Mohr-Coulomb failure and landsliding

Landslides occur when driving forces, modified by slope and rainfall, overcome resisting forces, which depend on pore-fluid pressure and cohesive strength of the hillslope.

Learning Goals

  • Understand Mohr-Coulomb failure
  • Know the driving and resisting forces for landslides
  • Understand the concept of “incipient failure”

Mohr-Coulomb Failure

The apprpoach used here, in which I compare driving (weight, slope) and resisting (frictional + cohesive - pore-fluid) stresses is called Mohr-Coulomb failure analysis.

Video

Notes

This is the final copy of the filled-in course notes, including the second half of what was covered in hillslopes.

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