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Assessing the stability of a complex landslide through geotechnical

modelling-a case study in the Carnian Alps (Italy)

Conference Paper · November 2017

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Leslaw Zabuski Giulia Bossi

Polish Academy of Sciences Italian National Research Council
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Italian National Research Council
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CGE-2017 – 2nd International Conference "Challenges in Geotechnical Engineering" November 20th–23rd 2017, Kyiv, Ukraine

Assessing the stability of a complex landslide through geotechnical modelling

- a case study in the Carnian Alps (Italy)

Leslaw Zabuski1, Giulia Bossi 2, Gianluca Marcato 2
1.
IHEPAS - Institute of Hydro-Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdansk, Poland
2
CNR-IRPI – National Research Council of Italy, Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection, Italy

ABSTRACT
Two adjacent landslides affect the National Road 52 “Carnica” in the Tagliamento River valley, Carnian Alps (46°23’49” N,
12°42’51” E). The phenomena have been studied for more than a decade allowing a detailed geological and geomorphological
reconstruction to be delineated. That was done on the ground of a large number of monitoring data collected during more than 10
years of investigations. Since the landslide are threatening an important road countermeasure works to ameliorate stability conditions
of the slides need to be designed. The paper focuses on the creation of a numerical model capable to reconstruct the dynamic of both
landslides and to be consistent with monitoring data. Two cross-sections, one for each landslide, have been selected for the analysis.
The geometry of the slip surface was reconstructed on the basis of control points like the slip surface readings in inclinometers and
on geomorphological evidence for the contour. The FLAC2D code is used to evaluate actual stability of these landslide. Results will
be used to plan countermeasure works.

Keywords: geotechnical modelling, landslide risk, back-analysis, monitoring, inclinometers

produced [2]. From the inclinometric data it is also possible to

1. INTRODUCTION characterize the dynamic of the two movements.

In mountain environment ensuring road practicability for

major routes is essential since road blockage may cause road
diversions that could significantly elongate itineraries.
Unfortunately these roads need also to cope with slope
instabilities that affect mountain flanks. To tailor sound
structural mitigation strategies is essential to rely on robust
models able to reconstruct properly the dynamic of the process.
In doing so is therefore essential to rely on monitoring data; in
fact for complex, medium-to-large landslides using for
numerical modelling directly laboratory tests parameters may
induce errors. Moreover if complex landslide geometries are
involved proceeding through back analysis, checking if
assumptions are supported in different sections, seconds the
soundness of the numerical reconstruction adopted.

2. STUDY AREA AND MONITORING Figure 1. Study area with cross-sections; the dashed line
represents a road tunnel
In the Carnian Alps, in the Tagliamento River valley
(46°23’49” N, 12°42’51” E), two convergent landslides affect
the National Road 52 “Carnica”. The road connects the Udine
and the Belluno provinces, linking the Carnia to the Cadore
areas. The landslides in exam are two convergent phenomena
divided with two distinct crowns that could be classified
following the Varnes classification as roto-translational slides
[1]. They develop from an altitude of about 800 to 650 meters
a.s.l. with a surface extension of about one km2. The average
direction of landslide 1 (L1) is N-S and of landslide 2 (L2),
NW-SE (Fig.1).
An monitoring system consisting of piezometers,
inclinometers and GNSS benchmarks provided a large amount
of data. On the base of the geomorphological evidence,
stratigraphies and inclinometric measures a reconstruction of
the location of the slip surface of both phenomena was Figure 2. Inclinometric profiles: A for I21, B for PC1 and C for
I15

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 Leslaw Zabuski, Giulia Bossi, Gianluca Marcato
Inclinometer I21 (Fig 2 - A) shows a defined slip surface
located 23 m below the surface of L1 with the upmost part
moving as a rigid body. The velocity of the movement,
followed with an in-place inclinometer, is about 5 cm/year with
peaks of 20 cm/year with intensive rainfalls. Inclinometer PC1
shows a similar behaviour (Fig 2 – B): a translational movement
along a distinct slip surface at 23 m below the surface. The
velocity, recorded also by means of an in-place inclinometer, is
still about 5 cm/year with peaks of displacements in sync with
I21. On the other hand, inclinometer I15 (Fig 2 – C) shows a
different, creeping displacement pattern. The displacements are
distributed along the whole layer of soil above the shear surface,
which is less distinct.
3. NUMERICAL MODELLING – RECONSTRUCTION
OF THE ACTUAL STATE OF THE SLOPE
The 2D stability analysis was carried out using FLAC2D [3]
finite difference software. The investigated cross sections, N-S
and NW-SE are indicated in Fig.1. Some results from
geotechnical tests for the landslide materials were available;
however for this kind of phenomena it is usually more reliable
to determine the geotechnical parameters on the basis of a back-
analysis procedure in order to match the monitoring data.
3.1. Cross-section N-S
The inclinometric curve in the upper part of the colluvium
reveals that entire zone above the bedrock deforms. Thus, there
is no distinct discrete slip surface. On the contrary, in the slope
lower part the inclinometric curve proves that the rock mass
moves above the narrow slip zone and is internally only slightly
deformed. These different mechanisms require different
modelling approaches. Therefore the upper part of the slope was
considered as a single layer of soil whereas in the lower part a
narrow surface with lower mechanical proprieties was inserted
(Fig. 3).
Figure 3. Cross sections, with associated materials: section N-S
(up) and section NE-SW (down)
The first trial of numerical simulation with Mohr-Coulomb
parameters was realised using the geotechnical parameters taken
from the laboratory tests. However, the model with these
parameters was stable and it does not agree with its real
behaviour as the slope is moving. That means that the
parameters of the model (obtained in the laboratory) do not
represent well the soil behaviour in the field. To find the state of
limit equilibrium with the safety factor equal to 1.0, i.e. in order
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to reproduce the state of the slide which is moving but not
collapsing, the parameters were decreased step by step until the
state is very close to limit equilibrium and displacements are
relatively small. Even small decrease of the plasticity
parameters causes extensive failure.
The appropriateness of the model assumptions, concerning
the division of the slope into upper and lower part with thin slip
zone can be confirmed by comparison of the real displacement
curves in both parts drawn in Fig.4.
Figure 4. Cross sections, with associated materials: section N-S
at X ≈ 100 m (a) and section NE-SW at X ≈ 300 m (b)
3.2. Cross-section NW-SE
The analysis followed the same procedure as for N-S. The
geomechanical model was divided in three zones, i.e. bedrock,
colluvium and narrow slip zone between them. This zone
extends from the main scarp to the toe of the landslide (Fig. 3 -
down) on the basis of inclinometric data. Using the geotechnical
parameters consistently with those determined for the N-S
cross-section the F.S. for this section is also around 1.0. The
displacement pattern recreates well the in-situ measurements in
inclinometer PC1 (see Fig.2B).
4. FINAL REMARKS
Two cross sections of two convergent landslides were
analysed with numerical modelling. The distribution of the
materials within the slope was assigned following the available
monitoring evidence. The fact that using the same set of
materials both section reach F.S. ≈ 1.0 is indicative of the well
performance of the modelling strategy. These results will be
used to design countermeasure work that would guarantee the
transit ability of the Passo della Morte road network.
References
[1] Cruden, D. M., Varnes, D. J. (1996). Landslides:
investigation and mitigation. Chapter 3-Landslide types and
processes. Transportation Research board Special Report
P.36-75
[2] Sinigardi, G., Bossi, G., Scuri, A., Marcato, G., Borgatti, L.
(2015) Geological and numerical models as a tool to
manage landslide risk: The Passo della Morte case study
(UD, Italy). Rendiconti Online della Società Geolica
Italiana, 34: 46–53.
[3] Itasca Consulting Group, (2008). FLAC 6.0.