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Investigation and monitoring on a rainfall-induced deep-seated landslide

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Abstract

The ground movement of Xiashan village landside of Zhejiang province, China, commenced in 1958 due to typhoon rainstorms followed by two subsequent slips in 1989 and 2001. The reactivation of the large-scale landslide has become a serious concern to the safety of a nearby reservoir and the local villagers. A pilot testing program was established in 2007 using a variety of landslide monitoring facilities. The slope is of a chair-shaped form with Quaternary residual soil overlying the Pliocene sedimentary and basalt layers. The pilot test program included GPS, inclinometers of conventional and fixed types, piezometer, and rain gauge. Two potential sliding planes were identified in the inclinometers showing the possible slip mode along more than one bedding plane. A shallow slip surface dipping a low angle (10°) lies in the residual soil, while a deep slip surface is located along the weak plane within the Pliocene strata. The piezometer reading indicated high groundwater level and a certain level of correlation with the displacement velocity. A critical groundwater depth was determined, and its usage as a warning threshold was discussed. In view of the very important location about an existing dam, it is strongly recommended that surface and internal drainage facilities be provided to ensure the long-term stability of the landslide.

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Acknowledgments

The study is supported by the National “Twelfth Five-Year” Plan for Science & Technology Support (No. 2012BAK10B06), the National Natural Science Foundation of China projects (No.51208461 and No.41202216), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No.2014QNA4016 and No.2014QNA4020).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Momo Zhi, Yuequan Shang, Yu Zhao & Qing Lü

  2. Department of Ocean Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Hongyue Sun

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  1. Momo Zhi
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  2. Yuequan Shang
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  3. Yu Zhao
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  4. Qing Lü
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  5. Hongyue Sun
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Correspondence to Yu Zhao.

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Zhi, M., Shang, Y., Zhao, Y. et al. Investigation and monitoring on a rainfall-induced deep-seated landslide. Arab J Geosci 9, 182 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2206-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2206-8

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