Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prediction of ground displacements and velocities from groundwater level changes at the Vallcebre landslide (Eastern Pyrenees, Spain)

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Landslides Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In active landslides, the prediction of acceleration of movement is a crucial issue for the design and performance of warning systems. The landslide of Vallcebre in the Eastern Pyreenes, Spain, has been monitored since 1996 and data on rainfall, groundwater levels and ground displacements are measured on a regular basis. Displacements observed in borehole wire extensometers have shown an immediate response of the landslide to rainfall episodes. This rapid response is likely due to the presence of preferential drainage ways. The occurrence of nearly constant rates of displacement in coincidence with steady groundwater levels suggests the presence of viscous forces developed during the movement. An attempt to predict both landslide displacements and velocities was performed at Vallcebre by solving the momentum equation in which a viscous term (Bingham and power law) was added. Results show that, using similar rheological parameters for the entire landslide, computed displacements reproduce quite accurately the displacements observed at three selected wire extensometers. These results indicate that prediction of displacements from groundwater level changes is feasible.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Angeli MG, Gasparetto P, Menotti RM, Pasuto A, Silvano S (1996) A visco-plastic model for slope analysis applied to a mudslide in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Quat J Eng Geol 29:233–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Caine N (1980) The rainfall intensity-duration control of shallow landslides and debris-flows. Geografiska Annaler 62A:23–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Cancelli A, Nova R (1985) Landslides on soil debris cover triggered by rainstorm in Valtellina (Central Alps, Italy). In: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Lanslides, Toronto, pp 262–272

  • Corominas J, Moya J, Ledesma A, Rius J, Gili JA, Lloret A (1999) Monitoring of the Vallcebre landslide, Eastern Pyrenees, Spain. In: Proceedings International Symposium on Slope Stability Engineering. Matsuyama, Japan, vol. 2, pp 1239–1244

  • Corominas J, Moya J, Lloret A, Gili JA, Angeli MG, Pasuto A (2000) Measurement of landslide displacements using a wire extensometer. Eng Geol 55:149–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Federico A, Popescu M, Fidelibus C, Interno G (2004) On the prediction of the time of occurrence of a slope failure: a review. In: Proceedings 9th International Symposium on Landslides. Rio de Janeiro, Taylor and Francis, London, vol. 2, pp 979–983

  • Fernandez-Pombo MP (1998) Esllavissada de Vallcebre. Condicions d’equilibri límit del vessant i estudi sobre el comportament viscoplàstic del moviment. Graduation Project. Civil Engineering School, Barcelona. Unpublished

  • Flageollet JC, Maquaire O, Martin B, Weber D (1999) Landslides and climatic conditions in the Barcelonnette and Vars basins (Southern French Alps, France). Geomorphology 30:65–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fukuzono T (1990) Recent studies on time prediction of slope failure. Landslide News 4:9–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Gili JA, Corominas J (1992) Aplicación de técnicas fotogramétricas y topográficas en la auscultación de algunos deslizamientos. III Simposio Nacional sobre Taludes y Laderas Inestables. La Coruña. vol. 3, 941–952

  • Gili JA, Corominas J, Rius J (2000) Using Global Positioning Techniques in landslide monitoring. Eng Geol 55:167–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths DV, Lane PA (1999) Slope stability analysis by finite elements. Geotechnique 49(3):387–403

    Google Scholar 

  • Keefer DK, Wilson RC, Mark RK, Brabb EE, Brown WM, Ellen SD, Harp EL, Wieczorek GF, Alger CS, Zatkin RS (1987) Real-time landslide warning during heavy rainfall. Science 238:921–925

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen MC, Simon A (1993) A rainfall intensity-duration threshold for landslides in humid-tropical environment, Puerto Rico. Geografiska Annaler 75A(1–2):13–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Lateltin O, Bonnard Ch (1995) Reactivation of the Falli-Hölli landslide in the Prealps of Freiburg, Switzerland. Landslide News 9:18–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Leroueil S, Locat J, Vaunat J, Picarelli L, Lee H, Faure R (1996) Geotechnical characterization of landlsides. In: Senneset K (ed) 7th International Symposium on Landslides. Trondheim, A.A. vol. 1. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 53–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovell CW (1988) Users guide for PC STABL 5M. Purdue University, Indiana

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsui T, San KC (1992) Finite element slope stability analysis by shear strength reduction technique. Soils Found 32:59–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Noverraz F, Bonnard Ch, Dupraz H, Huguenin L (1998) Grands glissements et climat. Rapport final PNR 31. Vdf. Zurich. 314 pp

  • Petley DN, Allison RJ (1997) The mechanics of deep-seated landslides. Earth Surf Proc Landforms 22:747–758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petley DN, Bulmer MH, Murphy W (2002) Patterns of movement in rotational and translational landslides. Geology 30(8):719–722

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Picarelli L, Urciuoli S, Russo C (2000) Mechanics of slope deformation and failure in stiff clays and clay shales as a consequence of pore pressure fluctuation. Proceedings 8th International Symposium on Landslides, Cardiff, vol. 4, 34 pp

  • Saito M (1965) Forecasting the time of occurrence of a slope failure. Proceedings 6th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. Montreal, vol. 2, 315–318

  • Van Asch ThWJ, Buma JT (1997) Modelling groundwater fluctuations and the frequency of movement of a landslide in the Terres Noires of Barcelonnette (France). Earth Surf Proc Landforms 22:131–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voight B (1989) Material science law applies to time forecast of slope failure. Landslide News 3:8–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Voight B, Kennedy J (1979) Slope failure of 1967-1969 Chuquicamata mine, Chile. In: Voight B (ed). Rockslides and avalanches. Developments in geotechnical engineering 14B. Elsevier, pp 595–632

  • Vulliet L (2000) Natural slopes in slow movement. In: Zaman M, Gioda G, Booker J (eds). Modeling in geomechanics. John Wiley, Chichester, pp 654–676

    Google Scholar 

  • Vulliet L, Hutter K (1988) Some constitutive laws for creeping soil and for rate-dependent sliding at interfaces. In: Swoboda (ed) Numerical methods in geomechanics (Innsbruck 1988). Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 495–502

  • Wieczorek GF (1987) Effect of rainfall intensity and duration on debris flows in central Santa Cruz Mountains, California. Geological Society of America. Rev Eng Geol 7:93–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson PL, Anderson MG, Lloyd DM (2002) An integrated hydrological model for rain-induced landslide prediction. Earth Surf Proc Landforms 27:1285–1297

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The financial support of this work has been provided by CEC through the NEWTECH project (Contract ENV-CT96-0248), the Spanish CICYT (Contract AMB96-2480-CE) and the Institute of Geomodels (IGME-DURSI-UPC-UB). The authors are indebted to David N. Petley who has reviewed and made some valuable suggestions to this paper

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geotechnical Engineering and Geosciences, Technical University of Catalonia, UPC, Jordi Girona 1-3, D-2 Building, E-08034, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordi Corominas, José Moya, Alberto Ledesma, Antonio Lloret & Josep A. Gili

Authors
  1. Jordi Corominas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. José Moya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alberto Ledesma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Antonio Lloret
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Josep A. Gili
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jordi Corominas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Corominas, J., Moya, J., Ledesma, A. et al. Prediction of ground displacements and velocities from groundwater level changes at the Vallcebre landslide (Eastern Pyrenees, Spain). Landslides 2, 83–96 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-005-0049-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-005-0049-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation