Characterising the kinematics of the Joffre Peak landslides using a combined numerical modeling-remote sensing approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Fullin ◽  
Monica Ghirotti ◽  
Davide Donati ◽  
Doug Stead
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Numerical Modelling ◽  
Failure Mechanism ◽  
Rock Avalanche ◽  
Permafrost Degradation ◽  
Rock Slopes ◽  
Geological Structures ◽  
Runout Distance ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Stability

<p>Geological structure and kinematics are often the most important factors controlling the stability of high rock slopes; their characterization can provide insights that are instrumental in understanding the behaviour of a slope in addition to its evolution with time. In this research, we used a combined remote sensing-numerical modelling approach to characterize the Joffre Peak landslides (British Columbia, Canada), two rock avalanche events that occurred on May, 13<sup>th</sup> and 16<sup>th</sup> 2019. The May 13<sup>th</sup> event involved a volume of 2-3million m<sup>3</sup>, and resulted in a runout distance of 6 km. The May 16<sup>th</sup> event involved a volume of 2-3 million m<sup>3</sup>, and a runout distance of 4 km. The failure was likely promoted by permafrost degradation and reduction in shear strength along geological structures (in our simulation checked in dry condition). Using a wide range of techniques, including Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry, virtual outcrop discontinuity mapping, GIS analysis, and 3D distinct element numerical modelling, we investigated the important role that structural geology and slope kinematics played prior to and during the Joffre landslide events. In particular, we demonstrate that i) a very persistent, sub-vertical geological structures formed the lateral and rear release surfaces of the rock mass volume that failed as two discrete landslide events. The landslide blocks were separated by one such sub-vertical structure, which remains visible in the fresh landslide scar; ii) the first block, failed on May 13<sup>th</sup> 2019, involving planar sliding failure mechanism, possibly promoted by progressive failure and propagation of discontinuities along the basal surface. The detachment of this block enhanced the kinematic freedom of the second landslide block, which, on May 16<sup>th</sup>, failed as wedge/toppling mechanism; iii) the first landslide block acted as a key block; its displacement and failure provided the kinematic freedom for the occurrence of the second landslide.  In this paper we show that combining remote sensing mapping and 3D numerical modelling allows for the identification of the structural geological features controlling the stability and evolution of high rock slopes in alpine environments. We also show that constraining and validating the numerical modelling results using historical data is of paramount importance to ensure that the correct failure mechanism of the landslides is simulated.</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Stability assessment of degrading permafrost rock slopes based on a coupled thermo-mechanical model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Mamot ◽  
Samuel Weber ◽  
Saskia Eppinger, ◽  
Michael Krautblatter
Keyword(s):  
Slope Stability ◽  
Rock Slope ◽  
Fracture Network ◽  
Slope Instability ◽  
Rock Slope Stability ◽  
Permafrost Degradation ◽  
Rock Slopes ◽  
High Mountains ◽  
Permafrost Rock ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract. In the last two decades, permafrost degradation has been observed to be a major driver of enhanced rock slope instability and associated hazards in high mountains. While the thermal regime of permafrost degradation in high mountains has already been intensively investigated, the mechanical consequences on rock slope stability have so far not been reproduced in numerical models. Laboratory studies and conceptual models argue that warming and thawing decrease rock and discontinuity strength and promote deformation. This study presents the first general approach for a temperature-dependent numerical stability model that simulates the mechanical response of a warming and thawing permafrost rock slope. The proposed procedure is applied to a rockslide at the permafrost-affected Zugspitze summit crest. Laboratory tests on frozen and unfrozen rock joint and intact rock properties provide material parameters for the discontinuum model developed with the Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC). Geophysical and geotechnical field surveys deliver information on the permafrost distribution and fracture network. The model demonstrates that warming decreases rock slope stability to a critical level, while thawing initiates failure. A sensitivity analysis of the model with a simplified geometry and warming trajectory below 0 °C shows that progressive warming close to the melting point initiates instability above a critical slope angle of 50–62°, depending on the orientation of the fracture network. The increase in displacements intensifies for warming steps closer to zero degree. The simplified and generalised model can be applied to permafrost rock slopes (i) which warm above −4 °C, (ii), with ice-filled joints, (iii) with fractured limestone or probably most of the rock types relevant for permafrost rock slope failure, (iv) with a wide range of slope angles (30–70°) and orientations of the fracture network (consisting of three joint sets). The presented model is the first one capable of assessing the future destabilisation of degrading permafrost rock slopes.

Rock Avalanches

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Davies
Keyword(s):  
Rock Avalanche ◽  
Long Runout ◽  
Runout Distance ◽  
Glacier Terminus ◽  
Rock Avalanches ◽  
Landslide Volume ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
Scientific Questions

Rock avalanches are very large (greater than about 1 million m3) landslides from rock slopes, which can travel much farther than smaller events; the larger the avalanche, the greater the travel distance. Rock avalanches first became recognized in Switzerland in the 19th century, when the Elm and Goldau events killed many people a surprisingly long way from the origin of the landslide; these events first posed the “long-runout rock-avalanche” problem. In essence, the several-kilometer-long runout of these events appears to require low friction beneath and within the moving rock mass in order to explain their extremely long deposits, but in spite of intense research in recent decades this phenomenon still lacks a generally accepted explanation. Large collapses of volcano edifices can also generate rock avalanches that travel very long distances, albeit with a different runout–volume relationship to that of non-volcanic events. Even more intriguing is the presence of long-runout deposits not just on land but also beneath the sea and on the surfaces of Mars and the Moon. Numerous studies of rock avalanches have revealed a number of consistencies in deposit and behavioral characteristics: for example, that little or no mixing of material occurs within the moving debris mass during runout; that the deposit material beneath a meter-scale surface layer is pervasively and intensely fragmented, with fragments down to submicrometer size; that many of these fragments are agglomerates of even finer particles; that throughout the travel of a rock avalanche large volumes of fine dust are produced; that rock avalanche surfaces are typically covered by hummocks of a range of sizes; and that, as noted above, runout distance increases with volume. Since rock avalanches can travel tens of kilometers from their source, they pose severe, if low-probability, direct hazards to societal assets in mountain valleys; in addition, they can trigger extensive and long-duration geomorphic hazard cascades. Although large rock avalanches are rare (e.g., in a 10,000 km2 area of the Southern Alps in New Zealand, research showed that events larger than 5 × 107 m3 occurred about once every century), studies to date show that the proportion of total landslide volume involved in such large events is greater than the proportion in smaller, more frequent events, so that a large proportion of the total sediment generated in mountains by uplift and denudation originates in large rock avalanches. Consequently, large rock avalanches exert a significant influence on mountain geomorphology, for example by blocking rivers and forming landslide dams; these either fail, causing large dam-break floods and long-duration aggradation episodes to propagate down river systems, or remain intact to infill with sediment and form large valley flats. Rock avalanches that fall onto glaciers often result in large terminal moraines being formed as debris accumulates at the glacier terminus, and these moraines may have no relation to any climatic change. In addition, misinterpretation of rock avalanche deposits as moraines can cause underestimation of hazard risk and misinterpretation of paleoclimate. Rock avalanche runout behavior poses fundamental scientific questions, and rock avalanches have important effects on a wide range of geomorphic processes, which in turn pose threats to society. Better understanding of these impressive and intriguing events is crucial for both geoscientific progress and for reducing impacts of future disasters.

scholarly journals Application of Remote Sensing to the Investigation of Rock Slopes: Experience Gained and Lessons Learned

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doug Stead ◽  
Davide Donati ◽  
Andrea Wolter ◽  
Matthieu Sturzenegger
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Rock Slopes ◽  
Field Methods ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Difficult Terrain ◽  
Remote Sensing Methods

The stability and deformation behavior of high rock slopes depends on many factors, including geological structures, lithology, geomorphic processes, stress distribution, and groundwater regime. A comprehensive mapping program is, therefore, required to investigate and assess the stability of high rock slopes. However, slope steepness, rockfalls and ongoing instability, difficult terrain, and other safety concerns may prevent the collection of data by means of traditional field techniques. Therefore, remote sensing methods are often critical to perform an effective investigation. In this paper, we describe the application of field and remote sensing approaches for the characterization of rock slopes at various scale and distances. Based on over 15 years of the experience gained by the Engineering Geology and Resource Geotechnics Research Group at Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, Canada), we provide a summary of the potential applications, advantages, and limitations of varied remote sensing techniques for comprehensive characterization of rock slopes. We illustrate how remote sensing methods have been critical in performing rock slope investigations. However, we observe that traditional field methods still remain indispensable to collect important intact rock and discontinuity condition data.

scholarly journals Sinkhole Stability in Elliptical Cavity under Collapse and Blowout Conditions

Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 421
Author(s):  
Jim Shiau ◽  
Suraparb Keawsawasvong ◽  
Bishal Chudal ◽  
Kiritharan Mahalingasivam ◽  
Sorawit Seehavong
Keyword(s):  
Failure Mechanism ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Ratio Method ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Mechanism Study ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Water Mains ◽  
Shallow Cavities ◽  
Failure Conditions ◽  
The Stability

Road subsidence and sinkhole failures due to shallow cavities formed by defective water main have increased in recent decades and become one of the important research topics in geotechnical engineering. The present paper numerically studies the stability and its associated failure mechanism of ellipse-shaped cavity above defective water mains using the finite element limit analysis technique. For a wide range of geometrical parameters, the pressure ratio method is used to formulate the stability solutions in both blowout and collapse scenarios. Even though there is no published solution for elliptical cavities under blowout failure conditions, the obtained numerical results are compared with available circular solutions. Several conclusions are drawn based on the failure mechanism study of the various ellipse shape transformations in this study, whilst design charts and equations proposed for practical uses.

scholarly journals A temperature-dependent mechanical model to assess the stability of degrading permafrost rock slopes

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1125-1151
Author(s):  
Philipp Mamot ◽  
Samuel Weber ◽  
Saskia Eppinger ◽  
Michael Krautblatter
Keyword(s):  
Rock Slope ◽  
Slope Angle ◽  
Fracture Network ◽  
Slope Instability ◽  
Permafrost Degradation ◽  
Rock Slopes ◽  
High Mountains ◽  
Temperature Dependent ◽  
Permafrost Rock ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract. Over the last 2 decades, permafrost degradation has been observed to be a major driver of enhanced rock slope instability and associated hazards in high mountains. While the thermal regime of permafrost degradation in high mountains has been addressed in several modelling approaches, no mechanical models that thoroughly explain rock slope destabilisation controls in degrading permafrost have been developed. Meanwhile, recent laboratory studies have shown that degrading permafrost affects both, rock and ice mechanical strength parameters as well as the strength of rock–ice interfaces. This study presents a first general approach for a temperature-dependent numerical stability model that simulates the mechanical response of a warming and thawing permafrost rock slope. The proposed procedure is exemplified using a rockslide at the permafrost-affected Zugspitze summit crest. Laboratory tests on frozen and unfrozen rock joint and intact rock properties provide material parameters for discontinuum models developed with the Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC). Geophysical and geotechnical field surveys reveal information on permafrost distribution and the fracture network. This model can demonstrate how warming decreases rock slope stability to a critical level and why thawing initiates failure. A generalised sensitivity analysis of the model with a simplified geometry and warming trajectory below 0 ∘C shows that progressive warming close to the melting point initiates instability above a critical slope angle of 50–62∘, depending on the orientation of the fracture network. The increase in displacements intensifies for warming steps closer to 0 ∘C. The simplified and generalised model can be applied to permafrost rock slopes (i) which warm above −4 ∘C, (ii) with ice-filled joints, (iii) with fractured limestone or probably most of the rock types relevant for permafrost rock slope failure, and (iv) with a wide range of slope angles (30–70∘) and orientations of the fracture network (consisting of three joint sets). Here, we present a benchmark model capable of assessing the future destabilisation of degrading permafrost rock slopes.

scholarly journals Deformation Regulations and Failure Mechanism of High and Steep Layered Rock Slopes with Upper Steep and Lower Gentle Style Induced by Step-by-Step Excavations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiquan Yang ◽  
Xianglong Fan ◽  
Yi Yang ◽  
Kepeng Hou ◽  
Jun Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Failure Mechanism ◽  
Slip Surface ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Rock Slopes ◽  
Layered Rock ◽  
Whole Process ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Three Phases

Abstract High and steep layered rock slopes with upper steep and lower gentle style is a typical layered rock slope in Western region of China. Deformation regulations and failure mechanism of this kind of slope induced by step-by-step excavations were investigated in this study. By FLAC3D, excavation process is simulated according to actual situation (the first three phases) and planned excavation order (the last two phases). For the first three phases, through comparing simulation results and actual slope form, rationality of the model has been checked. For the last two phases, failure characteristics have been analyzed by simulation results. During the whole process of excavation, deformation can be summarized as "slip-bend-shear", and most dangerous slip surface of composite-style has been developed gradually into the slope. This research can provide theoretical support and guidance for the stability analysis, quantitative excavation design and pre-warning system of this type of slope in the process of western development in China.

Performance of Electronic Structure Methods for the Description of Hückel-Möbius Interconversions in Extended π-Systems

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Woller ◽  
Ambar Banerjee ◽  
Nitai Sylvetsky ◽  
Xavier Deraet ◽  
Frank De Proft ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Structure ◽  
Basis Set ◽  
Dft Methods ◽  
Molecular Switching ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Electronic Structure Methods ◽  
Explicitly Correlated ◽  
Relative Errors ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Basis Set Expansion

<p>Expanded porphyrins provide a versatile route to molecular switching devices due to their ability to shift between several π-conjugation topologies encoding distinct properties. Taking into account its size and huge conformational flexibility, DFT remains the workhorse for modeling such extended macrocycles. Nevertheless, the stability of Hückel and Möbius conformers depends on a complex interplay of different factors, such as hydrogen bonding, p···p stacking, steric effects, ring strain and electron delocalization. As a consequence, the selection of an exchange-correlation functional for describing the energy profile of topological switches is very difficult. For these reasons, we have examined the performance of a variety of wavefunction methods and density functionals for describing the thermochemistry and kinetics of topology interconversions across a wide range of macrocycles. Especially for hexa- and heptaphyrins, the Möbius structures have a pronouncedly stronger degree of static correlation than the Hückel and figure-eight structures, and as a result the relative energies of singly-twisted structures are a challenging test for electronic structure methods. Comparison of limited orbital space full CI calculations with CCSD(T) calculations within the same active spaces shows that post-CCSD(T) correlation contributions to relative energies are very minor. At the same time, relative energies are weakly sensitive to further basis set expansion, as proven by the minor energy differences between MP2/cc-pVDZ and explicitly correlated MP2-F12/cc-pVDZ-F12 calculations. Hence, our CCSD(T) reference values are reasonably well-converged in both 1-particle and n-particle spaces. While conventional MP2 and MP3 yield very poor results, SCS-MP2 and particularly SOS-MP2 and SCS-MP3 agree to better than 1 kcal mol<sup>-1</sup> with the CCSD(T) relative energies. Regarding DFT methods, only M06-2X provides relative errors close to chemical accuracy with a RMSD of 1.2 kcal mol<sup>-1</sup>. While the original DSD-PBEP86 double hybrid performs fairly poorly for these extended p-systems, the errors drop down to 2 kcal mol<sup>-1</sup> for the revised revDSD-PBEP86-NL, again showing that same-spin MP2-like correlation has a detrimental impact on performance like the SOS-MP2 results. </p>

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