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Chasing a complete understanding of the triggering mechanisms of a large rapidly evolving rockslide

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Abstract

Rockslides in alpine areas can reach large volumes and, owing to their position along slopes, can either undergo large and rapid evolution originating large rock avalanches or can decelerate and stabilize. As a consequence, in particular when located within large deep-seated deformations, this type of instability requires accurate observation and monitoring. In this paper, the case study of the La Saxe rockslide (ca. 8 × 106 m3), located within a deep-seated deformation, undergoing a major phase of acceleration in the last decade and exposing the valley bottom to a high risk, is discussed. To reach a more complete understanding of the process, in the last 3 years, an intense investigation program has been developed. Boreholes have been drilled, logged, and instrumented (open-pipe piezometers, borehole wire extensometers, inclinometric casings) to assess the landslide volume, the rate of displacement at depth, and the water pressure. Displacement monitoring has been undertaken with optical targets, a GPS network, a ground-based interferometer, and four differential multi-parametric borehole probes. A clear seasonal acceleration is observed related to snow melting periods. Deep displacements are clearly localized at specific depths. The analysis of the piezometric and snowmelt data and the calibration of a 1D block model allows the forecast of the expected displacements. To this purpose, a 1D pseudo-dynamic visco-plastic approach, based on Perzyna’s theory, has been developed. The viscous nucleus has been assumed to be bi-linear: in one case, irreversible deformations develop uniquely for positive yield function values; in a more general case, visco-plastic deformations develop even for negative values. The model has been calibrated and subsequently validated on a long temporal series of monitoring data, and it seems reliable for simulating the in situ data. A 3D simplified approach is suggested by subdividing the landslide mass into distinct interacting blocks.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are deeply grateful to M. Broccolato, D. Bertolo, and the personnel of the Geological Survey of Regione Valle d’Aosta; to P. Cancelli (SCA srl, Milano), A. Tamburini, and W. Alberto (Imageo, Torino), S. Basiricò (Univ. Milano Bicocca) for managing many of the investigations and for the collaboration in collecting data in the field and during their elaboration. C. Rivolta and D. Leva from Ellegi srl (operating GB-InSAR system) and M. Lovisolo from CSG srl (operating the DMS columns) are thanked for the continuous support in data extraction and elaboration. The authors wish to thank D. Jean Hutchinson, S. Löw, and an anonymous reviewer for their suggestions that allowed improving the former version of the manuscript. The research has been partially funded by the PRIN-MIUR 2010-2011 - 2010E89BPY_007.

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  1. Department Earth and Environmental Sciences, Univ. degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 4, 20126, Milan, Italy

    G. B. Crosta, P. Frattini, G. Frigerio, R. Castellanza & F. Agliardi

  2. Department of Structural Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

    C. di Prisco

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  1. G. B. Crosta
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Correspondence to G. B. Crosta.

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Crosta, G.B., di Prisco, C., Frattini, P. et al. Chasing a complete understanding of the triggering mechanisms of a large rapidly evolving rockslide. Landslides 11, 747–764 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-013-0433-1

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