle measured after test B and test C was the same value of 41°. Combining with the observation on the shear zone in the ring-shear box after test C, it is concluded that, during the sliding in rice paddy, the undrained shear strength of the soil layer itself mainly influenced the high mobility of the landslide, probably because the friction between rice plants and soils is greater than the undrained shear strength inside the soil mass.     

黄土滑坡研究现状与设想

黄土滑坡因其危害大、分布广成为近年工程地质研究热点问题。首先对黄土滑坡类型划分进行了讨论,基于滑坡物质组成及主滑面发育位置的黄土滑坡分类方案反映了我国黄土滑坡的主控因素,各类滑坡活动特征明确,建议将其作为黄土滑坡分类的首选方案。对黄土滑坡的发生、滑动机制以及滑坡液化机制进行了评述,并就两类典型液化型黄土滑坡滑动模式、进一步研究思路进行了讨论。对地震诱发黄土滑坡进行了专门的述评。最后,对今后黄土滑坡研究提出了几点设想。     

Landslide risk evaluation and hazard zoning for rapid and long-travel landslides in urban development areas

Risk evaluation for earthquake-induced rapid and long-travel landslides in densely populated urban areas is currently the most important disaster mitigation task in landslide-threatened areas throughout the world. The research achievements of the IPL M-101 APERITIF project were applied to two urban areas in megacities of Japan. One site is in the upper slope of the Nikawa landslide site where previous movements were triggered by the 1995 Hyogoken-Nambu earthquake. During detailed investigation, the slope was found to be at risk from a rapid and long-travel landslide induced by sliding surface liquefaction by earthquakes similar in scale to the 1995 event. A new plan to prevent the occurrence of this phenomenon was proposed and the plan was implemented. Another area is the Tama residential area near Tokyo. A set of field and laboratory investigations including laser scanner, geological drilling and ring-shear tests showed that there was a risk of sliding surface liquefaction for both sites. A geotechnical computer simulation (Rapid/LS) using the quantitative data obtained in the study allowed urban landslide hazard zoning to be made at individual street level.     

The liquefaction of clayey soils under cyclic loading

This paper seeks to investigate the liquefaction of clayey soils, a phenomenon that has been the trigger for many natural disasters in the last few decades, including landslides. Research was conducted on artificial clay-sand mixtures and natural clayey soils collected from the sliding surfaces of earthquake-induced landslides. The undrained response of normally consolidated clayey soils to cyclic loading was studied by means of a ring-shear apparatus. For the artificial clay-sand mixtures, it was found that the presence of a small amount of bentonite (≤ 7%) would cause rapid liquefaction, while a further increase in bentonite content (≥ 11%) produced the opposite effect of raising soil resistance to liquefaction by a significant degree. It was demonstrated that the bentonite-sand mixture was considerably more resistant to liquefaction than the kaolin-, and illite-mixtures, given the same clay content. The test results of plastic soils revealed the significant influence of plasticity on the liquefaction resistance of soil. The microfabric of clayey soil was investigated by means of a scanning electron microscope. The analysis showed that the liquefaction potential of soil was strongly related to certain particle arrangements. For example, soil vulnerable to liquefaction had an open microfabric in which clay aggregations generally gathered at the sand particle contact points, forming low-strength “clay bridges” that were destroyed easily during cyclic loading. On the other hand, the microfabric of soil that was resistant to liquefaction appeared to be more compact, with the clay producing a matrix that prevented sand grains from liquefying. In the case of the natural soils, the obtained results indicated that their cyclic behavior was similarly influenced by factors such as clay content, clay mineralogy and plasticity. The relation between the liquefaction potential of natural soil and its microfabric was thus also established. On the basis of the obtained results, the authors posited an explanation on the mechanism of liquefaction for clayey soil.     

Excess pore pressure and grain crushing of sands by means of undrained and naturally drained ring-shear tests

An investigation of excess pore-pressure generation of a weathered granitic sand, taken from the source area of a typical landslide caused as a result of liquefaction, and a fine silica sand was conducted, in which grain crushing within the shear zone of ring-shear test specimens was examined as the key phenomenon of rapid long-runout motion of landslides. In order to investigate and explain the low average apparent-friction angle, mobilized in a liquidized landslide, speed-controlled ring-shear tests were conducted under undrained conditions on weathered granitic-sand specimens, formed under a wide range of initial void ratios. It was revealed that very small steady-state shear resistances were obtained irrespective of the initial void ratios, which can explain the low average apparent-friction angle. In addition, two series of ring-shear tests on weathered-granitic and fine-silica sands were conducted under naturally drained conditions by keeping the upper drain valve of the shear box open during the tests. The first series of tests was performed under differing total normal stresses, but at the same shear speed, and the second series was conducted at differing shear speeds, but under the same total normal stress. In order to investigate and analyze excess pore-pressure generation and dissipation within the shear zone that is associated with grain crushing, permeability analyses were conducted by passing water through the sample box of the ring-shear test apparatus before and after shearing. In addition, grain-size distribution analyses of samples taken from the shear zone after shearing were carried out. For the weathered granitic-sand samples, a significant change in bulk permeability and large amount of grain crushing were observed. In these tests on the above soil, a considerable reduction of shear resistance, which increased proportionally to the total normal stress and shear speed, were obtained. It was observed that due to grain crushing, finer grains that lowered the permeability of the soil in the shear zone, were formed. It is likely that the decrease in permeability facilitated the generation of high excess pore pressures by reducing the pore-pressure dissipation rate from the shear zone; thus, flow behaviour was exhibited even under naturally drained conditions.     

基于伊利石结晶度的大型深层滑坡活动模式分析

滑坡是岩土之间的剪切摩擦过程。滑体与滑带摩擦生热导致滑带内温度升高,被广泛认为是大型深层滑坡高速活动的主要特征之一。伊利石是粘土矿物中对温度最敏感的矿物。本文借鉴低温变质岩、活断层等领域的研究方法,采用国际上最常用的伊利石结晶度Kübler指数,对比分析了三峡库区黄土坡滑坡、滩坪滑坡和泄滩滑坡3个大型深层老滑坡滑带及其周围岩土内伊利石结晶度指数的变化特征,探讨了这些滑坡的活动模式。根据滑带内伊利石结晶度与周围岩土的相对差异判断,黄土坡滑坡临江I#崩滑体、滩坪碎石土滑坡、泄滩滑坡活动均以缓慢蠕滑为主要方式,黄土坡滑坡临江II#崩滑体可能经历过速度较快的滑移过程。     

位移-应力协同分析在新近纪软岩质滑坡监测中的应用——以陕西宝鸡市北坡滑坡为例

强降雨可诱发新近纪软岩质滑坡滑移变形。1955年至今,降雨在陕西宝鸡诱发超过十起大型滑坡灾害。2011年9月19日,宝鸡市区72 h内的降雨量达到332 mm,北坡金鼎寺、簸箕山与高家崖滑坡出现裂缝,威胁市区居民安全。为分析滑坡的变形机制与降雨触发的滑体内地下水位的波动关系,2012—2015年,开展了降雨量、地下水位、孔隙水压力、滑坡应力与位移等物理量的实时监测,统计分析了它们的频率、活动强度及累积变化规律,提出了滑坡的位移扩展模型。研究显示:(1)地下水的活动会影响新近纪软岩质滑坡的变形,但降雨量、地下水位、孔隙水压力、滑坡体应力与位移等物理量变化机制有差异,地下水位、孔隙水压力呈周期性变化,滑坡体的应力、位移的变化具有累积效应;(2)宝鸡市北坡滑坡运动变形具有蠕变、快速滑移两个阶段。降雨会触发的滑坡体各物理量出现加速变化,地下水位波动幅度为0.27~1m,孔隙水压力的变化幅度为10kPa,滑体浅层的水平应力变化幅度为5.6kPa;(3)在判断降雨能否诱发滑坡快速滑移过程中,既需分析滑体应力、位移变化的累积效应,又需分析新近纪软岩质滑带的摩擦破坏机制。     

甘肃永靖黑方台4·29罗家坡黄土滑坡的特征

2015年4月29日上午,甘肃省永靖县盐锅峡镇黑方台滑坡高频发区的党川村罗家坡同一斜坡处连续发生了2次大规模黄土滑坡,总体积约65×10~4m~3,最大滑距630 m,摧毁14户居民房屋和3家工厂.通过现场详细调查、取样试验、1∶500地形测量、滑坡影像、视频等资料分析,对灌溉引发的罗家坡黄土滑坡的特征、滑动过程、形成机理进行了探讨.结果表明:第1次滑坡经过近2 a变形过程,整体突然失稳,高速远程滑动;第2次滑坡变形时间仅3 h,分块逐步滑动,滑动历时长而过程复杂,总体为低速远程滑动.高陡的地形和强度低、水敏感性强的土体是滑坡发生的基础,黄土台塬区长期农业灌溉是引发因素,大量水体入渗形成了20余米厚的饱和软弱基座,使抗剪强度降低,导致斜坡失稳滑动.黄土滑坡高速远程滑动的主要原因是滑坡剪出口位置高,滑动势能大,释放条件好,剪出口下部陡坡段为主要加速段;前方有开阔的滑动空间且有一定坡度、平缓的滑道;滑体底部饱和软弱黏性土在滑道上持续产生超孔隙水压力、液化等低摩阻效应,是远程滑动的润滑剂.同时,两次滑体间还存在冲击加速和能量传递作用.     

万州西溪铺松散堆积体成因分析及稳定性评价

根据勘探钻孔资料,对西溪铺一带松散堆积体的特征及成因进行了详细的探讨.研究结果表明:分布在基岩面高程190m以下的斜坡与基岩面高程140～150 m平台上的粉质黏土夹碎石土层是由滑坡作用形成的(即西溪铺滑坡);分布在基岩面高程190 m以上的粉质黏土夹碎石土层是由崩积、残积及坡积作用形成的;卵石砂土层是苎溪河的冲积作用形成的.对西溪铺滑坡的形态、滑动面特征、水文地质条件及形成年代等进行了论述,这些特征说明西溪铺滑坡曾发生过一次大型的堆积体滑动、多次小型的表层滑动,其是在一级阶地形成时代T1以后的几千年之内形成的.根据下伏卵石砂土层的地质结构,对西溪铺滑坡的稳定性进行了评价,评价结果表明库水位的变化对西溪铺滑坡的稳定性有巨大的影响,在滑坡的防治设计中必须引起高度的重视.     

汶川大型地震滑坡的类型及启程剧动机理研究

2008年汶川大地震诱发大型地震滑坡300余处,造成了巨大的生命财产损失,研究其发生机理有重要的理论意义和防灾减灾的实用价值.经收集分析已有地震滑坡的研究成果及多次深入现场调查,本文发现众多大型地震滑坡发生时都伴随有区别于汶川主震的地面震动,并将其称为滑坡地面震动,简称滑坡震动.本文在论述滑坡震动依据、成因及特征的基础上,根据滑坡震动力与主震力的组合情况及其对大型地震滑坡的影响不同,将汶川地震滑坡划分为3种类型:主震型地震滑坡,迟震型地震滑坡和同震型地震滑坡.认为主震型地震滑坡在主震结束前滑动,其主导失稳力学因素为主震力和重力,无滑坡震动或可忽略; 同震型地震滑坡亦在主震结束前滑动,但其主导失稳力学因素除主震力和重力外,滑坡震动力起重要作用; 迟震型地震滑坡在主震结束后滑动,主导失稳力学因素为滑坡震动力和重力.认为大型地震滑坡地面震动的发生与活断层导致地震类似,据此提出了滑坡震动加速度的估算方法,并以此为基础分析研究了各类型地震滑坡的启程剧动机理.     

2015年4.29甘肃黑方台党川2#滑坡基本特征与成因机理研究

2015年4月29日早上7点55分,甘肃省永靖县盐锅峡镇党川村发生了小规模黄土滑坡,约5104m3失稳的黄土从黄河Ⅳ级台塬黑方台冲向黄河Ⅱ级台塬。滑坡后仅3h,再次产生较大规模的黄土滑坡,约35104m3黄土泥流冲向下游,形成长约780m,宽100m的堆积体,最大的堆积厚度17m,在党川段是少有的灾难性的滑坡。本文在滑前位移监测和裂缝分布变形研究的基础上,结合详细地质调查、低空摄影测量、现场工程地质测绘、含水率实验等手段,对党川2#滑坡的基本特征进行了分析,并形成滑坡发生及成灾原因初步认识。结果表明:(1)从时间上来看,党川2#滑坡共发生2次滑动,根据滑动模式和堆积特征上分析,第Ⅰ次相对独立,第Ⅱ次分为3轮滑动,共4轮滑动;(2)第Ⅰ次滑动区域面积8396m2,变形区域仅在台塬边较小范围内,滑前长期蠕动变形是第Ⅰ次滑动发生诱发因素;(3)第Ⅱ次滑动区域面积为27422m2,地表裂缝较少,滑前裂缝无明显位移变形,底部黄土的液化对台塬黄土滑坡的运动起了非常重要的作用,该次滑动滑距长、破坏强,具有突发性;(4)党川段开始发生大规模静态液化型黄土滑坡,并以落水洞形成滑坡边界,这对其他区段早期识别和监测预警研究具有重要意义。     

融雪诱发型黄土滑坡活动特征与应急响应模式——以新疆伊犁则克台滑坡为例

2019年4月30日,在新疆的伊犁地区一个高位黄土滑坡复活启动,并远距离掩埋公路和阻塞河道。大约5.04×10⁵ m³黄土体高位滑移剪出冲击铲刮沟道及两侧岸坡。滑坡不定时复活启动机理难以琢磨。本文基于实地详细调查、遥感影像判识、气象数据分析和黄土特征试验等方法,以试图确定黄土滑坡的演变历史、运动过程和复活机理。研究表明,该滑坡曾发生两次大规模滑动破坏,且伴随着坡体地裂缝发展,每年黄土坡体发生不同程度的累积变形破坏。春季温度升高导致积雪快速消融入渗是黄土滑坡变形演化的最重要影响因素,春季融水和暴雨的耦合是控制黄土滑坡发生的根本原因。基于本次灾害发生后成功灾害应急响应过程,提出一种基于早期预警多部门联动的公路灾害应急响应模式。随着区域放牧活动增加和气候变暖加剧,该黄土滑坡将具有极大潜在复活滑动风险。研究可为寒冻区滑坡形成演化和破坏机理提供了新的视野,为服务新疆一带一路区域交通建设具有重要意义。     

Recent landslides on the Istrian Peninsula, Croatia

This study presents a review of recently recorded instability phenomena on the flysch slopes of Istria, Croatia. The northeastern part of the Istrian Peninsula, the so-called Gray Istria, is built of Paleogene flysch deposits, where instability phenomena are frequent and where a large number of landslides, with significant consequences, have been recorded over the past 35 years. Based on field investigations conducted for the purpose of remedial study design, a database of these landslides was created. An investigation of the documented landslides and their elements found some common features that enabled general conclusions about the conditions and causes of landslide occurrence. In total, 19 documented landslides have been analyzed as individual phenomena, and from the results of these analyses, general conclusions were drawn about sliding conditions and the main triggering factors. Geological conditions and processes on slopes where landslides occurred are shown in detail, and geotechnical properties have been systematically represented. The sliding conditions and dimensions of four recent landslide occurrences, specifically by type, have been described in detail and analyzed.     

A hypothesis of the Senoumi submarine megaslide in Suruga Bay in Japan—based on the undrained dynamic-loading ring shear tests and computer simulation

The distinctive bathymetric feature exists in the Suruga Bay, Japan. It has been called as Senoumi (Stone flower sea) from old times. Senoumi is a 30?km wide and 20?km long concave feature. Its origin has not been explained yet; however, the feature might be a combined consequence of intensive tectonic activity in the plate border, landslides, and a submarine flow coming from the Oi River. If the Senoumi was caused by a landslide, the latter would be larger than any on-land landslide in Japan. The downshelf “exit” from this feature is much narrower than its central part. This is not usual shape of landslides, but it is similar to the liquefied landslides such as those in quick clays which mobilize great strength reduction after failure. To study Senoumi as a landslide, the shear behaviors of the following three soil samples were investigated by the cyclic and seismic undrained stress control ring shear tests. One sample is volcanic ash taken from the base of landslide deposits (mass transport deposits), from 130 to 190?m deep layer below the submarine floor which was drilled and cored by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 333. Another two samples are the Neogene silty–sand and silt taken from the Omaezaki hill adjacent to the Senoumi, because the shear zone might have been formed in Neogene layers extending from on-land to the continental shelf. The largest strength reduction from peak to steady-state shear resistance in the undrained cyclic loading test was found in volcanic ash. The strength reduction in Neogene silty–sand was smaller than volcanic ash, while the Neogene silt mobilized the least post-failure strength reduction. An integrated model simulating the initiation and motion of earthquake-induced rapid landslides (landslide simulation (LS)-RAPID, Sassa et al. Landslides 7–3:219–236, 2010) was applied to this study. The steady-state shear resistance and other geotechnical parameters measured by the undrained ring shear tests and the greatest strong motion record in the 2011 off-the-Pacific Coast of Tohoku earthquake (M _w 9.0), also known as “2011 Tohoku Earthquake” at the observation point MYG004 (2,933?gal) were input to this model. As the result, it was found that landslides would be triggered by 0.30–1.0 times of MYG004 in volcanic ash, 0.4–1.0 times of MYG004 in Neogene silty–sand and Neogene silt, though the depth and area of triggered landslides were different in soils and intensity of shaking. Feature, created by LS-RAPID using the parameters of volcanic ash, was most similar to the Senoumi in depth and extent. The result obtained from this study includes a hypothesis to be proved, but presents the strong need to investigate the risk of the large-scale submarine landslides which could enhance tsunami wave and possibly enlarge the submarine landslide retrogressively into the adjacent coastal plain by the upcoming mega earthquake in the Nankai Trough.     

Yielding mechanism of shallow mass movements in completely decomposed Norwood Tuff: the Zigzag Sign landslide,Utah

Over the past decade, land development activities on hillsides in northern Utah have resulted in a significant increase in landslide activity throughout the region. The majority of recent landslides are shallow and they occurred on cut gentle slopes especially during spring and early summer due to snowmelt induced elevated groundwater tables. The geologic material documented at numerous landslide sites is a soft gray-green completely decomposed Norwood Tuff. The present study addresses the mechanism of a shallow landslide in completely decomposed Norwood Tuff based on field, laboratory and numerical investigations. Detailed slope surface geometry obtained from laser-scan surveys together with strength and stress–strain parameters derived from laboratory triaxial tests on undisturbed samples of completely decomposed Norwood Tuff collected from the landslide site are employed with finite-element modeling to examine the effects of ground surface deformation patterns on the yielding behavior of the slide mass. The numerical results indicate a gradual retreat of the yield zone with progressive landslide deformation, which eventually becomes concentrated within the accumulation zone of the landslide, compared to a well-developed yield zone within the entire slide mass at the onset of landslide movement. Limit equilibrium stability analyses along potential sliding surfaces of extent limited within the yield zone of the displaced slide mass produce lower safety factors than an analysis based on the original sliding surface comprising the entire slide mass.