The genetic mechanism of a translational landslide

Translational landslides are common in China, particularly in the interbedded mudstone sandstone sequence of the Three Gorges reservoir area and the Sichuan basin. The paper discusses the genetic mechanism and limit equilibrium criterion for single and multi-translational landslides based on physical model tests and numerical analysis. It focuses particularly on the generation of hydrostatic pressure and uplift pressure under intense rainfall conditions and the corresponding deformation and failure processes. A model was constructed based on the actual conditions at the 17 million m³ Fengdian Kualiangdzi landslide and the 25 million m³ Tiantai village landslide. It revealed a clear relationship between the critical water head value and the dip angle of the sliding plane.