Abstract
A landslide can consist of multiple failures advancing upslope retrogressively. This paper investigates the mechanism of a seepage-induced retrogressive landslide in a silty sand slope and assesses the accuracy of the limit equilibrium analysis in predicting the stability and sequential failure surfaces at retrogressive failures. A centrifuge model test was performed on a 12-m-high silty sand slope with an inclination of 45° at 50 g using a 4.5 m radius large beam centrifuge facility available at IIT Bombay. Seepage was generated using an in-flight simulator, and the behavior of the model slope was monitored. Three retrogressive slides were observed in the slope model when the seepage flow was established. The results indicated that the time interval between initial and second failure episodes is more prolonged than between second and last failure episodes. The length of sliding surfaces decreases when the landslide retrogresses, although their depth remains roughly unchanged. In addition, the slope with an inclination of 63.4° (2 V:1H) had significantly higher values in normalized depth, depth of displaced mass, and retrogression distance than those for 45° slope inclination. The limit equilibrium approach can estimate the stability at pre-failure stages, provided that pertinent geometry and loading conditions are satisfactorily incorporated.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sim KB, Lee ML, Wong SY (2022) A review of landslide acceptable risk and tolerable risk. Geoenviron Disasters J 9(3):1–17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40677-022-00205-6
Highland L, Bobrowsky PT (2008) The landslide handbook: a guide to understanding landslides. US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia
Liu QQ, Li JC (2015) Effects of water seepage on the stability of soil-slopes. In: Proceedings of IUTAM Symposium on the Dynamics of Extreme Events Influenced by Climate Change 2013. Procedia IUTAM, vol 17, pp 29–39
Varnes DJ (1978) Slope movement types and processes. Landslides: analysis and control. Transp Res Board 176:11–33
Cruden DM, Varnes DJ (1996) Landslides: Investigation and Mitigation. Transportation Research Board, Special Report No. 247, pp 36–75
Zheng Y, Chen C, Liu T (2020) Analysis of a retrogressive landslide with double sliding surfaces: a case study. Environ Earth Sci J 79(21):1–23
Haug MD, Sauer EK, Fredlund DG (1977) Retrogressive slope failures at beaver creek, south of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Can Geotech J 14(3):288–301
Kenney TC (1967) Slide behaviour and shear resistance of a quick clay determined from a study of the landslide at Selnes, Norway. In: Proceedings of Geotechnical Conference Oslo 1967 on Shear Strength Properties of Natural Soils and Rocks, vol 1, pp 57–64
He K, Ma G, Hu X, Liu B (2021) Failure mechanism and stability analysis of a reactivated landslide occurrence in Yanyuan City, China. Landslides J 18:1097–1114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-020-01571-8
Li S, Xu Q, Tang T, Li H, Yang H, Wei Y (2020) Centrifuge modeling and the analysis of ancient landslides subjected to reservoir water level fluctuation. Sustainability 12(5):2092. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12052092
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 Geo J 245:169–179
Regmi RK, Jung K, Nakagawa H, Kang J (2014) Study on mechanism of retrogressive slope failure using artificial rainfall. CATENA J 122(12):27–41
Chandel A, Singh M, Thakur V (2021) Retrogressive failure of reservoir rim sandy slopes induced by steady-state seepage condition. Indian Geotech J 51(4):705–718
Kennedy R, Take WA, Siemens G (2021) Geotechnical centrifuge modeling of retrogressive sensitive clay landslides. Can Geotech J. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2019-0677
Dhanai P, Singh VP, Soni P (2022) Rainfall triggered slope instability analysis with changing climate. Indian Geotech J. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-021-00581-0
Robinson JD, Vahedifard F, Kouchak AA (2017) Rainfall triggered slope instabilities under a changing climate: comparative study using historical and projected precipitation extremes. Can Geotech J 54(1):117–127
ImageJ (2022) User Guide, Version 1.53o S. US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
Raisinghani DV (2011) Studies on the performance of hybrid geosynthetic reinforced slopes. Dissertation, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
Funding
No funding source.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Formerly, Visiting research student, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai – 400076, India.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rajabian, A., Viswanadham, B.V.S. Centrifuge Study of a Retrogressive Seepage-Triggered Landslide in Silty Sand Slopes. Indian Geotech J 52, 1313–1324 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-022-00633-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-022-00633-z