Analytical Method for Predicting the Mobility of Slow-Moving Landslides owing to Groundwater Fluctuations

Abstract

This paper deals with the active landslides that are controlled by pore water pressure changes owing to groundwater fluctuations. These landslides are usually characterized by low displacement rate with deformations essentially concentrated within a narrow shear zone, above which the unstable soil mass moves as a rigid body. Taking advantage of some original analytical solutions, a method is developed for a preliminary prediction of the landslide mobility. This method is based on a simple sliding-block model and allows the landslide velocity to be readily evaluated once pore water pressure measurements are available. An application to a case study documented in the literature is also shown.