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Effects of soil-engineering properties on the failure mode of shallow landslides

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Abstract

Some landslides mobilize into flows, while others slide and deposit material immediately down slope. An index based on initial dry density and fine-grained content of soil predicted failure mode of 96 landslide initiation sites in Oregon and Colorado with 79% accuracy. These material properties can be used to identify potential sources for debris flows and for slides. Field data suggest that loose soils can evolve from dense soils that dilate upon shearing. The method presented herein to predict failure mode is most applicable for shallow (depth <5 m), well-graded soils (coefficient of uniformity >8), with few to moderate fines (fine-grained content <18%), and with liquid limits <40.

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Acknowledgements

Jason Hinkle assisted in obtaining access to the Oregon Coast Range field sites and helped formulate the primary objectives for this research. Jeffrey Coe, William Schulz, and Rex Baum provided comments that greatly improved the quality and clarity of this paper. Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this website or publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government.

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Author notes

  1. Jonathan Peter McKenna

    Present address: MicroSeismic, Inc., 621 17th St., Suite 2000, Denver, CO, 80209, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046, MS-966, Denver, CO, 80225, USA

    Jonathan Peter McKenna

  2. Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    Paul Michael Santi

  3. Ecole Polytechnique Universitaire Pierre et Marie Curie, de l’Université Paris VI, Scences de la Terre, Tour 56-66-2éme étage, case 95, 4 Place Jussieu, 75232, Paris, France

    Xavier Amblard

  4. University of Michigan, Flint, MI, 48502, USA

    Jacquelyn Negri

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  1. Jonathan Peter McKenna
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Correspondence to Jonathan Peter McKenna.

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McKenna, J.P., Santi, P.M., Amblard, X. et al. Effects of soil-engineering properties on the failure mode of shallow landslides. Landslides 9, 215–228 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-011-0295-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-011-0295-3

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