Centrifuge modelling of a roto-translational landslide in stiff clay formation
Peng Xin, Xuan Kang, Wei Wu, Gianvito Scaringi, Xueliang Wang, Qiong Wu
Abstract
Roto-translational landslides usually exhibit creep deformation along sliding surfaces, showing transverse cracks on the ground surfaces. However, the scarcity of experimental data has significantly hindered a deep understanding of their failure mechanisms. This research probes into the rotational failure phenomena of landslides in stiff clay formations, utilizing geotechnical centrifuge modelling and laboratory creep tests . Our findings reveal that rotational failures in model slopes are exclusively triggered under conditions of an undrained boundary at the basal shear zone. The post-failure behaviour is characterized by a settlement at the slope crest and a pronounced bulge at the toe, resulting in complex rotational movements along the basal sliding surface. Moreover, our laboratory experiments illuminate the creep behaviour of shear-zone materials under undrained conditions. In particular, samples with a high initial water content under sustained loading are highly susceptible to a quick transition into tertiary creep , leading to accelerated failure. These experimental insights substantially advance our understanding of the rotational failure patterns observed in clay-based landslides.