Mudslides

Mudslides

A mudslide is a type of landslide or slope failure that is triggered by heavy rainfall or earthquakes and can flow quickly in gullies. It is also known as a mudflow and is a special case of an avalanche action. Techniques for reducing the risk of mudslides include selecting stable slope sites, constructing drainage systems and deflection walls, planting groundcover, and using geosynthetic materials for soil reinforcement.From: Introductory Geotechnical Engineering [2017], Reliability-based vulnerability analysis of bridge pier subjected to debris flow impact [2022], Landslide Risk Management [2019], Analysis and countermeasures of the “7.20” flood in Zhengzhou [2023], Physical Security and Environmental Protection [2019]

ASCE 24-14 for Flood Loads

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Published in Syed Mehdi Ashraf, Structural Building Design: Wind and Flood Loads, 2018

Syed Mehdi Ashraf

Mudslide is a rapid flow of debris that has become partially or fully liquefied by the addition of significant amounts of water to the source material. It occurs when a large amount of water causes rapid erosion of soil on a steep slope. Rapid snowmelt at the top of a mountain or a period of intense rainfall can trigger a mudslide, as the great volume of water mixes with soil and causes it to liquefy and move downhill. A mudslide can vary from very watery mud to thick mud with tons of debris, including large boulders, trees and even cars or houses. Mudslides contain a significant proportion of clay, which makes them more fluid than debris flows; hence they travel farther and across lower-slope angles.

Reliability-based vulnerability analysis of bridge pier subjected to debris flow impact

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Journal Information

Published in Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 2022

Hao Tang, Chaoyi Xia, Kunpeng Wang, Jinghui Jiang, He Xia

In recent years, geological disasters occurred more frequently. With the extension of transportation infrastructure construction to geologically active areas in highlands and mountains, the influence of landslides and debris flows becomes more serious. According to the statistics, ‘among China’s 34 provincial regions, 20 are threatened by debris flows, with more than 1000 events every year’ (Xie et al., 2006, p. 79). Blackwelder (1928) published a paper on debris flow, initiating a new view of scientific research on debris flow. Debris flow, also known as mudslide, is a type of fast-moving landslide that flows in gullies.

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ASCE 24-14 for Flood Loads

Reliability-based vulnerability analysis of bridge pier subjected to debris flow impact