Multiscale nonlinear analysis of failure mechanism of loess-mudstone landslide

• Published in: Catena (Giessen) 2022-06, Vol.213, p.106188, Article 106188
• Main Authors: Li, Shuanhu, Li, Chi, Yao, De, Liu, Chuancheng, Zhang, Yongfeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Interdisciplinary comprehensive analysis; Loess-mudstone landslides; Multiscale mechanics; Nonlinear mechanics; Rheology principle
• ISSN: 0341-8162; 1872-6887
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2022.106188

•Infiltration mode of rainwater directly controls the failure mode of soil landslide.•Rainwater liquefied the loess in local areas of the landslide.•Using model test to research the nonlinear instability process of soil landslide.•Discussing the failure mechanism of soil landslide by multiscale method. The sliding mechanism of loess landslides is unique and complex; a single-scale and linear mechanical model cannot describe their failure process scientifically, thus necessitating a multiscale and nonlinear research idea. In order to monitor and observe the whole failure process of loess landslide more conveniently, a physical model test (2.0 × 0.6 × 1.5 m) is designed to simulate the landslide failure process under rainfall condition. Twelve pore water pressure sensors and twelve soil pressure sensors were arranged in three loess layers, and were used to record the numerical variation characteristics of pore water pressure and soil pressure during the failure process of Landslide physical model. The results show that, the failure process of loess landslides and the data from sensors are very random, making it impossible to use a single-scale or linear mechanical model to analyze their mechanics. However, we can well describe the failure process of loess landslide through the micro, meso, and macro scales. Therefore, the mechanical problems of loess landslides should be analyzed from six aspects, including the liquid bridge, force chain, soil mechanics test, a physical model, real landslides, and tectonic stress. In the future, nonlinear and multiscale research ideas can make loess landslide studies more scientific and effective.