A sliding block model to analyse the kinematic behaviour of soil landslides from the resultant forces of a limit equilibrium analysis

Abstract

In this paper, a two-dimensional sliding block model–discretized in slices-is presented, in which the geometrical, mechanical and rheological variables of the landslide are considered in order to analyse the soil landslide kinematic behaviour. The movement of the sliding mass is presented as a system of adjacent blocks; the movement strength is given by the Coulombviscous rheological model, where the friction and viscous  components are considered, represented by a parallel system of a slider and a damper, respectively. The movement equation of the  model corresponds to a second order differential equation, which was solved  by  the finite difference method, obtaining an explicit  equation to know the displacement, velocity and  acceleration of  each block. An algorithm was developed in MATLAB® software, where movement quations were programmed to obtain results of the sliding kinematics. With the algorithm developed it was possible to make a sensitivity analysis to the parameters of the model. This was implemented in the problem of the sliding block at infinity slope, where it was possible to know the  influence of each of the parameters of the model. The model has also been applied to the Hiegaesi landslide occurred in Japan in 1998, where the kinematic behaviour has been analysed in the model, regarding the records reported. However, further research is needed in order to apply the published model for prediction of the kinematic behaviour of landslides due to different limitations discussed in this paper.