Abstract
The Heifangtai platform in Northwest China is famous for irrigation-induced loess landslides. This study conducted a centrifuge model test with reference to an irrigation-induced loess landslide that occurred in Heifangtai in 2011. The loess slope model was constructed by whittling a cubic loess block obtaining from the landslide site. The irrigation water was simulated by applying continuous infiltration from back of the slope. The deformation, earth pressure, and pore pressure were investigated during test by a series of transducers. For this particular study, the results showed that the failure processes were characterized by retrogressive landslides and cracks. The time dependent reductions of cohesion and internal friction angle at basal layer with increasing pore-water pressure were responsible for these failures. The foot part of slope is very important for slope instability and hazard prevention in the study area, where concentration of earth pressure and generation of high pore-water pressures would form before failures. The measurements of earth pressure and pore-water pressure might be effective for early warning in the study area.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Cao ZH, Liu HL, Kong GQ, et al. (2015) Physical modelling of pipe piles under oblique pullout loads using transparent soil and particle image velocimetry. Journal of Central South University 22(11): 4329–4336. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2981-0
Cascini L, Cuomo S, Pastor M, et al. (2013) Modelling the postfailure stage of rainfall-induced landslides of the flow type. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 50(9): 924–934. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2012-0375
Cascini L, Sorbino G, Cuomo S, et al. (2014) Seasonal effects of rainfall on the shallow pyroclastic deposits of the campania region (southern italy). Landslides 11(5): 779–792. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-013-0395-3
Crosta GB, Prisco CD (1999) On slope instability induced by seepage erosion. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 36 (6):1056–1073. https://doi.org/10.1139/t99-062
Cuomo S, Moscariello M, Foresta V (2017) Wetting tests of partially saturated soils under simple shear conditions. Géotechnique Letters 7(2): 197–203. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.17.00019
Derbyshire E, Wang JT, Jin Z, et al. (1991) Landslides in the Gansu Loess of China. Catena, Cremlingen, Supplement 20: 119–145.
Derbyshire E, Wang JT, Billard A, et al. (1991). Landslides in the Gansu loess of China. In: Okuda S, Rapp A, Zhang L (eds), Loess: Geomorphological Hazards and Processes. Catena Suppl., vol. 20, pp 119–145.
Derbyshire E, Dijkstra TA, Smalley IJ, et al. (1994) Failure mechanisms in loess and the effects of moisture content changes on remolded strength. Quaternary International 24:5–15.
Derbyshire E, Meng XM, Dijkstra TA. (2000) Landslides in the Thick Loess Terrain of North-West China. Wiley, Chichester. pp 1–256.
Eckersley D (1990) Instrumented laboratory flowslides. Geotechnique 40(3): 489–502. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1990.40.3.489
Fan ZJ, Kulatilake PHSW, Peng JB, et al. (2016) In-flight excavation of a loess slope in a centrifuge model test. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 34(5):1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-016-0067-x
Gattinoni P, Francani V (2009) A tool for modeling slope instability triggered by piping. World Academy of Science Engineering and Technology 3 (8):238–244.
Kim J, Jeong S, Park S, et al. (2004) Influence of rainfallinduced wetting on the stability of slopes in weathered soils. Engineering Geology 75(3): 251–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2004.06.017
Lee YS, Cheuk CY, Boltonbolton MD (2008) Instability caused by a seepage impediment in layered fill slopes. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 45(10): 1410–1425. https://doi.org/10.1139/T08-067
Lei XY (1995) The hazards of loess landslides in the southern tableland of Jingyang County, Shaanxi and their relationship with the channel water into fields. Journal of Engineering Geology 3(1): 56–64. (In Chinese with English abstract)
Lei XY (2001) Geo-hazards in loess plateau and human activity. Science Press, Beijing, pp 258–264 (In Chinese).
Li TL, Long JH, Li XS (2007) Types of loess landslides and methods for their movement forecast. Journal of Engineering Geology 15(4):500–506. (In Chinese)
Lin ZG, Wang SJ (1988) Collapsibility and deformation characteristics of deep-seated loess in China. Engineering Geology 25(2-4):271–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952 (88)90032-4
Ling H, Ling HI (2012) Centrifuge model simulations of rainfallinduced slope instability. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 138(9): 1151–1157. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000679
Ling HI, Wu MH, Leshchinsky D, et al. (2009) Centrifuge modeling of slope instability. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 135(6): 758–767. https://doi.org/10.1061/ASCEGT.1943-5606.0000024
Liu TS (1985) Loess and environment. China Ocean Press, Beijing. (In Chinese)
Meng XM, Derbyshire E (1998) Landslides and their control in the Chinese Loess Plateau: models and case studies from Gansu Province, China. Geol Soc Lond Eng Geol Spec Publ 15(1):141–153. https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.ENG.1998.015.01.15
Moriwaki H, Inokuchi T, Hattanji T, et al. (2004) Failure processes in a full-scale landslide experiment using a rainfall simulator. Landslides 1(4): 277–288. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-004-0034-0
Schofield AN (1980) Cambridge geotechnical centrifuge operations. Geotechnique 30(3):227–268. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1980.30.3.227
Sorbino G, Nicotera MV (2013) Unsaturated soil mechanics in rainfall-induced flow landslides. Engineering Geology 165: 105–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2012.10.008
Stanier SA, White DJ (2013) Improved image-based deformation measurement in the centrifuge environment. Geotechnical Testing Journal 36(6):1–14. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20130044
Tamrakar SB, Toyosawa Y, Itoh K, et al. (2006) Failure heights comparison during excavation using in-flight excavator. In: Ng CWW, Zhang LM, Wang YH (eds) Physical modelling in geotechnics. Taylor & Francis Group, London. pp 385–390. https://doi.org/10.1201/NOE0415415866.ch52
Take WA, Bolton MD (2002) A new device for the measurement of negative pore water pressures in centrifuge models. Reproductive Biology 13 (Suppl 2):25–26.
Take WA, Bolton MD, Wong PCP, et al. (2004) Evaluation of landslide triggering mechanisms in model fill slopes. Landslides 1(3):173–184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-004-0025-1
Thusyanthan NI, Madabhushi SPG, Singh S (2007) Tension in geomembranes on landfill slopes under static and earthquake loading-centrifuge study. Geotextiles and Geomembranes 25(2):78–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2006.07.002
Toyosawa Y, Horii N, Tarnate S, et al. (1996) Failure characteristics of a sheet pile wall in centrifuge tests. In: Mair ERJ, Taylor RN (eds) Proceedings of the International Symposium on Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground, London. pp 225–230.
Viswanadham BVS, Rajesh S (2009) Centrifuge model tests on clay based engineered barriers subjected to differential settlements. Applied Clay Science 42(3-4): 460–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2008.06.002
Wakeman, TH, Dunlop P, Knutson L (1997) Current status and future management of dredging at the port authority of New York and New Jersey. In: Meegoda JN, Wakeman TH, Arulmoli A, et al. (eds.), Dredging and Management of Dredged Material: Geotechnical Special Publication 65. American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston. pp 12–22.
Wang GX (1992) Relationship between the origin of loess landslides and the human activities in China. Sixth International Symposium on Landslides. Landslides, vol.1. Balkema. pp 263–268.
Wang JD, Wang JT, Huang HG (1993) A study on creeping or sliding liquefaction of saturated soil. Geoscience (1):102–108 (In Chinese with English abstract).
Wang NQ (1997) Characteristics of landslides caused by irrigation on the margin of loess platform. Journal of Gansu Science 36(Suppl): 103–108. (In Chinese)
Wang ZR, Wu WJ, Zhou ZQ (2004) Landslide induced by overirrigation in loess platform areas in Gansu Province. Chinese Journal of Geological Hazard and Control 15(3):43–46. (In Chinese with English abstract)
Wang R, Zhang G, Zhang JM (2010) Centrifuge modelling of clay slope with montmorillonite weak layer under rainfall conditions. Applied Clay Science 50(3): 386–394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2010.09.002
Wang LP, Zhang GA (2014) Centrifuge model test study on pile reinforcement behavior of cohesive soil slopes under earthquake conditions. Landslides 11(2): 213–223. https://doi. org/10.1007/s10346-013-0388-2
White DJ, Take WA, Bolton MD (2003) Soil deformation measurement using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and photogrammetry. Geotechnique 53(7): 619–631. https://doi. org/10.1680/geot.2003.53.7.619
Xu L, Dai FC, Kwong AKL, et al. (2009) Characteristics and forming mechanisms of the platform-edge cracks and their significance to loess landslide. Geological Review 55(1): 55–59. (In Chinese with English abstract)
Xu L, Dai FC, Min H, et al. (2010) Loess landslide types and topographic features at south Jingyang platform, China. Earth Science -Journal of China University of Geosciences 35(1):155–160. (In Chinese with English abstract)
Xu L, Dai FC, Tham LG, et al. (2011) Field testing of irrigation effects on the stability of a cliff edge in loess, north-west China. Engineering Geology 120(1-4): 10–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2011.03.007
Xu L, Dai FC, Gong QM, et al. (2012) Irrigation-induced loess flow failure in Heifangtai Platform, north-west China. Environmental Earth Sciences 66(6): 1707–1713. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-0950-y
Xu L, Dai FC, Tu XB, et al. (2014) Landslides in a loess platform, north-west China. Landslides 11(6):993–1005. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-013-0445-x
Xue Q, Zhang MS, Tang YM, et al. (2011) Deformation analysis of the Jiaojia landslide at Heifang platform based on DEM. Hydrogeology & Engineering Geology 38 (1):133–138. (In Chinese with English abstract)
Yu YZ, Deng LJ, Sun X et al. (2008) Centrifuge modeling of a dry sandy slope response to earthquake loading. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering 6(3): 447–461. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-008-9070-9
Zhang DX, Wang GH, Lou CY et al. (2009) A rapid loess flow slide triggered by irrigation in China. Landslides 6(1): 55–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-008-0135-2
Zhang FY, Wang GH, Kamai T, et al. (2013) Undrained shear behavior of loess saturated with different concentrations of sodium chloride solution. Engineering Geology 155(6): 69–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2012.12.018
Zhang Z, Wang T, Wu S, et al. (2016) Seismic performance of loess-mudstone slope by centrifuge tests. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment 76(2): 671–679. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-015-0846
Acknowledgement
This study was partially supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41572302) and the Funds for Creative Research Groups of China (Grant No. 41521002). The authors would like to thank the reviewers and editor for their valuable comments and suggestions.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cui, Sh., Pei, Xj., Wu, Hy. et al. Centrifuge model test of an irrigation-induced loess landslide in the Heifangtai loess platform, Northwest China. J. Mt. Sci. 15, 130–143 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-017-4490-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-017-4490-0