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The genetic mechanism of a translational landslide

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Abstract

Translational landslides are common in China, particularly in the interbedded mudstone sandstone sequence of the Three Gorges reservoir area and the Sichuan basin. The paper discusses the genetic mechanism and limit equilibrium criterion for single and multi-translational landslides based on physical model tests and numerical analysis. It focuses particularly on the generation of hydrostatic pressure and uplift pressure under intense rainfall conditions and the corresponding deformation and failure processes. A model was constructed based on the actual conditions at the 17 million m3 Fengdian Kualiangdzi landslide and the 25 million m3 Tiantai village landslide. It revealed a clear relationship between the critical water head value and the dip angle of the sliding plane.

Résumé

Les glissements plans sont communs en Chine, en particulier dans la série de grès et d’argilites de la région du réservoir du barrage des Trois Gorges, dans le bassin du Sichuan. L’article présente les conditions de déclenchement de ces glissements ainsi que les critères d’équilibre limite pour des glissements plans simples ou multicouches, à partir de tests sur modèles physiques et d’analyses numériques. Il s’intéresse en particulier à la génération des pressions interstitielles et aux pressions de soulèvement résultant de pluies intenses, ainsi qu’aux processus de déformation et de rupture qui en découlent. Un modèle a été construit, correspondant au glissement de Fengdian Kualiangdzi de 17 millions de m3 et au glissement du village de Tiantai de 25 millions de m3. Il a révélé une relation claire entre une valeur critique de charge hydraulique et l’angle de pendage du plan de glissement.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by the State Key Laboratory of Geohazards Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection. The authors would like to thank Prof. Niek Rengers for revising the article and his many helpful suggestions, which have improved the clarity of the paper; Prof. Zhuoyuan Zhang for his critical suggestions; Xiujing Yu for technical assistance on the physical model testing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The State Key Laboratory of Geohazards Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    Xuan-Mei Fan, Qiang Xu, Zhuo-Yuan Zhang & Dong-si Meng

  2. Institute of Sichuan Engineering Geology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    Ran Tang

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  1. Xuan-Mei Fan
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  2. Qiang Xu
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  3. Zhuo-Yuan Zhang
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  4. Dong-si Meng
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  5. Ran Tang
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Correspondence to Xuan-Mei Fan.

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Fan, XM., Xu, Q., Zhang, ZY. et al. The genetic mechanism of a translational landslide. Bull Eng Geol Environ 68, 231–244 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-009-0194-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-009-0194-1

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