Considerations about the mechanics of slow active landslides in Clay

Abstract

Slow active landslides in clay include slides, mudslides and spreads. Movement is induced by any change of effective stress and by creep; in the very long-time, some role may be played by a change in soil properties. Looking at geological phenomena causing movement, pore pressure fluctuations and erosion have a strong influence on shallow translational slides and mudslides, while creep or erosion and other geological phenomena of stress relief govern movement of deep seated slides and spreads. In several cases, excess pore pressures generated by changes of boundary conditions may play a significant role. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.