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The rainfall-induced Wulipo rockslide, China: a modified model for rockslide initiation

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Abstract

During the May 12, 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, rock masses in the earthquake region were shaken, and subsequently, a number of post-earthquake landslides and debris flows occurred, triggered by heavy rainstorms. This paper presents a study of the rainfall-induced mechanism that triggered the landslides. This study is based on pre- and post-landslide geomorphology and geological features identified from pre-landslide high-resolution satellite imagery and post-landslide aerial photographs of the Wulipo landslide. The remote sensing observations were verified by field investigations. The results indicate that the heavy storm that occurred in July 2013 was the main trigger for the landslide although existing tensions and weak rock interfaces were the main internal causes for reactivation of the landslide. The bedding in the rocks dips in the same direction as the topographic slope. A tensile trough developed at the scarp. Based on data from the Wulipo rockslide, a model is proposed for calculating the safety factor for rockslides that takes into account the hydrostatic pressure along the structural plane of the rockslide. The results show that the proposed method can effectively estimate the stability of a storm-induced rockslide in regions underlain by bedded rocks. Based on this estimate, it is concluded that the Wulipo rockslide is a reactivated old rockslide.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Basic Research Program of China (No. 2013CB733200), the Creative Research Groups of China (No. 41521002), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41672282) for grants that made this research possible. The first author would also like to thank the Innovation Team of the Chengdu University of Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    L. Z. Wu & Q. Xu

  2. Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People’s Republic of China

    J. S. Shi

  3. Key Laboratory of Neotectonic Movement and Geohazard, M.L.R, Beijing, 100081, People’s Republic of China

    J. S. Shi

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  1. L. Z. Wu
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  2. J. S. Shi
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  3. Q. Xu
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Correspondence to J. S. Shi.

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Wu, L.Z., Shi, J.S. & Xu, Q. The rainfall-induced Wulipo rockslide, China: a modified model for rockslide initiation. Environ Earth Sci 76, 497 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6826-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6826-z

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