Creep processes in landslides

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Abstract
Displacement of landslide blocks after initial slope failure can be very slow. In most cases movement of the blocks is attributed to sliding along a well‐defined slip surface. It is discussed here whether, in addition to these so‐called plastic movements, (continuous) creep processes are involved in the slow displacement. The study was carried out in the downstream part of the Bonne valley in the French Alps, where landslide complexes have developed in varved clay material. Displacements of landslide blocks were measured during a period of three years. Inclinometer measurements in flexible tubes showed that a creep zone developed above the slip surface in a zone about 1 m thick. These field observations on creep processes were supported by soil mechanical analysis. Threshold values for creep found in the laboratory nearly coincide with threshold values calculated from a field creep model developed by Ter‐Stepanian. During the measuring period ±15 per cent of the displacement of the blocks possibly occurred via continuous creep.

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