Dataset Information

Inversions of landslide strength as a proxy for subsurface weathering.

ABSTRACT: Distributions of landslide size are hypothesized to reflect hillslope strength, and consequently weathering patterns. However, the association of weathering and critical zone architecture with mechanical strength properties of parent rock and soil are poorly-constrained. Here we use three-dimensional stability to analyze 7330 landslides in western Oregon to infer combinations of strength - friction angles and cohesion - through analysis of both failed and reconstructed landslide terrain. Under a range of conditions, our results demonstrate that the failure envelope that relates shear strength and normal stress in landslide terrain is nonlinear owing to an exchange in strength with landslide thickness. Despite the variability in material strength at large scales, the observed gradient in proportional cohesive strength with landslide thickness may serve as a proxy for subsurface weathering. We posit that the observed relationships between strength and landslide thickness are associated with the coalescence of zones of low shear strength driven by fractures and weathering, which constitutes a first-order control on the mechanical behavior of underlying soil and rock mass.

SUBMITTER: Alberti S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9561700 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Inversions of landslide strength as a proxy for subsurface weathering.

Alberti Stefano S Leshchinsky Ben B Roering Josh J Perkins Jonathan J Olsen Michael J MJ

Nature communications 20221013 1

Distributions of landslide size are hypothesized to reflect hillslope strength, and consequently weathering patterns. However, the association of weathering and critical zone architecture with mechanical strength properties of parent rock and soil are poorly-constrained. Here we use three-dimensional stability to analyze 7330 landslides in western Oregon to infer combinations of strength - friction angles and cohesion - through analysis of both failed and reconstructed landslide terrain. Under a ...[more]

PMID: 36229607

Similar Datasets

Project description:To study the soil-water characteristics and shear strength of unsaturated complete-intense weathering mudstone, the soil-water characteristic curve of complete-intense weathering mudstone and the matric suction of mudstone samples under natural state were measured. This measurement was through a soil-water characteristic test using a pressure plate instrument. Based on the results of soil-water characteristic test, an unsaturated (saturated) triaxial shear test was carried out. Under different temperatures and confining pressure conditions, the shear strength and deformation characteristics of complete-intense weathering mudstone under natural water content and saturation conditions were investigated. The results show that the percentage of silt and clay in unsaturated complete-intense weathering mudstone in natural state is relatively high, with the mudstone having less sand, and a weak permeability and exhibiting a significant capillary phenomenon. The complete-intense weathering mudstone with a natural moisture content of 19.15% has a matric suction of 210 kPa. When the temperature is constant, the shear stress of the sample increases with the increase of confining pressure. When the temperature decreases from 0 to -20°C, the influence of confining pressure on the rock samples gradually decreases. The rock sample has the property of strain hardening during shearing. Under the same matric suction, the total cohesion increases with the decrease of temperature. At a positive temperature, the effective internal friction angle increases with the decrease of temperature. At a negative temperature, the lower the temperature, the smaller the effective internal friction angle. The test of shear strength parameters of saturated complete-intense weathering mudstone is simple and conservative. In practical engineering, the basic properties of unsaturated complete-intense weathering mudstone can be predicted by testing the shear strength parameters of saturated complete-intense weathering mudstone. The results of the study are important for better understanding the nature of unsaturated complete-intense weathering mudstone and improving the safety of engineering construction in complete-intense weathering mudstone areas.

Dataset Information

Inversions of landslide strength as a proxy for subsurface weathering.

Publications

Inversions of landslide strength as a proxy for subsurface weathering.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets