Mechanism of rainfall-induced loess landslides revealed by multi-source data

HongYu Liu (), YanJun Li (), MingZhou Bai (), Xu Gao (), Ling Yang (), ZiLun Zhang (), MingHui Zuo () and Qain Liu ()
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HongYu Liu: Beijing Jiaotong University
YanJun Li: Beijing Jiaotong University
MingZhou Bai: Beijing Jiaotong University
Xu Gao: Railway Construction Research Institute, China Academy of Railway Science Group Co., LTD.
Ling Yang: Beijing Jiaotong University
ZiLun Zhang: Beijing Jiaotong University
MingHui Zuo: Beijing Jiaotong University
Qain Liu: Beijing Jiaotong University

Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, 2025, vol. 121, issue 8, No 9, 9160 pages

Abstract: Abstract Rainfall significantly affects the occurrence of loess landslides. Therefore, understanding how these landslides deform and fail due to rainfall remains a critical area of engineering research. The significant heterogeneity and anisotropy of the loess often result in random slope failures. This study explored the mechanism of a loess landslide that occurred in Lingwan Village, Shaanxi Province, utilizing multi-source data collected from field investigations, high-density electrical detection, and in-situ monitoring. The results demonstrated that the occurrence of the loess landslide is closely related to the lithology, landform characteristics, hydrogeological conditions, and precipitation patterns. A significant increase in both surface and crack deformation rates was observed during the rainy season; however, this increase exhibited a temporal lag. The depth of rainfall infiltration into the loess layer through the pores was limited. The groundwater recharge, runoff, and discharge channels within the slope were interconnected. The sinkholes on the slope surface and the concealed fractures within the slope served as the primary pathways for rainwater infiltration. The evolution of the loess landslide can be divided into three stages: creep deformation, creep expansion, and sliding failure. Currently, the landslide is undergoing creep deformation, and due to continuous rainfall, it remains susceptible to further instability and deformation.

Keywords: Loess landslide; Rainfall; Multi-source data; Disaster-causing factors; Instability mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11069-025-07167-6

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