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Centrifuge model test of an irrigation-induced loess landslide in the Heifangtai loess platform, Northwest China

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Abstract

The Heifangtai platform in Northwest China is famous for irrigation-induced loess landslides. This study conducted a centrifuge model test with reference to an irrigation-induced loess landslide that occurred in Heifangtai in 2011. The loess slope model was constructed by whittling a cubic loess block obtaining from the landslide site. The irrigation water was simulated by applying continuous infiltration from back of the slope. The deformation, earth pressure, and pore pressure were investigated during test by a series of transducers. For this particular study, the results showed that the failure processes were characterized by retrogressive landslides and cracks. The time dependent reductions of cohesion and internal friction angle at basal layer with increasing pore-water pressure were responsible for these failures. The foot part of slope is very important for slope instability and hazard prevention in the study area, where concentration of earth pressure and generation of high pore-water pressures would form before failures. The measurements of earth pressure and pore-water pressure might be effective for early warning in the study area.

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Acknowledgement

This study was partially supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41572302) and the Funds for Creative Research Groups of China (Grant No. 41521002). The authors would like to thank the reviewers and editor for their valuable comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Sheng-hua Cui, Xiang-jun Pei & Run-qiu Huang

  2. Sichuan Provincial Transport Department Highway Planning, Survey, Design and Research Institute, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Hao-yu Wu

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  1. Sheng-hua Cui
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  2. Xiang-jun Pei
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  3. Hao-yu Wu
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  4. Run-qiu Huang
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Correspondence to Xiang-jun Pei.

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Cui, Sh., Pei, Xj., Wu, Hy. et al. Centrifuge model test of an irrigation-induced loess landslide in the Heifangtai loess platform, Northwest China. J. Mt. Sci. 15, 130–143 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-017-4490-0

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