Search Results (757)

The Tuzla Submarine Landslide represents one of the most significant mass-wasting features associated with the active North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ). The failure surface geometry and sediment stratigraphy indicate the presence of a mechanically weak, saturated layer that may become unstable under strong seismic loading. This study presents a comprehensive geotechnical evaluation of the Tuzla Submarine Landslide. Based on regional sediment properties, the landslide was characterized and modeled with an estimated volume of 0.015 km³ and an average slope angle of 14°. The submarine landslide potential was investigated through re-analysis of seismic, geotechnical, and bathymetric datasets. Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations were conducted to model the seismic slope failure. Based on these analyses, the seismic slope displacements, stress distributions, and equivalent plastic strains were identified. The estimated landslide displacements under varying seismic acceleration scenarios corresponding to three major earthquakes ranged between 2.38 m and 4.12 m, depending on the triggering ground motion and slope stability conditions. These findings highlight that reactivation of the Tuzla submarine landslide, potentially triggered by a future large earthquake along the NAFZ, could pose a moderate landslide hazard to the coastal settlements bordering the Marmara Sea. Full article

The Landslide susceptibility assessment in complex mountainous terrain is frequently limited by static modelling frameworks that inadequately capture nonlinear deformation characteristics and temporally evolving hazard processes. To bridge this gap, a continuous-time dynamic assessment framework is proposed for Shazhou Town, Sichuan Province, integrating slowly moving scatterogram interferometric radar (S(BAS-InSAR))-derived deformation time series with Liquid Neural Networks (LNN). By incorporating a liquid time-constant architecture, the model accommodates irregular temporal sampling and captures non-stationary environmental responses through adaptive multimodal feature fusion. Analysis of long-term SBAS-InSAR observations (January 2021–May 2025) reveals distinctive deformation patterns, identifying eight active zones with maximum annual displacement rates of 107 mm yr⁻¹ and cumulative subsidence of 535.7 mm, which serve as critical dynamic inputs for the susceptibility model. Comparative experiments demonstrate that the LNN framework outperforms benchmark models (including LSTM, GRU, Random Forest, and SVM), achieving a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.95 and an RMSE of 0.50. Furthermore, multi-temporal validation against 189 historical landslide records (2008–2025) confirms the model’s robustness, yielding a 91.5% capture rate within high-susceptibility zones. Interpretability analyses via SHAP and Layer-wise relevance propagation identify rainfall and vegetation cover as dominant dynamic controls, while characterising a distinct slope threshold effect at approximately 20°. These findings demonstrate that explicit continuous-time neural modelling enables physically consistent representation of irregular satellite acquisition intervals and delayed hydro-mechanical responses, thereby advancing landslide susceptibility assessment from static spatial classification toward dynamic state evolution inference under asynchronous Earth observation data streams. Full article

Accurately characterizing the kinematics of slow-moving urban landslides remains a major scientific and operational challenge, because no single monitoring technique can simultaneously provide spatially continuous deformation patterns and reliable three-dimensional displacement measurements. This study investigates the spatial and temporal evolution of a slow-moving landslide affecting the University of Azuay campus in Cuenca (Ecuador), where ongoing ground deformation has caused structural damage to several buildings. An integrated monitoring strategy combining GNSS measurements, Sentinel-1 multi-temporal DInSAR analysis, and geophysical investigations (ERT and seismic profiling) was adopted to characterize landslide kinematics and constrain subsurface conditions. GNSS observations revealed that the north–south displacement component was dominant, with cumulative displacements exceeding 20 cm during the monitoring period (from July 2021 to June 2024), while east–west displacements were on the order of 10 cm. MT-DInSAR analysis delineated the spatial extent of the unstable area and identified mean deformation rates of up to approximately −1.5 cm/year in the central sector of the landslide. The combined interpretation of geodetic and geophysical data indicates that slope instability is controlled by saturated fine-grained layers and mechanical contrasts, with the basal sliding zone associated with weak levels of the Mangan Formation. Overall, the results demonstrate the value of a multi-sensor, component-wise monitoring strategy for improving the reliability of deformation estimates and for supporting landslide risk assessment and land-use planning in complex urban environments. Full article

This study experimentally investigates the shear strength behavior of interfaces formed between granular soils and clay under drained conditions, with particular emphasis on peak-to-residual strength evolution. Large and small-scale direct shear tests were performed on clay, granular soils (sand and gravel), and their interfaces, and shearing was continued to large displacements to reliably capture residual behavior. Unlike most previous studies that focus on soil mixtures, this study explicitly quantifies interface-specific shear strength parameters and highlights their distinct mechanical response. The results show that while interface cohesion remains comparable to that of clay, the interface friction angle is consistently higher. Specifically, under residual conditions, the friction angle of the clay (12.9°) increased to 16.4° for the sand–clay interface and to 19.8° for the gravel–clay interface. These findings demonstrate that adopting clay residual parameters for granular soil–clay interfaces may be overly conservative and that interface-specific residual friction angles should be considered in stability analyses of slopes and earth structures. Full article

In July 2024, a major rainfall-induced landslide disaster occurred in Zixing county, Hunan Province, triggering more than 4000 landslides with a total area exceeding 21 km². The scale of this hazard underscores a critical need for long-term stability assessment of the affected slopes. While previous studies have primarily used optical remote sensing to map landslide distributions, quantitative evaluation of post-failure movement dynamics remains limited. This study developed an integrated monitoring framework that combines time-series SBAS-InSAR displacement measurements (using Sentinel-1 data from August 2024 to September 2025) with deep learning-based optical interpretation, rainfall analysis, and geological data. Our approach enables the quantitative, region-scale stability assessment of the Zixing landslide cluster one year after the initial event. Experimental results reveal sustained surface displacement with rates ranging from −30 to 30 mm/year, and localized displacements exceeding 40 mm/year. Notably, over 48% of the mapped landslides are classified as active or critically active, indicating widespread, ongoing instability. Correlation analysis further establishes precipitation as a key driver of accelerated movement. Beyond the Zixing case, this work provides a transferable methodology for assessing long-term post-disaster landslide behavior, offering direct value for regional hazard management and early-warning systems. Full article

The strength of Xigeda strata decreases significantly upon contact with water, and the shear strength between sandstone and mudstone layers is lower than that within the individual layers. Therefore, the interlayer dip angle plays an important role in determining the failure mode of rainfall-induced landslides. To investigate the effect of interlayer dip angle on the mechanical response of Xigeda sandstone–mudstone slopes under rainfall conditions, a total of five model slope tests were conducted. Different ratios of model materials were selected for the sandstone and mudstone, and artificial rainfall with intensities representative of the Panxi region was simulated using a calibrated rainfall device. A combination of photography and instrument measurements was employed to study the seepage field, deformation field, and slope failure characteristics at five interlayer dip angles. It is shown that when the interlayer dip angle is smaller than the slope angle, an increase in the interlayer dip angle accelerates the movement of the wetting front along the weak interlayer plane. At the same time, this increase shortens the time to the occurrence of abrupt displacement and increases the corresponding displacement magnitude, which makes slope failure prediction more challenging. The shoulders of all slopes experienced displacement earliest and exhibited the largest displacement amplitude. The slope failure mode transitioned from shallow surface sliding to interlayer sliding. When the interlayer dip angle surpassed the slope angle, the weak interlayer plane was no longer the dominant control surface. Slope stability was thereby moderately enhanced, with the failure mode shifting to through-layer sliding. Full article

The Bayan Obo Mining District, recognized as the largest rare-earth resource base worldwide, has experienced significant surface instability due to intensive mining and large-scale dumping activities. To address the challenges posed by complex geological conditions and mining-induced disturbances, this study employs dual-ascending Sentinel-1A C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) datasets (Path 11 and Path 113) and applies the Small Baseline Subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SBAS-InSAR) technique to retrieve time-series deformation along the line-of-sight (LOS) direction for each track. Through temporal normalization and spatial matching, paired LOS observations from the two tracks were established. Based on the SAR observation geometry and under the assumption that the north–south component is negligible, a LOS projection model was constructed and a geometric decomposition was performed to derive the east–west and vertical two-dimensional deformation fields. The results indicate that the study area is generally stable, while significant subsidence occurs in the northern pit and adjacent waste-dump zones, with local maximum rates approaching 50 mm/year, predominantly controlled by the vertical component. The two-dimensional deformation analysis reveals that vertical displacement dominates surface motion, whereas east–west movement shows smaller amplitudes but clear directional concentration. In particular, the east–west slopes exhibit slightly higher velocities, suggesting a lateral adjustment tendency along this direction, likely related to the overall east–west geometric configuration of the open-pit and waste-dump areas. Time-series observations further reveal that precipitation-related surface deformation occurs with an approximate two-month delay, reflecting the hydrological–mechanical coupling processes of rainfall infiltration, pore-water pressure propagation, and dump-material consolidation. Overall, this study reveals the multi-dimensional deformation characteristics and precipitation-driven stage-wise response of the mining area, demonstrating the effectiveness of the dual-ascending SBAS-InSAR for two-dimensional deformation monitoring in highly disturbed environments, and providing a scientific basis for surface stability assessment and geohazard prevention. Full article

Shaking table testing has become a fundamental experimental approach in geotechnical earthquake engineering for investigating seismic soil–structure interaction. Although numerous studies have examined the dynamic behavior of reinforced retaining walls and soil slopes, the existing body of literature remains fragmented, with significant variations in scaling approaches, boundary conditions, input motions, and instrumentation methods. To date, no comprehensive review has critically synthesized these studies to identify consistent behavioral trends and methodological limitations. This paper presents a systematic and critical review of shaking table investigations of geosynthetic-reinforced retaining walls and clayey soil slopes. The review consolidates global experimental findings to evaluate how key parameters—including excitation characteristics, soil density, surcharge loading, reinforcement configuration, and boundary conditions—influence displacement patterns and acceleration amplification. Recurring response mechanisms are identified, such as elevation-dependent amplification, nonlinear frequency effects, and the confinement benefits of reinforcement and surcharge. The review further examines discrepancies among studies and between experimental and numerical results, highlighting challenges related to similitude requirements, boundary effects, and signal fidelity By synthesizing dispersed experimental evidence and critically evaluating methodological variations, this review provides a clearer understanding of seismic response mechanisms and offers guidance for improving experimental consistency and promoting future standardization in shaking table testing. Full article

This study evaluates the stability of slopes supported by mechanically stabilized earth walls under combined hydrostatic and seismic loading conditions. Limit equilibrium, pseudo-static methods and permanent displacement approaches, including the Newmark rigid block method as well as coupled and decoupled techniques, are employed to assess the static and seismic performance of the soil slope under investigation. Parametric analyses are conducted using the Slide2 software package (Version 9.041) and verified against geotechnical design criteria to examine the effects of groundwater level and seismic intensity on factors of safety, failure mechanisms, and seismic-induced displacements of the slope. Results based on multiple strong ground motion records indicate that elevated water tables and hydrostatic pressures behind the wall, up to levels near the wall toe, do not significantly increase the failure potential or slope displacement. This behavior is attributed to the MSE wall acting as a rigid stabilizing system that enhances overall slope stability. Full article

Rainfall is recognised as one of the major external factors affecting the stability of retaining walls. The magnitude of rainfall directly influences the overall stability of retaining walls, while rainfall patterns alter the infiltration process and the saturation state of the soil, thereby affecting soil shear strength and retaining wall stability. In order to investigate the effects of rainfall pattern and intensity on the stability of reinforced soil gabion retaining walls, numerical simulations were carried out to examine wall stability under two typical rainfall patterns (uniform and intermittent) and three rainfall intensities (20 mm/d, 50 mm/d, and 80 mm/d). The results indicate that: (1) under uniform rainfall conditions, the extent of the soil pore water pressure response zone is greater than that under intermittent rainfall of the same intensity, and as the uniform rainfall intensity increases from 20 mm/d to 80 mm/d, the pore water pressure response zone expands by approximately four times; (2) the rainfall pattern exerts a certain influence on the distribution characteristics of the time-history curves of lateral displacement of the retaining wall, with the horizontal displacement under intermittent rainfall exhibiting a non-uniform growth pattern associated with the rainfall pattern; (3) uniform heavy rainfall has a more pronounced effect on the horizontal displacement of reinforced soil gabion retaining walls, with the maximum absolute horizontal displacement reaching approximately 12.89 mm; and (4) rainfall pattern affects the evolution of the slope stability coefficient, which gradually decreases and eventually stabilises under uniform rainfall, whereas under intermittent rainfall it shows a continuous decreasing trend characterised by alternating rates of reduction, with a greater reduction observed under uniform rainfall conditions. These findings elucidate the influence of different rainfall patterns and intensities on the displacement behaviour and stability of reinforced soil gabion retaining walls, and provide a reference for risk assessment of reinforced soil gabion retaining walls. Full article

To address the stability issues of bridge piers on high expansive soil slopes in the Yangtze-Huaihe River Water Transfer Project and reveal the slope-bridge structure interaction mechanism, this study performed 100 g geotechnical centrifuge model tests. Slope failure modes under rainfall-bridge load coupling are investigated, with bridge pier deformation, earth pressure, and pile bending moment evolution analyzed. Results show that rainfall-induced failure causes shallow slope sliding with negligible pier displacement, keeping the structure safe. Conversely, under bridge working and ultimate loads, the slope will experience a mid-deep landslide with a sliding depth of 13–20 m, leading to slope instability and bridge overturning. The influence range of shallow landslides is 1–2 m, and the earth pressure at the pile cap is 132 kPa, which is a critical factor affecting bridge stability. In contrast, the bearing performance of pile foundations plays a dominant controlling role in deep-seated landslides. With the increase in landslide depth, the inflection point of the pile gradually moves downward. Numerical simulations further indicate that shallow landslides feature superficial slip–shear failure, and deep-seated landslides follow a progressive slip tensile cracking mechanism. Full article

Landslides occurring on reservoir banks in steep, high-gradient canyon areas pose a significant risk of surge disasters when they slide into the water. This can endanger the lives and property of downstream residents and damage coastal infrastructure. Therefore, researching the formation mechanisms, disaster evolution, and risk assessment of the landslide-surge disaster chain in such areas is essential. This paper takes the Laowuchang landslide in the Shuibuya Reservoir area of the Qingjiang River, China, as its research object. Using GeoStudio 2018 software, it evaluates the landslide’s stability under varying reservoir water levels and rainfall conditions. For potential unstable scenarios identified, a full-chain numerical simulation of the landslide–tsunami disaster was conducted based on the Tsunami Squares method, with a focus on analyzing the wave characteristics during generation, propagation, and run-up processes. Furthermore, the paper assesses the risk of landslide–tsunami disasters in the Laowuchang landslide area. The research findings indicate that: (1) Under the long-term continuous river incision, limestone of the Triassic Daye Formation slides along weak interlayers, inducing large-scale collapses. Subsequently, part of the landslide mass is transported by water, while most accumulates in the near-shore area of the Qingjiang River, ultimately shaping the present morphology of the landslide. (2) The Laowuchang landslide is stable under static water levels of 375 m and 400 m, with corresponding safety factors of 1.137 and 1.167, respectively. Under combined static water level and heavy rainfall conditions, the slope stability decreases significantly, with safety factors of 1.034 and 1.064, respectively. Under reservoir drawdown conditions, the slope tends to be unstable, with a safety factor of 1.047. (3) Numerical simulation results indicate that if the Laowuchang landslide fails into water by the speed of 12 m/s and with a volume of 2 million m³, the maximum initial wave height can reach 15.9 m. The tsunami’s affected range spans 10 km upstream and downstream from the landslide mass, with four houses and one substation within a 2 km up and downstream falling into high-risk areas. If abnormal increases in landslide displacement occur, relocation and risk avoidance measures should be implemented. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for the prevention and response to landslide–tsunami disasters in similar high and steep canyon terrains. Full article

Background: Erectile dysfunction is a common late effect of prostate radiotherapy. Hydrogel spacers aim to reduce radiation exposure to nearby structures by increasing the distance between the prostate and surrounding tissues, potentially preserving sexual function. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study of 117 prostate cancer patients who received hydrogel spacers, we compared pre- and post-insertion radiation dose and anatomical positioning of erectile structures using paired t-tests. Longitudinal sexual function, assessed via EPIC scores, was modeled using linear mixed-effects regression with natural splines (df = 3), incorporating random intercepts and slopes to account for within-subject variability. Results: Spacer insertion significantly reduced radiation dose to the left and right neurovascular bundles (mean reductions: 1.66 Gy, 95% CI: 1.32–2.00; and 1.64 Gy, 95% CI: 1.28–2.01, respectively; p < 0.01) and the right perineal artery (1.33 Gy, 95% CI: 0.57–2.09; p < 0.01). No significant dose changes were observed for the penile bulb or left perineal artery, nor in anatomical distances. However, spatial displacement was confirmed by significant overlap and integrated volume changes. Longitudinal modeling showed a significant decline in sexual function between 12 and ≥36 months post-treatment (Spline 2: β = –12.72, 95% CI: −18.52–−6.92 and Spline 3: β = –6.68, 95% CI: −10.96–−2.40; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Hydrogel spacer insertion was associated with significant reductions in radiation dose to erectile structures, most notably the neurovascular bundles and the right perineal artery. However, longitudinal analyses revealed no corresponding preservation of sexual function. These findings suggest that while hydrogel spacers effectively reduce radiation exposure to key anatomical structures, their clinical benefit for maintaining erectile function remains uncertain. Full article

Earthfill dams located in seismic regions are highly vulnerable to earthquake-induced deformations, particularly when founded on soft alluvial soils. This study presents a comparative numerical investigation of earthfill dams with asphalt and clay cores subjected to seismic loading. A 20 m-high zoned embankment dam founded on soft alluvial deposits was modeled in PLAXIS2D and subjected to four earthquake records. The dynamic responses at the crest and downstream slope were evaluated in terms of acceleration, settlement, and lateral displacement. The results indicate that while lateral displacements are nearly identical for both core types, dams with clay cores experience significantly higher seismic settlements, reaching up to 35% more than those with asphalt cores under strong earthquake loading. Overall, the asphalt core demonstrated enhanced resilience, exhibiting reduced settlement due to its higher stiffness, viscoelastic behavior, and inherent capacity for self-healing following seismic loading. Full article

Accurate prediction of slope displacement is an important prerequisite for building an effective geological hazard early warning system for disaster prevention and reduction. However, the inherent nonlinearity and time-varying characteristics of slope displacement evolution greatly affect the prediction accuracy. To improve the slope displacement prediction accuracy, a multi-modal data-driven Bayesian-optimized Convolutional Neural Network and Long Short-Term Memory (Bayes-CNN-LSTM) model was constructed. The performance of the model was evaluated using multi-modal monitoring data from the GuShan mine slope. Experimental results showed that the Bayes-CNN-LSTM model achieved an average coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.971, with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.444 mm and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.618 mm. Compared with the CNN-LSTM, LSTM, CNN, SVM, TCN, and Transformer models, the MAE of the constructed model was decreased by 25.1%, 31.3%, 32.3%, 24.1%, 24.7%, and 17.7%, respectively, and the RMSE decreased by 20.1%, 26.9%, 29.5%, 18.0%, 20.7%, and 12.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the proper integration of multi-modal data can effectively improve the prediction accuracy when extrapolating slope displacement. Based on rainfall and earth pressure data, the average MAE and RMSE of extrapolation (24-h) prediction using the constructed model were decreased by 30.2% and 24.6%, respectively. The model effectively improves the accuracy of slope displacement prediction and enhances the practicality of the slope safety monitoring system, providing valuable reference for slope safety monitoring. Full article