A Coupled Seepage-Stability Model to Analyze the Vajont Reservoir Influence

Paronuzzi, Paolo; Rigo, Elia; Bolla, Alberto

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-31319-6_14

Cited by 5 publications

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“…The shear strength characteristics of these very heterogeneous materials are highly variable. Typical values of the friction angle for well-graded gravels and sandy gravels vary between 38 When considering previous slope stability analyses of the 1963 Vajont landslide, typical twodimensional back-calculated values of the friction angle φm range essentially from 17° to 27° [21,24,26,27,33,36,49,50]. The latter are averaged values that simply reflect the notable heterogeneity of the strength properties of the different materials involved in the rupture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The presence of the prehistoric shear zone interposed between the upper rock mass and the underlying bedrock had a strong influence on both the hydrogeological and mechanical behaviors of the slope. The high permeability of the limestone angular gravel (k = 5 × 10 −4 m/s; [24,36]) caused a rapid reservoir-induced inflow during the filling-drawdown operations performed in the years 1960-1963, thus originating a near-horizontal groundwater table that penetrated deeply into the slope (Figure 3a). The increase in the pore water pressure induced by the rising of the reservoir together with the low friction angle of the clay interbeds (ϕ = 7-27 • ) were responsible for the overall shear strength reduction in correspondence with the basal rupture zone, thus favoring the huge sliding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This event represents a reference case history for scientists and researchers dealing with large landslides and/or reservoir-induced slope failures and is considered a milestone in the general development of rock and soil mechanics [30,31]. This famous landslide has attracted a lot of scientific interest over time, owing to its complexity and the need to understand the underlying mechanisms that caused the slope failure [21,23,26,[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]. The 1963 Vajont landslide mobilized a rock mass made up of a complex cherty and marly limestone sequence dating from Middle-Upper Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous, including the following geological Formations (Fm.…”

Section: The 1963 Vajont Landslidementioning

confidence: 99%

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Mineralogical and Geotechnical Characterization of the Clay Layers within the Basal Shear Zone of the 1963 Vajont Landslide

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The 1963 Vajont landslide is a reference example of large rockslides involving clay interbeds emplaced in sedimentary rock masses in correspondence with the basal rupture zone (thinly stratified cherty limestone of the Fonzaso Formation dated to Middle–Upper Jurassic). The basal shear zone of the 1963 Vajont landslide was made up of a chaotic assemblage of displaced rock masses, limestone angular gravel, and spread clay lenses. The mineralogical investigations showed that the clays are characterized by complex assemblages of illite/smectite mixed layers (36–96%) admixed with variable amounts of calcite (4–64%) and quartz (0–6%). The clay layers show highly variable plasticity properties and shear strength characteristics. The samples with a large prevalence of clay mineral content (CM) (CM > 79%) are characterized by low values of the residual friction angle (6.7–14.9°), whereas clay materials characterized by a higher content of granular minerals (calcite and quartz) clearly show greater friction angle values (19.5–26.7°). The high permeability of the limestone angular gravel, which caused a rapid reservoir-induced inflow (1960–1963), together with the low friction angle of the clay layers were responsible for the overall shear strength reduction in correspondence with the basal rupture zone, thus favoring the huge sliding on 9 October 1963.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The 1963 Vajont Landslidementioning

confidence: 99%

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Mineralogical and Geotechnical Characterization of the Clay Layers within the Basal Shear Zone of the 1963 Vajont Landslide

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Gravity-Induced Fracturing in Large Rockslides: Possible Evidence from Vajont

Paronuzzi

Bolla

2015

Engineering Geology for Society and Territory - Volume 2

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Brittle and Ductile Behavior in Deep-Seated Landslides: Learning from the Vajont Experience

2015

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This paper analyzes the mechanical behavior of the unstable Mt. Toc slope before the 1963 catastrophic collapse, considering both the measured data (surface displacements and microseismicity) and the updated geological model of the prehistoric rockslide. From February 1960 up to 9 October 1963, the unstable mass behaved as a brittle-ductile 'mechanical system,' characterized by remarkable microseismicity as well as by considerable surface displacements (up to 4-5 m). Recorded microshocks were the result of progressive rock fracturing of distinct resisting stiff parts made up of intact rock (indentations, undulations, and rock bridges). The main resisting stiff part was a large rock indentation located at the NE extremity of the unstable mass that acted as a mechanical constraint during the whole 1960-1963 period, inducing a progressive rototranslation toward the NE. This large constraint failed in autumn 1960, when an overall slope failure took place, as emphasized by the occurrence of the large perimetrical crack in the upper slope. In this circumstance, the collapse was inhibited by a reblocking phenomenon of the unstable mass that had been previously destabilized by the first reservoir filling. Progressive failure of localized intact rock parts progressively propagated westwards as a consequence of the two further fillingdrawdown cycles of the reservoir (1962 and 1963). The characteristic brittle-ductile behavior of the Vajont landslide was made possible by the presence of a very thick (40-50 m) and highly deformable shear zone underlying the upper rigid rock mass (100-120 m thick).

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A Coupled Seepage-Stability Model to Analyze the Vajont Reservoir Influence

Cited by 5 publications

References 3 publications

Mineralogical and Geotechnical Characterization of the Clay Layers within the Basal Shear Zone of the 1963 Vajont Landslide

Mineralogical and Geotechnical Characterization of the Clay Layers within the Basal Shear Zone of the 1963 Vajont Landslide

Gravity-Induced Fracturing in Large Rockslides: Possible Evidence from Vajont

Brittle and Ductile Behavior in Deep-Seated Landslides: Learning from the Vajont Experience

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