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Deep-Seated Large-Scale Toppling Failure: A Case Study of the Lancang Slope in Southwest China

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Abstract

An old large-scale landslide with a volume of 4.6 × 106 m3 located on the right bank of the Lancang River, Southwest China, was formed by the deep-seated toppling failure of a rock mass. The rock mass located downstream of the landslide toppled intensely with a maximum toppling depth exceeding 200 m and a volume over 1.5 × 108 m3. We studied the formation mechanism of the landslide and determined the most likely future instability range of the toppled rock mass. The results show that the toppled rock mass located downstream of the landslide could be classified into four zones, namely, highly toppled, moderately toppled, weakly toppled and normal rock mass, from the surface to the deep-seated rock mass along the slope according to three factors: the unloading intensity, variation in the occurrence of the rock layer, and toppling fracture zone. The bottom boundary of the highly toppled rock mass was limited by the depth of strong unloading of the rock mass. The landslide deposits mainly originated from the highly toppled rock mass, and the slip zone was formed based on the toppling fracture zones. The highly toppled rock mass in the rock slope located downstream of the landslide will be the most likely area of instability in the future.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financed by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41472274) and the Independent Subject Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (SKLGP2019Z005). We are thankful for the support and assistance of the staff at the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (SKLGP), Chengdu University of Technology, China.

Funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41472274) and the Independent Subject Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (SKLGP2019Z005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Guoxiang Tu, Hui Deng, Qi Shang, Yin Zhang & Xinping Luo

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  1. Guoxiang Tu
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  2. Hui Deng
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Correspondence to Guoxiang Tu.

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Tu, G., Deng, H., Shang, Q. et al. Deep-Seated Large-Scale Toppling Failure: A Case Study of the Lancang Slope in Southwest China. Rock Mech Rock Eng 53, 3417–3432 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02132-0

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