Deformation characteristics of landslide with steplike deformation in the Three Gorges Reservoir

Due to the big rise and periodic fluctuation of water level in the Three Gorges Reservoir, many landslides behaving step-like deformation result in the economic loss and human casualties. In order to establish the suitable prediction model, it is necessary to understand the deformation characteristics on the basis of the monitoring data. Bazimen landslide was taken as an example to explain the deformation features including amount of deformation, velocity, type of motion, influencing factors. The landslide is controlled by rainfall and the fluctuation of the reservoir. The landslide seems to be characterized by creep and accumulation of strain energy. To understand the internal deformation mechanics, a dynamic approach by taking into account a viscous component were performed in the slice analysis using slice method. The introduction of viscous force could quantitatively explain the fluctuation of deformation velocity and with caused by external factors of the water level and rainfall.