An integrated investigation of the failure mechanism of loess landslide induced by raining: from field to laboratory

Occurrence of loess landslide has been more frequent due to the drastic global climate change, rapid expansion of human disturbances and continuous intensification of engineering activities. The activation and evolution mechanisms of the loess landslides under the rainfall are yet to be studied. In this paper, with reference to the Yangpoyao slope with seepage fissures under rainfall, an adjustable-angle landslide model test system is developed, integrating the rainfall simulation system, the measurement system and the data acquisition system, and the deformation development of the model, the rainfall infiltration, the change of water content and the destructive process of the model are monitored by the monitoring technology of multi-means and multi-methods throughout the course of the disaster. A distributed fibre-optic sensor system with the characteristics of continuity and high precision is used to monitor the temperature and strain within the slope model. The deformation evolution mechanism of fissured loess slopes under rainfall was elucidated through the observation of experimental phenomena and the analysis of the internal strain values of the soil, as measured by fibre optic sensors. The experimental results show that the collapse process of loess slopes can be categorised into three types, i.e. sinkhole collapse, block collapse and gully collapse, and that the deformation and damage patterns of the loess landslide model are mainly caused by shallow soil movement induced by erosion. Through the comparative analysis of the model test and the photographs of the field investigation, it is further demonstrated that the damage pattern shown in the physical model test is basically consistent with the slope condition of the real Yangpoyao slope, which provides a new theoretical reference for natural disaster prediction and management of loess slopes and landslides.