Investigation on the Failure Mechanism of Rainfall-Induced Long-Runout Landslide at Upputhode, Kerala State of India

Abstract

The main objective of the study is to estimate the shear resistance mobilized on the slope surface under large deformation and to identify the failure mechanism of the landslide through the simulation model. The field investigations were carried out using Geophysical tests, and the laboratory tests were conducted to identify the engineering properties of the soil with weathering characteristics of the parent rock. The residual shear strength parameters from Torsional ring shear tests were used in LS-RAPID numerical simulation software to study the mechanism of the landslide. The critical pore water pressure ratio (ru = 0.32) required for the initiation of a landslide was obtained. The increase in pore water pressure reduces the soil matric suction and thereby results in the reduction of the shear strength of the soil. The progressive failure mechanism and the three landslide processes (initiation, run out and deposition) are investigated. The velocity of the moving landslide mass in the role of demolishing the building is studied and helps in finding suitable remedial measures for the nearby building. The empirical rainfall threshold based on the antecedent rainfall was developed and revealed that either a high daily rainfall intensity of 142 mm without any antecedent rainfall, or an antecedent rainfall of 151 mm for a cumulative period of 5 days with even continuous normal rainfall can initiate landslide.

Keywords

• landslide
• rainfall
• geophysical test
• failure mechanism
• numerical simulation and thresholds