Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of water level fluctuation and its rate on the response of deposits on a reservoir slope: flume experiment, case monitoring comparison and failure mechanism

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Acta Geotechnica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Frequent threats from landslides in reservoir areas have caused a research boom in academia due to the commissioning of the Three Gorges Project and the continued promotion of hydropower development in southwestern China. In this study, a series of analyses, mainly flume experiment, were conducted on reservoir slope deposits with large landslide potentials. This article focuses on validating the deformation and hydrological response process of the experimental re-enactment under different changing water level conditions and comparing them to real case observations and monitoring. The experimental results provide a basis for the systematic formulation of the mechanism of slope deposit failure in the reservoir area. The occurrence of landslides on slope deposits is usually caused by the accumulation of multiple phases of deformation rather than one phase of deformation. The deformation of the slope deposits is mainly in the form of erosion collapse at the front edge and shearing-tension cracking at the rear edge. These are directly caused by the large increase in the water level during the impoundment period and the rapid drawdown of the water level or the coupling of continuous strong rainfall and water level drawdown during the operation period. In this case, the loss of fine particles, the seepage force, and the increase in pore water pressure all play an important role. In this study, we hope to provide some scientific insights into the warning and mitigation of slope mounding hazards in reservoir areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data available on request from the corresponding author.

References

  1. Ahmadi-Adli M, Huvaj N, Toker NK (2017) Rainfall-triggered landslides in an unsaturated soil: a laboratory flume study. Environ Earth Sci 76(21):1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Alonso EE, Pinyol NM (2010) Criteria for rapid sliding I. A review of Vaiont case. Eng Geol 114(3–4):198–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bear J (1972) Dynamics of fluids in porous media. American Elsevier Publishing Company, New York

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  4. Biniyaz A, Azmoon B, Liu Z (2021) Coupled transient saturated–unsaturated seepage and limit equilibrium analysis for slopes: influence of rapid water level changes. Acta Geotech. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-021-01359-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chen ML, Lv PF, Zhang SL, Chen XZ, Zhou JW (2018) Time evolution and spatial accumulation of progressive failure for Xinhua slope in the Dagangshan reservoir, Southwest China. Landslides 15(3):565–580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Chen ML, Lv PF, Nie WZ, Tan CM, Zhou JW (2020) The role of water and lithology on the deformation and failure of an anaclinal rock slope in a hydropower reservoir. Adv Civ Eng 2020:8852227

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chen ML, Qi SC, Lv PF, Yang XG, Zhou JW (2021) Hydraulic response and stability of a reservoir slope with landslide potential under the combined effect of rainfall and water level fluctuation. Environ Earth Sci 80(1):25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Chen M, Yang X, Zhou J (2022) Spatial distribution and failure mechanism of water-induced landslides in the reservoir areas of Southwest China. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2022.04.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Costa JE, Schuster RL (1988) The formation and failure of natural dams. Geol Soc Am Bull 100(7):1054–1068

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Franci A, Cremonesi M, Perego U, Crosta G, Oñate E (2020) 3D simulation of Vajont disaster. Part 1: numerical formulation and validation. Eng Geol 279:105854

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Franci A, Cremonesi M, Perego U, Oñate E, Crosta G (2020) 3D simulation of Vajont disaster. Part 2: multi-failure scenarios. Eng Geol 279:105856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Guardiani C, Soranzo E, Wu W (2022) Time-dependent reliability analysis of unsaturated slopes under rapid drawdown with intelligent surrogate models. Acta Geotech 17:1071–1096

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Guo C, Cui P (2017) Fine particle migration in wide grading and poorly consolidated soil: an overview. Mt Res 35(2):8

    Google Scholar 

  14. He C, Hu X, Tannant DD, Tan F, Zhang Y, Zhang H (2018) Response of a landslide to reservoir impoundment in model tests. Eng Geol 247:84–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Huang CC, Yuin SC (2010) Experimental investigation of rainfall criteria for shallow slope failures. Geomorphology 120(3–4):326–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Hutchinson JN (2001) Landslide risk—to know, to foresee, to prevent. Geol Tec Ambient 9:3–24

    Google Scholar 

  17. Ibañez JP, Hatzor YH (2018) Rapid sliding and friction degradation: lessons from the catastrophic Vajont landslide. Eng Geol 244:96–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Jia GW, Zhan TL, Chen YM, Fredlund DG (2009) Performance of a large-scale slope model subjected to rising and lowering water levels. Eng Geol 106(1–2):92–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Jiang Z, Wang H, Xie W (2021) Deformation mechanism of deposit landslide induced by fluctuations of reservoir water level based on physical model tests. Environ Earth Sci 80(11):410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Kaczmarek H, Tyszkowski S, Banach M (2015) Landslide development at the shores of a dam reservoir (Włocławek, Poland), based on 40 years of research. Environ Earth Sci 74(5):4247–4259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Kilburn CRJ, Petley DN (2003) Forecasting giant, catastrophic slope collapse: lessons from Vajont, northern Italy. Geomorphology 54:21–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Lei X, Yang Z, He S, Liu E, Wong H, Li X (2017) Numerical investigation of rainfall-induced fines migration and its influences on slope stability. Acta Geotech 12(6):1431–1446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Liao K, Wu Y, Miao F, Li L, Xue Y (2021) Time-varying reliability analysis of Majiagou landslide based on weakening of hydro-fluctuation belt under wetting-drying cycles. Landslides 18(1):267–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Marot D, Benamar A (2012) Suffusion, transport and filtration of fine particles in granular soil. In: Bonelli S (ed) Erosion of geomaterials. Wiley, Hoboken, pp 39–79

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  25. Massironi M, Zampieri D, Superchi L, Bistacchi A, Ravagnan R, Bergamo A, Ghirotti M, Genevois R (2013) Geological structures of the Vajont landslide. Ital J Eng Geol Environ 6:573–582

    Google Scholar 

  26. Miao F, Wu Y, Li L, Tang H, Li Y (2018) Centrifuge model test on the retrogressive landslide subjected to reservoir water level fluctuation. Eng Geol 245:169–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Miao F, Wu Y, Li L, Tang H, Xiong F (2020) Weakening laws of slip zone soils during wetting–drying cycles based on fractal theory: a case study in the Three Gorges Reservoir (China). Acta Geotech 15(7):1909–1923

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Ministry of Construction of the People’s Republic of China (2009) Specification for geotechnical investigation: GB50021-2001. China Construction Industry Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  29. Orense RP, Shimoma S, Maeda K, Towhata I (2004) Instrumented model slope failure due to water seepage. J Nat Disaster Sci 26(1):15–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Paronuzzi P, Rigo E, Bolla A (2013) Influence of filling–drawdown cycles of the Vajont reservoir on Mt. Toc slope stability. Geomorphology 191:75–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Paronuzzi P, Bolla A, Rigo E (2016) Brittle and ductile behavior in deep-seated landslides: learning from the Vajont experience. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49(6):2389–2411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Paronuzzi P, Bolla A, Pinto D, Lenaz D, Soccal M (2021) The clays involved in the 1963 Vajont landslide: genesis and geomechanical implications. Eng Geol 294:106376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Seguí C, Rattez H, Veveakis M (2020) On the stability of deep-seated landslides. The cases of Vaiont (Italy) and shuping (Three Gorges Dam. China). J Geophys Res Earth Surf 125(7):e2019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Shen D, Shi Z, Peng M, Me J (2020) Longevity analysis of landslide dams. Landslides 17(8):1797–1821

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Sibille L, Lominé F, Poullain P, Sail Y, Marot D (2015) Internal erosion in granular media: direct numerical simulations and energy interpretation. Hydrol Process 29(9):2149–2163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Sibille L, Marot D, Sail Y (2015) A description of internal erosion by suffusion and induced settlements on cohesionless granular matter. Acta Geotechn 10(6):735–748

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Song K, Yan E, Zhang G, Lu S, Yi Q (2015) Effect of hydraulic properties of soil and fluctuation velocity of reservoir water on landslide stability. Environ Earth Sci 74(6):5319–5329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Tohari A, Nishigaki M, Komatsu M (2007) Laboratory rainfall-induced slope failure with moisture content measurement. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 133(5):575–587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Vanapalli SK, Fredlund DG, Pufahl DE, Clifton AW (1996) Model for the prediction of shear strength with respect to soil suction. Can Geotech J 33(3):379–392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Wang J, Xiang W, Lu N (2014) Landsliding triggered by reservoir operation: a general conceptual model with a case study at Three Gorges Reservoir. Acta Geotech 9(5):771–788

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Wang J, Wang S, Su A, Xiang W, Xiong C, Blum P (2021) Simulating landslide-induced tsunamis in the Yangtze River at the Three Gorges in China. Acta Geotech 16(8):2487–2503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Xia M, Ren GM, Zhu SS, Ma XL (2015) Relationship between landslide stability and reservoir water level variation. Bull Eng Geol Environ 74(3):909–917

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Xiong X, Shi Z, Xiong Y, Peng M, Ma X, Zhang F (2019) Unsaturated slope stability around the Three Gorges Reservoir under various combinations of rainfall and water level fluctuation. Eng Geol 261:105231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Xu WJ, Zhou Q, Dong XY (2021) SPH–DEM coupling method based on GPU and its application to the landslide tsunami. Part II: reproduction of the Vajont landslide tsunami. Acta Geotech 17:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  45. Yan ZL, Wang JJ, Chai HJ (2010) Influence of water level fluctuation on phreatic line in silty soil model slope. Eng Geol 113(1–4):90–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Yin Y, Huang B, Wang W, Wei Y, Ma X, Ma F, Zhao C (2016) Reservoir-induced landslides and risk control in Three Gorges Project on Yangtze River, China. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 8(5):577–595

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Zangerl C, Eberhardt E, Perzlmaier S (2010) Kinematic behaviour and velocity characteristics of a complex deep-seated crystalline rockslide system in relation to its interaction with a dam reservoir. Eng Geol 112(1–4):53–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Zhang F, Li M, Peng M, Chen C, Zhang L (2019) Three-dimensional DEM modeling of the stress–strain behavior for the gap-graded soils subjected to internal erosion. Acta Geotech 14(2):487–503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Zhang L, Shi B, Zhang D, Sun Y, Inyang HI (2020) Kinematics, triggers and mechanism of Majiagou landslide based on FBG real-time monitoring. Environ Earth Sci 79(9):1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Zhang F, Wang T, Liu F, Peng M, Furtney J, Zhang L (2020) Modeling of fluid-particle interaction by coupling the discrete element method with a dynamic fluid mesh: implications to suffusion in gap-graded soils. Comput Geotech 124:103617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Zhou JW, Lu PY, Yang YC (2017) Reservoir landslides and its hazard effects for the hydropower station: a case study. In: Mikoš M, Arbanas Ž, Yin Y, Sassa K (eds) Advancing culture of living with landslides, advances in landslide science, vol 2. Springer, Cham, pp 699–706

    Google Scholar 

  52. Zhou Q, Xu WJ, Dong XY (2021) SPH-DEM coupling method based on GPU and its application to the landslide tsunami. Part I: method and validation. Acta Geotech 17:1–19

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U2240221, 41977229), the Sichuan Youth Science and Technology Innovation Research Team Project (2020JDTD0006) and the Opening Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering (SKHL2014). Critical comments by the anonymous reviewers greatly improved the initial manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, People’s Republic of China

    Ming-liang Chen & Jia-wen Zhou

  2. College of Water Resources and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, People’s Republic of China

    Xing-guo Yang

  3. School of Civil Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, People’s Republic of China

    Ming-liang Chen

Authors
  1. Ming-liang Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xing-guo Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jia-wen Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jia-wen Zhou.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, Ml., Yang, Xg. & Zhou, Jw. Effect of water level fluctuation and its rate on the response of deposits on a reservoir slope: flume experiment, case monitoring comparison and failure mechanism. Acta Geotech. 18, 6213–6234 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-023-01968-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-023-01968-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation