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.