Chapter 9

MASS MOVEMENT-SLOPE FAILURE

BASICS

 Landslide (also called mass movement) is defined

as the downslope movement of material under
the direct influence of gravity
 Any exposed ground surface, standing at an angle
with the horizontal, is subject to gravitational
forces which tend to move the soil/rock downhill.
 If the Driving Forces > Resisting Forces (soil/rock
strength), failure will occur….
1995

2005

LA CONCHITA, CA
LA-Conchita Debris Flow
YEMEN, 2005 - Rockfall
California,
1930
Kashmir, 2005 - Large Earthquake
Triggered 100’s of Landslides
AAKAR, 1998
AAKAR, 1998
 Conditions for landslides
 Steep slopes. All landslides move downslope under the
influence of gravity

 Jointed rocks. fractures in rocks allow surface moisture to

penetrate the rock and weaken

 Fine-grained, permeable rock or sediment. Particularly

susceptible to landslides because large amounts of moisture
can easily penetrate

 Clay or shale units subject to lubrication. Ground-water

penetrating these materials can lead to loss of binding strength
between individual mineral grains and subsequent failure

 Large amounts of water. Periods of heavy rainfall can saturate

the zone above the water table
 Slope Stability-Overview

 Types of Slope Failures

◦ Toppling and rock falls

◦ Translation
◦ Rotation
◦ Wedge failure
◦ Earth flow
◦ Creep
 Triggers for Slope Failures

◦ Loading at the top of a slope

◦ Undercutting the toe of a slope
◦ Hydrostatic and seepage forces
◦ Earthquakes
◦ Weakening of slope material
1- Rock falls:
• Falls are abrupt movements of masses such
as rocks and boulders, that become detached
from steep slopes or cliffs.

• Separation occurs along discontinuities such

as fractures, joints, and bedding planes

• movement occurs by free-fall, bouncing, and

rolling.

• Falls are strongly influenced by gravity,

mechanical weathering, rain and undercutting
(roads…)
Toppling / Rock Falls
Toppling / Rock Falls
Rockfall
ROCKFALL
Rockfall on Roads
2- Block / Wedge Failure
 3- Translation /Surficial Failure

Translational slide: In this type of slide, the landslide mass moves

along a roughly planar surface with little rotation or backward tilting.
 4- Rotational slumps

Rotational slide:
This is a slide in
which the surface
of rupture is
curved concavely
upward and the
slide movement is
roughly rotational
about an axis that
is parallel to the
ground surface and
transverse across
the slide.
Rotational slump morphology
Rotational Slump
 5- Debris Flow
• A debris flow is a form of rapid mass movement in which a
combination of loose soil, rock, organic matter, air, and water
mobilize as a slurry that flows downslope

• Debris flows are commonly caused by intense surface-water flow,

due to heavy precipitation or rapid snowmelt
Flows
CA-Bay Area 1985- Flow
Mudflow due to Rain: Philippines-2006
GUISAUGON Village
6- SOIL CREEP

 Slow movement
down-slope
 Due to gravity and
cycles of swelling –
contraction (Heave
process)
 Creep is indicated
by curved tree
trunks, bent fences
or retaining walls,
tilted fences, and
small soil ripples
 Human Activity and Landslides
 Removal of support and undercutting slopes
◦ Roads and railways
◦ Dams
◦ Benching buildings into slope
 Increased disturbing forces and loads
◦ Rubbish dumps, buildings

 Increased internal water pressure

◦ Changing hydrology by diversion
◦ Irrigation
Loading at the Top of a Slope?
Loading at the Top of a Slope?
Undercutting the Toe of a Slope
 Effect of Built up of Pore Water
Pressure in the Soil Layers

 Failure occurs when water-

saturated strata slide along
 dipping beds undercut slippery clay unit, breaching
by excavation for house thin retaining wall
Broumana
 Slope Stability

 A battle between 2 forces: The driving force and

the resisting force.

 When driving force > Resisting Force = Mass

Movement
 Role of Gravity and Slope Angle
• Gravitational force acts to hold objects in place by pulling on
them in a direction perpendicular to the surface.
• The tangential component of gravity acts down a slope: it
causes objects to move downhill.
Normal and Shear Stresses
 Controlling Mass Movements

 Reduce Driving Forces

 Increase Resisting Forces

 Both
 Controlling Mass Movements
 Falls
◦ Flattening the slope
◦ Benching the slope
◦ Drainage pipes and trenches
◦ Anchor bolts and cement grouting
◦ Steel mesh covers

 Slides and flows

◦ Grading or benching the slope
◦ Drainage ditches and pipes
◦ Sealing cracks to reduce infiltration
◦ Rock or earth buttresses
◦ Retaining walls
◦ Pilings through slide mass
◦ Re-vegetation

All cost a lot of time, effort and money!

Soil Removal
Drainage
Pile / Pier Support
Pile / Pier Support
ANCHORS
Benching
Benching
Benching
Steel mesh
Bio-Stabilization