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Characteristics and remediation of a landslide complex triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan, China earthquake-case from Yingxiu near the earthquake epicenter

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Abstract

During the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the river valley from Yingxiu to Wenchuan experienced numerous landslides and became a prominent area of landslide complexes. The present large landslide complex near the earthquake epicenter consisted of Laohuzui slide 1, Laohuzui slide 2 and Douyaping slide. The scale, geology, morphology, sliding process, and failure mechanism of the landslide complex are analyzed by means of field investigation, aerial photograph and stereographic projection technique. Characteristics of these three slides including seismic response of slope, landslide debris, damage and potential failure are discussed: the convex slope and the upslope of fractured granitic rock at high altitude are highly prone to landsliding under earthquake; the high source altitude and long travel path determine grain sizes and the deposit angle of the slide debris; the landslide complex completely buries the G213 roadway and dams up the Minjiang River in these sections; after the earthquake, rainfall, aftershocks and river erosion may retrigger new failures, such as retrogressive slide of weathered fractured rock, colluvial landslide, debris flow, embankment failure and rockfall. The following are presented as suggested remedial measures to protect the roadway and stabilize the slope: the removing and trenching, protective concrete/rock blocks against erosion, retaining structure, rockfall stopping wall, rockfall restraining net, rock bolt, and the planting of vegetation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge support from Sichuan Communication Surveying and Design Institute for the field investigation and also sincerely thank Prof. Daniel Kister for English revisions. The study is financially supported by National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (No. 41002100), Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-YW-332) and Science Fund for Young Scholars, China Three Gorges University (KJ2009A009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, People’s Republic of China

    Yu Ding & Chao Dang

  2. Key Laboratory of Geological Hazards on Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Ministry of Education, Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, People’s Republic of China

    Yu Ding & Chao Dang

  3. Institute of Resources and Environment, North China University of Water Conservancy and Hydroelectric Power, Zhengzhou, 450011, People’s Republic of China

    Guangxiang Yuan

  4. Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China

    Quancai Wang

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  1. Yu Ding
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  2. Chao Dang
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  3. Guangxiang Yuan
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  4. Quancai Wang
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Correspondence to Yu Ding.

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Ding, Y., Dang, C., Yuan, G. et al. Characteristics and remediation of a landslide complex triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan, China earthquake-case from Yingxiu near the earthquake epicenter. Environ Earth Sci 67, 161–173 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1489-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1489-7

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