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Analysis of the vajont slide — new approach

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Summary

Analysis of the Vajont Slide — New Approach

This paper is concerned with the analysis of the 1963 Vajont slide in Italy. Attention is drawn to the fact that numerous investigations have been consistently unsuccessful in explaining the slide. A new approach consistent with a progressive failure mechanism established by all comprehensive investigations is suggested in this paper. The analysis simulates the transformation of the slope from a condition of stability to one of limit-equilibrium and failure in a step-by-step process. It is shown that the enormous velocities calculated on the basis of external observations of the slide can be explained by the new analytical approach.

Zusammenfassung

Analyse der Felsgleitung bei Vajont — Neuer Erklärungsversuch

Dieser Artikel beschäftigt sich mit der Felsgleitung bei Vajont in Italien im Jahre 1963. Es wird darauf hingewiesen, daß es in einer Vielzahl anderer Untersuchungen bislang nicht möglich war, eine Erklärung für die Felsgleitung zu finden. Ein neues Modell, basierend auf dem Mechanismus des progressiven Zusammenbruchs wird vorgeschlagen. Die Untersuchung simuliert den Übergang des Hanges vom stabilen Zustand in ein Grenzgleichgewicht und schließlich den Zusammenbruch in einem Prozeß, der Schritt für Schritt abläuft. Es wird gezeigt, daß die enormen Geschwindigkeiten, die aufgrund von Beobachtungen berechnet wurden, im Rahmen dieses Modells erklärt werden können.

Résumé

Analyse de l'éboulement de Vajont — Nouvelle approche

Cette communication constitue une analyse de l'éboulement de Vajont (Italie) en 1963. On souligne le fait que les nombreuses enquêtes entreprises pour expliquer cet éboulement se sont montrées infructueuses. Cette communication propose une nouvelle approche conforme à un mécanisme progressif de défaillances établi par toutes les enquêtes compréhensives. L'analyse simule la transformation graduelle de la pente: de la stabilité à l'équilibre limité et enfin à la défaillance. On démontre que les vélocités énormes calculées à base des observations externes de l'éboulement peuvent s'expliquer par cette nouvelle approche analytique.

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Abbreviations

c :

unit effective cohesion

ø :

effective angle of shearing resistance (residual)

n :

proportion of the slip surface along which failure has progressed

K :

conjugate stress ratio for a slope

K 0 :

ratio of effective horizontal normal stress to effective vertical normal stress in the slope

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

    R. Chowdhury (Senior Lecturer)

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  1. R. Chowdhury
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Chowdhury, R. Analysis of the vajont slide — new approach. Rock Mechanics 11, 29–38 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01890883

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01890883

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