LANDSLIDES – CAUSES AND REMEDIES

By

Dr. Debjit Bhowmik,

Asstt. Professor, Civil Engineering Department, NIT Silchar

One Day National Seminar on

GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS IN SOUTHERN ASSAM CAUSES
AND REMEDIES
Organized jointly by

IE(I) Silchar Centre IGS Silchar Chapter

 Introduction
 Landslide is a general term for a
wide variety of downslope
movements of earth materials
that result in the perceptible
downward and outward
movement of rocks, soils,
vegetation, artificial fills or
combination of all these
materials along surfaces of
separation by falling, sliding and
flowing, either slowly or quickly
under the effects of gravity and
also the landform that results
from such movement. Wenchuan, China (Photograph by Chua
Chin Hon, Straits Times, Singapore)
Some of the major
Landslides in India
(1990-2005)
Landslide Prone
Areas in India

Source: [3]
 Types of Landslides
 Fall

Schematic Diagram of Rock Fall [1] Clear Creek Canyon, Colorado, USA (2005)[1]
 Types of Landslides
 Topple

Schematic Diagram of Topple[1] Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada[1]

 Types of Landslides
 Slides: Rotational Landslide

Schematic of Rotational Landslide[1] New Zealand[1]

 Types of Landslides
 Slides: Translational Landslide

Schematic of Translational Landslide[1] Beatton River Valley, British Columbia, Canada

(2001)[1]
 Types of Landslides
 Flow: Creep

Schematic Diagram of Creep[1] Chalk Grasslands, East Sussex, UK[1]

 Types of Landslides
 Flow: Debris Flow

Schematic Diagram of Debris Flow[1] City of Caraballeda, Venezuela, (1999)[1]

 Types of Landslides
 Flow: Debris Avalanche

Schematic Diagram of Debris Avalache[1] Guinsaugon, Philippines, (2006)[1]

 Types of Landslides
 Flow: Lahar (Volcanic Debris Flow)

Schematic Diagram of Lahar[1] Mount St. Helens, Washington, USA(1982)[1]

 Types of Landslides
 Flow: Mud Flow

Schematic Diagram of Mudflow[1] Lemieux Landslide, Ottawa, Canada (1993)[1]

 Types of Landslides
 Lateral Spread

Schematic Diagram of Lateral Spread[1] Loma Prieta, California, USA, (1989)[1]

 Causes of Landslide
There are two primary categories of causes of landslides:
(A)Natural Occurrences and (B)Human-caused.
 (A) Natural Occurrences: This category has three major triggering
mechanisms that can occur either singly or in combination —
(1) water,
(2) seismic activity, and
(3) volcanic activity.
 (B) Human-caused: Disturbing or changing drainage patterns,
destabilizing slopes, irrigation, lawn watering, draining or creating
reservoirs, leaking pipes, improper excavation or grading on
slopes and removing vegetation.
NON STRUCTURAL MITIGATION MEASURES
Drainage Corrections: The most important
triggering mechanism for mass movements is the
water infiltrating into the overburden during
heavy rains and consequent increase in pore
pressure within the soil. Hence the natural way of
preventing this situation is by reducing infiltration
and allowing excess water to move down without
hindrance. As such, the first and foremost
mitigation measure is drainage correction. This
involves maintenance of natural drainage
channels both micro and macro level in
vulnerable slopes.
NON STRUCTURAL MITIGATION MEASURES
Drainage Corrections:

Ditches and Drains

Drainpipes
NON STRUCTURAL MITIGATION MEASURES
Proper land use measures: Adopt effective
land-use regulations and building codes
based on scientific research. Through land-
use planning, discourage new construction
or development in identified hazard areas
without first implementing appropriate
remedial measures.
NON STRUCTURAL MITIGATION MEASURES
Afforestation: The afforestation programme
should be properly planned so the little
slope modification is done in the process.
Bounding of any sort using boulders etc. has
to be avoided. The selection of suitable
plant species should be such that can with
stand the existing stress conditions of the
terrain.
NON STRUCTURAL MITIGATION MEASURES
Awareness generation: Educate the public
about signs that a landslide is imminent so
that personal safety measures may be
taken.
STRUCTURAL MITIGATION MEASURES
Adopt remedial techniques such as
buttresses, rock slope stabilization, soil
reinforcement, retaining walls, etc. for
existing landslides that are in close
proximity to public structures.
STRUCTURAL MITIGATION MEASURES

Rock Curtain Rock Anchor Shotcrete

Rockfill Buttress Timber Crib Steel Bin Wall

STRUCTURAL MITIGATION MEASURES

Gabion Wall

Reinforced Earth Wall

Rconcrete-filled Pile Wall

References

 [1] Highland, L.M., and Bobrowsky, Peter, 2008, The landslide handbook—A
guide to understanding landslides: Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey
Circular 1325, 129 p.
 [2] Varnes, D.J., 1978, Slope movement 43. types and processes, in Schuster,
R.L., and Krizek, R.J., eds., Landslides—Analysis and control: Transportation
Research Board Special Report 176, National Research Council,
Washington, D.C., p. 11–23.
 [3] Landslides Information System developed by Centre of Studies in
Resources Engineering (CSRE)
http://www.csre.iitb.ac.in/rn/resume/landslide/lsl.htm
Thank you