Investigating landslide-related cracks along the edge of two loess platforms in northwest China

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

XU, L.

Div. of Tibetan Plateau Research, Inst. of Geology and Geophysics, CAS, Beijing, Chine

DAI, F.C.

Inst. of Geology and Geophysics, CAS, Beijing, Chine

THAM, L.G.

Dep. of Civil Engineering, Univ., Hong Kong, Chine

WU, C.X.

Div. of Tibetan Plateau Research, Inst. of Geology and Geophysics, CAS, Beijing, Chine

Description :
Cracks are widely developed along the edge of loess platforms in northwest China. Field surveys reveal that these cracks can be grouped into shallow and deeply penetrating ones. The former occur at a small distance from the platform edge, normally penetrate into the top unsaturated loess with the penetration depth being controlled by the joints in loess. The latter penetrate deeper into the saturated loess farther away from the platform edge. These cracks control the inflow and drainage of irrigation water. A full-scale field test simulating irrigation on the platform surface was conducted. The 2 types of crack can be interconnected so that the water applied in the test finally flowed into the deep crack and was discharged from the platform. Analysis of soil stress states and the results of field test show that the deeply-penetrating cracks could have both positive as well as negative effects on slope stability.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2012, vol. 37, n°. 10, p. 1023-1033, nombre de pages : 11, Références bibliographiques : 31 ref.

Date :
2012

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley

Langue :
Anglais