Abstract
This paper investigates the mechanical conditions governing the activation of shallow landslides in unsaturated deposits. Particular attention is given to the effect of saturation processes applied under a constant total state of stress. For the sake of generality, multiple failure mechanisms are considered and are interpreted in the light of a unified theoretical framework. The analyses rely on the scheme of infinite slope and on the use of a coupled hydro-mechanical constitutive model. Simple shear test simulations are used to investigate the role of stress anisotropy, initial suction and soil properties. The simulations show that the predicted mechanism of activation depends on the material constants that reproduce the coupling between retention properties and stress-strain behavior. These constants affect the magnitude of the triggering perturbations and can play a relevant role in collapsible/liquefiable deposits. In particular, it is shown that the range of slope inclinations prone to originate a runaway instability can be a function of such hydro-mechanical coupling terms, thus depending on material constants that are not directly associated with the shearing resistance.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Landslides and Engineered Slopes |
| Subtitle of host publication | Protecting Society through Improved Understanding - Proceedings of the 11th International and 2nd North American Symposium on Landslides and Engineered Slopes, 2012 |
| Editors | Erik Eberhardt, Corey Froese, A. Keith Turner, Serge Leroueil |
| Publisher | CRC Press/Balkema |
| Pages | 1745-1751 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780415621236 |
| State | Published - 2012 |
| Event | 11th International Symposium on Landslides and 2nd North American Symposium on Landslides, 2012 - Banff, Canada Duration: Jun 2 2012 → Jun 8 2012 |
Publication series
| Name | Landslides and Engineered Slopes: Protecting Society through Improved Understanding - Proceedings of the 11th International and 2nd North American Symposium on Landslides and Engineered Slopes, 2012 |
|---|---|
| Volume | 2 |
Conference
| Conference | 11th International Symposium on Landslides and 2nd North American Symposium on Landslides, 2012 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Canada |
| City | Banff |
| Period | 6/2/12 → 6/8/12 |
Funding
Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Earth-Surface Processes
- Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology