Comparative study on debris flow initiation in limestone and sandstone spoil

Large spoil tips from reconstruction works as a result of the Wenchuan Earthquake in China are new debris flow hazards to the human society. However, there is a lack of detailed comparative study on debris flow initiation in different spoil materials. This paper describes a series of tests and analyses on debris flow characteristics (initiation, scale and mechanism) at six sites with limestone and sandstone materials near the Dujiangyan area. Research shows the limestone spoil contains debris flow prone clay content with high concentration of montmorillonite (highly expandable). In addition, limestone spoil is of such a low permeability that water mainly concentrates in the upper surface layer. Those factors make it easy for the increase of pore water pressure, decline of internal friction and conhesion force, leading to the occurence of large debris flows. In contrast, the sandstone spoil is less problematic and causes no major debris flow threats. Based on our research on the mechanism, the“stereometric drainage”method is sucessfully applied to control limestone spoil debris flows.