Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Direct and reversal shear behaviors of three kinds of slip zone soil in the Northwest of China

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To clarify the sliding mechanism of a landslide, the shear behavior characteristics of slip zone soil are always vital. In the Northwest of China, thousands of landslides generally develop in three main types of slip zone soil, i.e., Quaternary loess, weathered Mesozoic-Cenozoic mudstone, and weathered Mesozoic-Paleozoic phyllite. In the present study, the shear behavior characteristics of these three kinds of slip zone soil were investigated through direct shear tests and their implications for the sliding mechanisms of landslide were also discussed. It was found that, in general, an abrupt failure of loess landslide could be related to the strong strain-softening behavior of loess in the direct shear test, while the ductile shear behavior of weathered mudstone and phyllite coincided with the creep deformation of the corresponding landslides. The residual friction angle of slip zone soil varied with the soil type and its mineral composition, and the lowest residual friction angle about 11.5° could be found in weathered phyllite (SET) with graphite. Compared with the previous research, it is interesting to find that the residual friction angles of mudstone and phyllite in the present study accorded reasonably with the empirical correlations proposed by Wen et al. (2007) for weak rocks in the Three Gorges area, China.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.

References

  • Al-Shayea NA (2001) The combined effect of clay and moisture content on the behavior of remolded unsaturated soils. Eng Geol 62:319–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aleotti P, Chowdhury R (1999) Landslide hazard assessment: summary review and new perspectives. Bull Eng Geol Environ 58:21–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson M, Crozier MJ (2005) Landslide hazard and risk. Wiley, Chichester

  • Andrade FA, Al-Qureshi HA, Hotza D (2011) Measuring the plasticity of clays: a review. Appl Clay Sci 51:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (2006) Standard practice for classification of soils for engineering purposes (Unified Soil Classification System). In: ASTM standard D2487. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, Pa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benac C, Ostric M, Jovancevic SD (2014) Geotechnical properties in relation to grain-size and mineral composition: case study landslide in the Rjecina Valley (Croatia). Geologia Croatica 67:127–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beroya MAA, Aydin A, Katzenbach R (2009) Insight into the effects of clay mineralogy on the cyclic behavior of silt–clay mixtures. Eng Geol 106:154–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bi JB, Zhang MS, Zhu LF, Hu W, Cheng XJ (2013) Research on the multivariate-statistics-based prediction model of landslide intensity in Heifangtai, Gansu province. Geol Bull China 32:943–948

    Google Scholar 

  • Bishop AW (1955) The use of the slip circle in the stability analysis of slopes. Geotechnique 5:7–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop AW, Green GE, Garga VK, Andresen A, Brown JD (1971) A new ring shear apparatus and its application to the measurement of residual strength. Géotechnique 21:273–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burland JB (1990) On the compressibility and shear strength of natural clays. Géotechnique 40(3):329–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cascini L, Sorbino G, Cuomo S, Ferlisi S (2014) Seasonal effects of rainfall on the shallow pyroclastic deposits of the Campania region (southern Italy). Landslides 11:779–792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen XP, Zhu HH, Huang JW, Liu D (2015) Stability analysis of an ancient landslide considering shear strength reduction behavior of slip zone soil. Landslides 13:173–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen XP, Liu D (2014) Residual strength of slip zone soils. Landslides 11:305–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collotta T, Cantoni R, Pavesi U, Ruberl E, Moretti PC (1989) A correlation between residual friction angle, gradation and the index properties of cohesive soils. Géotechnique 39:343–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corominas J, Van Westen C, Frattini P, Cascini L, Malet JP, Fotopoulou S, Catani F, Van Den Eeckhaut M, Mavrouli O, Agliardi F, Pitilakis K, Winter MG, Pastor M, Ferlisi S, Tofani V, Hervás J, Smith JT (2014) Recommendations for the quantitative analysis of landslide risk. Bull Eng Geol Environ 73:209–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruden DM, Varnes DJ (1996) Landslide types and processes. Transportation research board, US National Research Council

  • D’Elia B, Picarelli L, Leroueil S, Vaunat J (1998) Geotechnical characterisation of slope movements in structurally complex clay soils and stiff jointed clays. Rivista Italiana di Geotecnica 32:5–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai FC, Lee CF, Ngai YY (2002) Landslide risk assessment and management an overview. Eng Geol 64:65–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dang, J.Q., Li, J. 2001. The structural strength and shear strength of unsaturated loess. J Hydraul Eng, 7, 79-83+90. (in Chinese)

  • Derbyshire E (2001) Geological hazards in loess terrain, with particular reference to the loess regions of China. Earth Sci Rev 54:231–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derbyshire E, Dijkstra TA, Smalley IJ, Li Y (1994) Failure mechanisms in loess and the effect of moisture content changes on remoulded strength. Quat Int 24:5–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derbyshire E, Mellors TW (1988) Geological and geotechnical characteristics of some loess and loessic soils from China and Britain A comparison. Eng Geol 25:135–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derbyshire E, Wang J, Jin Z, Billard A, Egels Y, Kasser M, Jones DKC, Muxart T, Owen L (1991) Landslides in the Gansu loess of China. Catena Suppl 20:119–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Dick JC, Shakoor A (1992) Lithological controls of mudrock durability. Q J Eng Geol 25:31–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dijkstra TA (2001) Geotechnical thresholds in the Lanzhou loess of China. Quat Int 76(77):21–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dijkstra TA, Wasowski J, Winter MG, Meng XM (2014) Introduction to geohazards of Central China. Q J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 47:195–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dimitrova RS, Yanful EK (2012) Factors affecting the shear strength of mine tailings/clay mixtures with varying clay content and clay mineralogy. Eng Geol 125:11–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eldin MAME, Tang H, Xu Y, Li C, Xiong C, Wang L (2013) Geological and geoengineering properties of the 1997 Yangjia Shan Landslide, Enshi, China. Int J Geosci 04:803–815

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fell R (1994) Landslide risk assessment and acceptable risk. Can Geotech J 31:261–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari A, Rosone M, Ziccarelli M, Giger SB (2020) The shear strength of Opalinus Clay shale in the remoulded state. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment 21:100142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao G (1988) Formation and development of the structure of collapsing loess in China. Eng Geol 25:235–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao G (1996) The distribution and geotechnical properties of loess soils, lateritic soils and clayey soils in China. Eng Geol 42:95–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs HJ, Holland WY (1960) Petrographic and engineering properties of loess. In: Bureau of Reclamation, US Department of the Interior. Colorado, Denver

    Google Scholar 

  • Guzzetti F, Carrara A, Cardinali M, Reichenbach P (1999) Landslide hazard evaluation: a review of current techniques and their application in a multi-scale study, Central Italy. Geomorphology 31:181–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guzzetti F, Reichenbach P, Cardinali M, Galli M, Ardizzone F (2005) Probabilistic landslide hazard assessment at the basin scale. Geomorphology 72:272–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He L (2014) Impact of mineralogical composition and water chemistry on the shear strength of clay and its application. PhD, China University of Geosciences (Beijing) (in Chinese)

  • Horn HM, Deere DU (1962) Frictional characteristics of minerals. Géotechnique 12:319–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hungr O, Evans SG, Bovis MJ, Hutchinson JN (2001) A review of the classification of landslides of the flow type. Environ Eng Geosci 7:221–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hungr O, Leroueil S, Picarelli L (2013) The Varnes classification of landslide types, an update. Landslides 11:167–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ji H (2016) The influence on shear strength characteristics of loess by moisture content and shear rate. J Electric Power 31(3):259–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang XZ, Wen BP (2014) Creep behavior of the slip zone of a giant slow-moving landslide in Northwest China: the Suoertou Landslide as an example. In: Sassa K, Canuti P, Yin Y (eds) Landslide science for a safer geoenvironment: volume 2: methods of landslide studies. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 141–145

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kalteziotis N (1993) The residual shear strength of some Hellenic clayey soils. Geotech Geol Eng 11:125–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lacasse, S., Nadim, F. 2009. Landslide risk assessment and mitigation strategy. In: Sassa, K. & Canuti, P. (eds.) Landslides–disaster risk reduction. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, 31-61.

  • Ladd RS (1978) Preparing test specimens using undercompaction. Geotech Test J 1:16–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li YR (2018) A review of shear and tensile strengths of the Malan Loess in China. Eng Geol 236:4–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang S, Yang X (2009) Landslide hazard assessment based on GIS: a case study of a hydropower station area in China. 2008 International Workshop on Education Technology and Training and 2008 International Workshop on Geoscience and Remote Sensing. ETT and GRS 2008:155–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin ZG, Liang WM (1982) Engineering properties and zoning of loess and loess-like soils in China. Can Geotech J 19:76–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu TS, An ZS, Yuan BY, Han JM (1985) The loess-paleosol sequence in China and climatic history. Episodes 8(1):21–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu XL, Zhang MS, Zhang H, Jia YG, Zhu CQ, Shan HX (2017) Physical and mechanical properties of loess discharged from the Yellow River into the Bohai Sea, China. Eng Geol 227:4–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lupini JF, Skinner AE, Vaughan PR (1981) The drained residual strength of cohesive soils. Géotechnique 31:181–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markou IN (2013) Residual shear strength behavior of swelling soils. Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering, Paris.

  • Matsushi Y, Matsukura Y (2006) Cohesion of unsaturated residual soils as a function of volumetric water content [J]. Bull Eng Geol Environ 65:449–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesri G, Cepeda-Diaz AF (1986) Residual shear strength of clays and shales. Géotechnique 36:269–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell JK (1993) Fundamentals of soils behavior. John Wiley&Sons, Inc, New York.

  • Moore DE, Lockner DA (2006) Friction of the smectite clay montmorillonite: a review and interpretation of data, in The Seismogenic Zone of Subduction Thrust Faults. Columbia University Press

  • Morrow CA, Moore DE, Lockner DA (2000) The effect of mineral bond strength and adsorbed water on fault gouge frictional strength. Geophys Res Lett 27:815–818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow CA, Shi LQ, Byerlee JD (1982) Strain hardening and strength of clay-rich fault gouges. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 87:6771–6780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mu P, Dong LF, Wu WJ (2008) Forming mechanism and stability analysis of Shixiakou landslide at Jiuzhou, Lanzhou. Northwestern Seismological Journal 30(4):332–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Mugagga F, Kakembo V, Buyinza M (2010) A characterisation of the physical properties of soil and the implications for landslide occurrence on the slopes of Mount Elgon, Eastern Uganda. Nat Hazards 60:1113–1131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nadim F, Kjekstad O, Peduzzi P, Herold C, Jaedicke C (2006) Global landslide and avalanche hotspots. Landslides 3:159–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nian TK, Feng ZK, Yu PC, Wu HJ (2013) Strength behavior of slip-zone soils of landslide subject to the change of moisture content. Nat Hazards 68:711–721

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Regmi AD, Yoshida K, Dhital MR, Devkota K (2012) Effect of rock weathering, clay mineralogy, and geological structures in the formation of large landslide, a case study from Dumre Besei landslide, Lesser Himalaya Nepal. Landslides 10:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roopnarine R, Eudoxie G, Opadeyi J (2013) Soil friction angle as an instability factor in landslide susceptibility modeling. J Earth Sci Geotech Eng 3:55–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Saffer DM, Marone C (2003) Comparison of smectite- and illite-rich gouge frictional properties: application to the updip limit of the seismogenic zone along subduction megathrusts. Earth Planet Sci Lett 215:219–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scaringi G, Maio CD (2016) Influence of displacement rate on residual shear strength of clays. Procedia Environ Sci 16:137–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Schäbitz M, Janssen C, Wenk HR, Wirth R, Schuck B, Wetzel HU, Meng X, Dresen G (2018) Microstructures in landslides in northwest China–implications for creeping displacements? J Struct Geol 106:70–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skempton AW (1985) Residual strength of clays in landslides,folded strata and the laboratory. Géotechnique 35:3–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Standardization Administration of China (SAC), Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Water Resources (1999) China National Standards GB/T50123-1999: Standard for soil test method. China Planning Press, Beijing

  • Stark TD, Eid HT (1994) Drained residual strength of cohesive soils. J Geotech Eng 120:856–871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stark TD, Hussain M (2013) Empirical correlations: drained shear strength for slope stability analyses. J Geotech Geoenviron 139:853–862

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan T (1988) Fundamental properties of loess from Northwestern China. Eng Geol 25:103–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang C, Rengers N, Van Asch TWJ, Yang YH, Wang GF (2011) Triggering conditions and depositional characteristics of a disastrous debris flow event in Zhouqu city, Gansu Province, northwestern China. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 11:2903–2912

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang YM, Xue Q, Li ZG, Feng W (2015) Three modes of rainfall infiltration inducing loess landslide. Nat Hazards 79:137–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari B, Brandon TL, Marui H, Tuladhar GR (2005) Comparison of residual shear strengths from back analysis and ring shear tests on undisturbed and remolded specimens. J Geotech Geoenviron 131:1071–1079

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varnes DJ (1978) Slope movement types and processes. National Academy of Sciences, Transportation research board

  • Vilímek V, Smolíková J (2015) Scientific research for landslide risk analysis and international education for mitigation and preparedness. Landslides 12:1227–1231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voight B (1973) Correlation between Atterberg plasticity limits and residual shear strength of natural soils. Géotechnique 23:265–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang GH, Zhang DX, Furuya G, Yang J (2014) Pore-pressure generation and fluidization in a loess landslide triggered by the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake, China: a case study. Eng Geol 174:36–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang HB, Zhou B, Wu SR, Shi JS, Li B (2011) Characteristic analysis of large-scale loess landslides: a case study in Baoji City of Loess Plateau of Northwest China. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 11:1829–1837

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JJ, Liang Y, Zhang HP, Wu Y, Lin X (2013) A loess landslide induced by excavation and rainfall. Landslides 11:141–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen BP, He L (2012) Influence of lixiviation by irrigation water on residual shear strength of weathered red mudstone in Northwest China: implication for its role in landslides’ reactivation. Eng Geol 151:56–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen B, Wang S, Wang E, Zhang J (2004) Characteristics of rapid giant landslides in China. Landslides 1:247–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen BP, Aydin A (2004) Deformation history of a landslide slip-zone in light of soil microstructure. Environ Eng Geosci 10:123–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen BP, Aydin A, Duzgoren-Aydin NS, Li YR, Chen HY, Xiao SD (2007) Residual strength of slip zones of large landslides in the Three Gorges area, China. Eng Geol 93:82–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen BP, Wang S, Wang E, Zhang JM, Wu YG, Wang X (2005) Deformation characteristics of loess landslide along the contact between loess and Neocene red mudstone. Acta Geologica Sinica-English Edition 79:139–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen BP, Yan YJ (2014) Influence of structure on shear characteristics of the unsaturated loess in Lanzhou, China. Eng Geol 168:46–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wesley LD (2003) Residual strength of clays and correlations using Atterberg limits. Géotechnique 53:669–672

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu W, Wang N (2006) Landslide hazards in Gansu. Lanzhou University Press, Lanzhou (in Chinese)

  • Xu L, Dai F, Tu X, Tham LG, Zhou Y, Iqbal J (2013) Landslides in a loess platform, North-West China. Landslides 11:993–1005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang BP, Yuan HZ, Wang L (1994) The quantitative analysis of effects of soil moisture upon the Loess structure strength. Acta Univ Agric Boreali-occidentails 22:54–60 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang DX, Wang GH (2007) Study of the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake-induced landslides in loess (China). Eng Geol 94(1-2):76–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang D, Wang G, Luo C, Chen J, Zhou Y (2008) A rapid loess flowslide triggered by irrigation in China. Landslides 6:55–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z (1980) Loess in China. GeoJournal 4:525–540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Wang T, Wu S, Tang H, Xin P, Liang C (2016) Dynamics stress–strain behavior of Tianshui soils. Landslides 14:323–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou JW, Cui P, Yang XG (2016) Effects of material composition and moisture content on the mechanical properties of landslide deposits triggered by the Wenchuan earthquake. Acta Geologica Sinica-English Edition 90:242–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zydroń T, Zawisza E (2011) Shear strength investigation of soils in landslide areas. Geologija 53:147–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Special thanks were given to J. Chen, W.L. Ye, L.T. Feng, Y. Jiang, and X. Su for their important supports in the laboratory tests.

Funding

The present work received financial support from the National Key Research and Development Project (Grant No. 2017YFC0307305), the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41876066, 41362014 and 42007274), and the National Program on Key Basic Research Project (973 Program) (Grant No. 2014CB744701.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China, the Ministry of Education of China and College of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Tianshui Road, 222, Lanzhou, 730000, People’s Republic of China

    Wenwu Chen

  2. First Institute of Oceanography, MNR, Xianxialing Road 006, Qingdao, 266061, People’s Republic of China

    Binghui Song, Yongfu Sun & Yupeng Song

  3. Geological Hazards Institute, Gansu Academy of Sciences, Dingxi Road, 211, Lanzhou, 730000, People’s Republic of China

    Weijiang Wu

Authors
  1. Wenwu Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Binghui Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Weijiang Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yongfu Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yupeng Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Binghui Song.

Additional information

Highlights

• The water sensitivities of direct and reversal shear strength of three kinds of slip zone soils were analyzed.

• The different failure characteristics of landslide could be related to the shear stress-strain correlations of soils in slip zone.

• Atterberg limits and clay fraction could be correlated with the residual friction angles for slip zone soil.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, W., Song, B., Wu, W. et al. Direct and reversal shear behaviors of three kinds of slip zone soil in the Northwest of China. Bull Eng Geol Environ 80, 3939–3952 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02174-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02174-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation