A sliding block model for the runout prediction of high-speed landslides

2001 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiande Miao ◽  
Zhongyu Liu ◽  
Yonghong Niu ◽  
Chongwu Ma

A sliding block model is developed for predicting the runout of high-speed slide-like landslides, based on the analysis of the dynamic mechanism of high-speed landslides. This model adopts the limit equilibrium analysis approach and incorporates mass dynamics and soil deformation into the calculation of soil movements. The critical state is considered as the initial stress state, and the interslice forces are obtained considering the equivalence of deformation energy. It is possible, applying this model, to simulate the whole travel process of the soil mass from the onset of the landslide and to predict the travel speed of the soil mass and the hazard area of the landslide. Application of the model to the Sale Mountain landslide and the Tianshui Forging Machine Factory landslide in China gives reasonable results in comparison to the field observations. The calculated results illustrate that (i) the fundamental causes of the high speed are the decline of the resultant friction force during sliding and the rapid and large fall of the centre of gravity of the back part of the slide mass; and (ii) the slide mass generally moves as a whole during the middle sliding stage, and the front part of the slide mass is often in a state of relaxation, even extension, at the end of the movement.Key words: high-speed landslides, dynamic analysis, runout distance, block model.

2011 ◽  
Vol 378-379 ◽  
pp. 418-422
Author(s):  
Ji Lun Miao ◽  
Jing Qiu Chen ◽  
Cen Wen

A sliding block model is developed for predicting the runout of high-speed landslides, which couple with SPH method (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) to simulate impulse wave. This model adopts the limit equilibrium analysis approach to simulate the whole travel process of the soil mass from the onset of the landslide. The submarine landslide produces highly unsteady and rapidly varied flows, so it was very complicated by fixed grid numerical simulations. The SPH method is a meshfree particle-based Lagrangian method. A sample test is given which shows the impulsive waves generated by high-speed landslide can be reproduced well.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sima Ghosh

In this present paper, a circular failure surface passing through the toe is assumed for a homogeneous soil, and the Fellenius line is used to locate the centre of the most critical circle. Using limit equilibrium analysis under the influence of static forces such as weight of potential slide mass and surcharge along with the pseudo-static seismic forces are considered to obtain the factor of safety of the slopes. Factor of safety is found through the application of force equilibrium. The effects of variation of different parameters like slope angle (i), soil friction angle (F) and seismic acceleration coefficients both in the horizontal and vertical directions (kh and kv respectively) on the factor of safety are presented. Finally, the present results are compared to the existing solutions available in literature and found to give minimum values of factor of safety using the present approach for seismic slope stability analysis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 8870
Author(s):  
Fhatuwani Sengani ◽  
François Mulenga

The application of limit equilibrium analysis and numerical simulation in case of slope instability is described. The purpose of the study was to use both limit equilibrium methods (LEMs) and numerical simulations (finite element method (FEM)) to understanding the common factor imposing the selected slope into slope instabilities. Field observations, toppling analysis, rotational analysis, and numerical simulations were performed. The results of the study showed that the selected unstable slopes were associated with the sliding types of toppling; it was observed that the slopes were governed by tension cracks and layered soil mass and dominated with approximately two joints sets throughout. The simulated factor of safety (FoS) of the slopes composed of clay soil was denoted to be prone to slope instability while others were categorized as moderately stable. The simulated FoS of the slopes correlated very well with the visual observations; however, it is anticipated that properties of soil mass and other characteristics of the slopes contributed largely to the simulated FoS. The sensitivity of the model was further tested by looking into the effect of the slope angle on the stability of the slope. The results of the simulations showed that the steeper the slope, the more they become prone to instability. Lastly, Phase 2 numerical simulation (FEM) showed that volumetric strain, shear stress, shear strain, total displacement, and σ1 and σ3 components of the slope increase with the stages of the road construction. It was concluded improper road construction, steepness of the slope, slope properties (soil types), and multiple geological features cutting across are the common mechanisms behind the slope instability.


1978 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Tim Law ◽  
Peter Lumb

A limit equilibrium method of analysis is proposed for the study of progressive failure in slope stability under a long-term condition. Based on effective stresses, the formulation of the method is derived from consideration of force and moment equilibrium within the soil mass above a prospective slip surface. By dividing the soil mass into a number of vertical slices, recognition of local failure can be made. Once local failure takes place, post-peak strength is assumed to be operative. This then initiates a redistribution of interslice forces and leads to some further local failure. Thus realistic available strengths along the slip surface can be evaluated. This permits the definition of a final safety factor, which is expressed in terms of the actual available reserve of strength. The proposed method has been applied to three well documented case records and encouraging results have been obtained. Based on the assumption that post-peak strengths are given by a friction angle equal to the peak value and a zero cohesion, stability charts have been prepared for design purposes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 3768
Author(s):  
Fengqing Li ◽  
Isakbek Torgoev ◽  
Damir Zaredinov ◽  
Marina Li ◽  
Bekhzod Talipov ◽  
...  

Central Asia is one of the most challenged places, prone to suffering from various natural hazards, where seismically triggered landslides have caused severe secondary losses. Research on this problem is especially important in the cross-border Mailuu-Suu catchment in Kyrgyzstan, since it is burdened by radioactive legacy sites and frequently affected by earthquakes and landslides. To identify the landslide-prone areas and to quantify the volume of landslide (VOL), Scoops3D was selected to evaluate the slope stability throughout a digital landscape in the Mailuu-Suu catchment. By performing the limit equilibrium analysis, both of landslide susceptibility index (LSI) and VOL were estimated under five earthquake scenarios. The results show that the upstream areas were more seismically vulnerable than the downstream areas. The susceptibility level rose significantly with the increase in earthquake strength, whereas the VOL was significantly higher under the extreme earthquake scenario than under the other four scenarios. After splitting the environmental variables into sub-classes, the spatial variations of LSI and VOL became more clear: the LSI reduced with the increase in elevation, slope, annual precipitation, and distances to faults, roads, and streams, whereas the highest VOL was observed in the areas with moderate elevations, high precipitation, grasslands, and mosaic vegetation. The relative importance analysis indicated that the explanatory power reduced with the increase in earthquake level and it was significant higher for LSI than for VOL. Among nine environmental variables, the distance to faults, annual precipitation, slope, and elevation were identified as important triggers of landslides. By a simultaneous assessment of both LSI and VOL and the identification of important triggers, the proposed modelling approaches can support local decision-makers and householders to identify landslide-prone areas, further design proper landslide hazard and risk management plans and, consequently, contribute to the resolution of transboundary pollution conflicts.


1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 971-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Chen ◽  
N. R. Morgenstern ◽  
D. H. Chan

The mechanism of progressive failure is well understood as one which involves nonuniform straining of a strain-weakening material. Traditional limit equilibrium analysis cannot be used alone to obtain a rational solution for progressive failure problems because the deformation of the structure must be taken into account in the analysis. The failure of the Carsington Dam during construction in 1984 has been attributed to progressive failure of the underlying yellow clay and the dam core materials. The dam was monitored extensively prior to failure, and an elaborate geotechnical investigation was undertaken after failure. The limit equilibrium analysis indicated that the factors of safety were over 1.4 using peak strength of intact clay material or 1.2 based on reduced strength accounting for preshearing of the yellow clay layer. Factors of safety were found to be less than unity if residual strengths were used. The actual factor of safety at failure was, of course, equal to one. By using the finite element analysis with strain-weakening models, the extent and degree of weakening along the potential slip surface were calculated. The calculated shear strength was then used in the limit equilibrium analysis, and the factor of safety was found to be 1.05, which is very close to the actual value of 1.0. More importantly, the mechanism of failure and the initiation and propagation of the shear zones were captured in the finite element analysis. It was also found that accounting explicitly for pore-water pressure effects using the effective stress approach in the finite element and limit equilibrium analyses provides more realistic simulations of the failure process of the structure than analyses based on total stresses. Key words : progressive failure, strain softening, finite element analysis, dams.


1990 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. Chowdhury ◽  
S. Zhang

This note is concerned with the multiplicity of solutions for the factor of safety that may be obtained on the basis of the method of slices. Discontinuities in the function for the factor of safety are discussed and the reasons for false convergence in any iterative solution process are explored, with particular reference to the well-known Bishop simplified method (circular slip surfaces) and Janbu simplified or generalized method (slip surfaces of arbitrary shape). The note emphasizes that both the solution method and the method of searching for the critical slip surface must be considered in assessing the potential for numerical difficulties and false convergence. Direct search methods for optimization (e.g., the simplex reflection method) appear to be superior to the grid search or repeated trial methods in this respect. To avoid false convergence, the initially assumed value of factor of safety F0 should be greater than β1(=−tan α1 tan [Formula: see text]) where α1 and [Formula: see text] are respectively the base inclination and internal friction angle of the first slice near the toe of a slope, the slice with the largest negative reverse inclination. A value of F0 = 1 + β1, is recommended on the basis of experience. If there is no slice with a negative slope for any of the slip surfaces generated in the automatic, search process, then any positive value of F0 will lead to true convergence for F. It is necessary to emphasize that no slip surface needs to be rejected for computational reasons except for Sarma's methods and similarly no artificial changes need to be made to the value of [Formula: see text] except for Sarma's methods. Key words: slope stability, convergence, limit equilibrium, analysis, optimization, slip surfaces, geological discontinuity, simplex reflection technique.


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