A Preliminary Study of the Failure Modes and Process of Landslide Dams Due to Upstream Flow
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water Article A Preliminary Study of the Failure Modes and Process of Landslide Dams Due to Upstream Flow Xinghua Zhu 1 , Jianbing Peng 1,*, Cheng Jiang 2 and Weilong Guo 3 1 College of Geological Engineering and Surveying of Chang’an University/Key Laboratory of Western China, Mineral Resources and Geological Engineering, Xi’an 710054, China; [email protected] 2 School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, China; [email protected] 3 Shaanxi Institute of Engineering Prospecting Co. Ltd., Xi’an 710068, China; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +86-158 9139 1126 Received: 5 May 2019; Accepted: 24 May 2019; Published: 28 May 2019 Abstract: In the process of mineral development, large-scale flash floods (or debris flows) can be induced by the failure of landslide dams formed by the disorganized stacking of mine waste. In this study, the modes and processes of mine waste dam failures were explored using 13 experimental tests based on the field investigation of landslide dams in the Xiaoqinling gold mining area in China. Our 13 mine waste dam experiments exhibited three failure modes: (i) Piping, overtopping, and erosion; (ii) overtopping and soil collapse; and (iii) overtopping and erosion. In addition, the failure processes of the landslide dams included impoundment, seepage, overtopping, and soil erosion. Different experimental conditions would inevitably lead to different failure processes and modes, with the failure modes being primarily determined by the seepage characteristics. Overtopping was the triggering condition for dam failure. The landslide dam failure process was determined based on the particle size of the mine waste and the shape of the dam. These findings will provide a scientific reference for the prevention and mitigation of natural hazards in mining areas. Keywords: mine waste; landslide dam; failure modes; soil erosion; debris flow 1. Introduction The formation and failure of landslide dams include a series of complex processes that occur at the interface between hill slopes and alluvial plain or valley-floor systems. Floods and debris flows caused by the failure of landslide dams constitute a widespread hazard to people and property, in part because of the suddenness and unpredictability of all types of dam failures [1]. Unlike artificial gravity or concrete dams with engineered barriers and filter materials, a landslide dam usually consists of a non-cohesive clast material, which has a broad grain size distribution [2,3] and is in a naturally unstable state [4,5]. Based on historical events, dam failures can generate destructive flash floods and debris flows that cause catastrophic losses [5–8]. The debris flows in the Xiaoqinling gold mining area in Tongguan County, Shaanxi Province (Figure1) are examples of large-scale debris flows that occurred in gullies due to the failure of mine waste landslide dams [9–11]. The unreasonable stacking of mine waste severely blocked the gullies and formed numerous landslide dams with beaded distribution [10]. When these landslide dams failed, large-scale floods (or debris flows) occurred, such as the catastrophic disaster on 11 July 1994, which occurred when heavy rains in the upper reaches of the basin resulted in a large amount of mine waste being delivered by the flood and finally forming a debris flow with a peak flow rate of 260 m3/s. The debris flow resulted in 51 deaths, more than 2000 missing, and economic losses of more than three million dollars [9,12]. We conducted three field investigations in the basin from 2016 to 2018. Water 2019, 11, 1115; doi:10.3390/w11061115 www.mdpi.com/journal/water Water 2019, 11, 1115 2 of 17 Water 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 18 Our investigations show that the mine waste is still being randomly stacked and blocking the channel, 2018. Our investigations show that the mine waste is still being randomly stacked and blocking the forming many landslide dams that are more than 20 m high. Eight landslide dams with a beaded channel, forming many landslide dams that are more than 20 m high. Eight landslide dams with a distribution were identified in Daxicha Gully—shown in the left panel of Figure1—which indicated beaded distribution were identified in Daxicha Gully—shown in the left panel of Figure 1—which that the gold miners did not learn from past disasters. The average gradient of the gully is greater than indicated that the gold miners did not learn from past disasters. The average gradient of the gully is 32.5%. Moreover, the average annual precipitation of the basin is 587.4 mm, and the maximum annual greater than 32.5%. Moreover, the average annual precipitation of the basin is 587.4 mm, and the precipitation is 958.6 mm. The maximum daily rainfall was 113.4 mm (23 July 2010), and 76.19% of the maximum annual precipitation is 958.6 mm. The maximum daily rainfall was 113.4 mm (23 July annual rainfall is concentrated in July, August, and September [10]. Therefore, large-scale debris flows 2010), and 76.19% of the annual rainfall is concentrated in July, August, and September [10]. could be triggered by heavy rainfall events in the future. Therefore, large-scale debris flows could be triggered by heavy rainfall events in the future. Figure 1. Location of the Xiaoqingling gold mining area. Figure 1. Location of the Xiaoqingling gold mining area. 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Experimental Experimental Methods Setup Based on the data obtained from the field investigations, an experimental flume was developed to 2.1. Experimental Setup explore the failure modes and process of the mine waste landslide dams in gullies in the Geological HazardBased Simulation on the data Laboratory obtained atfrom Chang’an the field University investigations, [11,24 an]. experiment Figure2a presentsal flume an was overview developed of to explore the failure modes and process of the mine waste landslide dams in gullies in the Geological Hazard Simulation Laboratory at Chang’an University [11,24]. Figure 2a presents an Water 2019, 11, 1115 3 of 17 Water 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 18 theoverview experimental of the experimental setup. The experimental setup. The experi flumemental was composed flume was of composed three sections: of three A storage sections: tank, A astorage flume, tank, and aa tailingsflume, and pond. a tailings The storage pond. tank The was storage 1.3 m tank in length, was 1.3 1.3 m m in in length, width, 1.3 and m 1.8 in mwidth, in height. and Water1.8 m in was height. pumped Water directly was pumped into the directly upper part into of the the upper flume part using of the a water flume pump using installed a water onpump the leftinstalled side ofon the the tank.