Determination of Translational Landslide Slip Surface Depth Using Balanced Cross Sections

Research Article| January 01, 1999 Determination of Translational Landslide Slip Surface Depth Using Balanced Cross Sections KIM M. BISHOP KIM M. BISHOP Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information KIM M. BISHOP Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Publisher: Association of Environmental Determination of Translational Landslide Slip Surface Depth Using Balanced Cross Sections. Environmental ; V (2): 147–156. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.V.2.147 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract An apparently little-recognized but powerful technique for determining slip surface depth of translational landslides is the use of balanced cross-sections. Conceptually, the method is simple and the necessary parameters can be determined without subsurface exploration. To determine the depth of the slip surface for a given landslide, a longitudinal cross-section through the approximate center of the slide is drawn. From the cross section, the area of the depression (zone of depletion) formed at the head of the slide above the listric part of the slip surface is determined. The displacement along the planar (translational) part of the slide is also determined, either by direct field measurement or by some indirect method. Finally, the depth of the slip surface is determined by dividing the area of the depression by the displacement. Determining the slip surface displacement is likely to be the most uncertain aspect of the method. In some cases, the displacement can be determined directly by measurement of offset features such as roads, fences, or surface drains. However, in many, if not most cases, the displacement must be determined by indirect methods such as using displacements found along the scarp(s) of the landslide. In using scarps, the style of internal deformation of the slide mass is important. Styles of deformation include penetrative shear strain and/or the slippage along discrete shear planes. Based on the displacement determined from the scarp(s), a reasonable calculation of the slip surface depth can be made. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.