Analysis of hydrological triggered clayey landslides by small scale Experiments

Abstract

Hydrological processes, such as slope saturation by water, are a primary cause of landslides. This effect can occur in the form of e.g. intense rainfall, snowmelt or changes in ground-water levels. Hydrological processes can trigger a landslide and control subsequent movement. In order to forecast potential landslides, it is important to know both the mechanism leading to failure, to evaluate whether a slope will fail or not, and the mechanism that control the movement of the failure mass, to estimate how much material will move in which time. Despite numerous studies which have been done there is still uncertainty in the explanation of the processes determining the failure and post-failure. Background and motivation of the study is the Barcelonnette area that is part of the Ubaye Valley in the South French Alps which is highly affected by hydrological-controlled landslides in reworked black marls. Since landslide processes are too complex to understand it only by field observation experiments and computer calculations are used.