Mechanics and Dynamics of the Xintan Landslide: Insights from Geological Factors and Simulations
摘要
Nearly four decades have passed since the Xintan Landslide in China made its mark, and the mechanics of its rapid movement continue to warrant scrutiny and interest. This research focuses on in on the engineering geological factors pertinent to the landslide’s movement. It suggests a model where the Xintan Landslide is structured with an active sliding section with significant mobility which is stabilized by supporting arches and essentially stable passive sliding section. The distinctive bend and constriction, coupled with the change in soil types and the structural integrity of the supporting arch, have positioned Jiangjiapo as the critical demarcation and incipient point of the Xintan Landslide’s movement. Drawing upon a thorough review of historical imagery and an analytical assessment of the forces at play based on failure indicators, we have constructed a mechanical model representing the Xintan Landslide. Employing the 2D DEM model within the open-source software DualSPHysics, we have simulated the entire progression of the Xintan Landslide’s movement. Post-collapse of the supporting arch, the central and leading sliding masses within the active sliding section rapidly reached velocities of approximately 13.8 m/s, engaging in multiple intense impacts with the passive sliding section. The most significant impact force recorded was around 7.19 × 106 N/m. Through collisions and subsequent loading, the active sliding section imparted energy to the passive zone, which in turn reached a peak velocity of roughly 12.98 m/s. The passive sliding section demonstrated clear traits of rear-driven motion, along with the crushing, shearing, and overriding effects stemming from the collisional propulsion. The swift movement of the Xintan Landslide is intrinsically linked to the collision-driven propulsion mechanism in the middle of the landslide collision-rear-driven propulsion mechanism. This research facilitates a more profound comprehension of the Xintan Landslide and similar debris flows, offering insights for the prevention and mitigation of similar landslide events.