Abstract
In order to effectively reduce the impact of rainfall-induced landslides on properties and life, it is important to understand rainfall-caused landslides and their sliding mechanisms. The objective of this paper is to study the effects of different rainfall patterns and different slope structures on the deformation and failure process of shallow loess slopes. To achieve the objective, three categories of indoor physical model experiments of a loess slope with and without a vertical joint were implemented under different rainfall patterns. Three kinds of sensors, including volumetric water content, matric suction, and pore-water pressure sensors, were buried in the model slopes to record the internal changes driving deformation. Analyses of the sensor records and the associated deformational changes, and the experimental results under different conditions show that the matric suction in loess slopes decreased gradually. Loess strength reduced with the continuous increase of volumetric water content. After excess pore-water pressure was generated by the slope deformation and poor drainage of the loess, it decreased the effective stress and the loess strength, which resulted in landslides. In addition, it was observed that the influence of slope structure on stability was greater than that of rainfall patterns. This paper attempts to explain the failure mode and triggering mechanisms of shallow loess landslides induced by rainfall.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aleotti P (2004) A warning system for rainfall-induced shallow failures. Eng Geol 73:247–265
Ali A, Huang J, Lyamin A, Sloan S, Cassidy M (2014) Boundary effects of rainfall-induced landslides. Comput Geotech 61:341–354
Anderson SA, Sitar N (1995) Analysis of rainfall-induced debris flow. J Geotech Eng 121:545–552
Chang K, Chiang S (2009) An integrated model for predicting rainfall-induced landslides. Geomorphology 105:366–373
Chen H, Lee C (2003) A dynamic model for rainfall-induced landslides on natural slopes. Geomorphology 51:269–288
Claessens L, Schoorl JM, Veldkamp A (2007) Modelling the location of shallow landslides and their effects on landscape dynamics in large watersheds: an application for northern New Zealand. Geomorphology 87:16–27
Collins B, Znidarcic D (2004) Stability analyses of rainfall induced landslides. J Geotechn Geoenviron Eng 130(4):362–372
Crozier MJ (1999) Prediction of rainfall-triggered landslides: a test of the antecedent water status model. Earth Surf Proc Land 24:825–833
Evans SG, Roberts NJ, Ischuk A, Delaney KB, Morozova GS, Tutubalina O (2009) Landslides triggered by the 1949 Khait earthquake, Tajikistan. and associated loss of life Eng Geol 109(3-4):195–212
Gao GR (1988) Formation and development of the structure of collapsing loess in China. Eng Geol 25:235–245
Godt JW, Baum RL, Chleborad AF (2006) Rainfall characteristics for shallow landsliding in Seattle, Washington. USA Earth Surf Proc Land 31:97–110
Guzzetti F, Cardinali M, Reichenbach P, Cipolla F, Sebastiani C, Galli M, Salvati P (2004) Landslides triggered by the 23 November 2000 rainfall event in the Imperia Province, Western Liguria. Italy Eng Geol 73:229–245
Hovius N, Stark CP, Allen PA (1997) Sediment flux from a mountain belt derived by landslide mapping. Geology 25:231–234
Liu D (1985) Loess and environment. Science Press, Beijing, pp 1–43 (in Chinese)
Peng JB, Fan ZJ, Wu D, Zhuang JQ, Dai FC, Chen WW, Zhao C (2015) Heavy rainfall triggered loess–mudstone landslide and subsequent debris flow in Tianshui. China. Eng. Geol. 186:79–90
Peng JB, Sun P, Igwe O, Li XA (2017) Loess caves, a special kind of geo-hazard on loess plateau, northwestern China. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.08.012
Rosenau M, Lohrmann J, Oncken O (2009) Shocks in a box: an analogue model of subduction earthquake cycles with application to seismotectonic forearc evolution. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 114:B01409
Tsai T (2011) Influences of soil water characteristic curve on rainfall-induced shallow landslides. Environ Earth Sci 64(2):449–459
Tsaparas I, Rahardjo H, Toll D, Leong E (2002) Controlling parameters for rainfall induced landslides. Comput Geotech 29(1):1–27
Tu XB, Kwong AKL, Dai FC, Tham LG, Min H (2009) Field monitoring of rainfall infiltration in a loess slope and analysis of failure mechanism of rainfall-induced landslides. Eng Geol 105:134–150
Wang GH, Zhang DX, Furuya G, Yang J (2014) Pore-pressure generation and fluidization in a loess landslide triggered by the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake, China: a case study. Eng Geol 174:36–45
Wu LZ, Zhou Y, Sun P, Shi JS, Liu GG, Bai LY (2017) Laboratory characterization of rainfall-induced loess slope failure. Catena 150:1–8
Wu LZ, Deng H, Huang RQ, Zhang LM, Guo XG, Zhou Y (2018a) Evolution of lakes created by landslide dams and the role of dam erosion: A case study of the Jiajun landslide on the Dadu River, China. Quatern Int. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2018.08.001
Wu LZ, Zhang LM, Zhou Y, Xu Q, Liu GG, Bai LY (2018b) Theoretical analysis and model test for rainfall induced shallow landslides in the red-bed area of Sichuan. Bull Eng Geol Environ 77(4):1343–1353
Xu L, Dai FC, Tham LG, Tu XB, Min H, Zhou YF, Wu CX, Xu K (2011) Field testing of irrigation effects on the stability of a cliff edge in loess, north-West China. Eng Geol 120:10–17
Xu L, Dai FC, Gong QM, Tham LG, Min H (2012) Irrigation-induced loess flow failure in Heifangtai platform. North-West China Environ Earth Sci 66:1707–1713
Zhang J, Jiao JJ, Yang J (2000) In situ rainfall infiltration studies at a hillside in Hubei province. China Eng Geol 57:31–38
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the NSFC (Nos. 41472296, 41372374, and 41672282), and China Geological Survey (No. DD20160271). The authors’ special appreciation goes to the editor and reviewers of this manuscript for their useful comments.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sun, P., Wang, G., Wu, L.Z. et al. Physical model experiments for shallow failure in rainfall-triggered loess slope, Northwest China. Bull Eng Geol Environ 78, 4363–4382 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-018-1420-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-018-1420-5