Discrete Element Analysis of Huangtupo Landslide

Based on the deep geology and the geological structure characteristics of the ancient landslide body, a geo environmental model of Huangtupo landslide in the reservoir of Three Gorges is established to quantitatively analyze the mechanism of the sliding in terms of discrete element method. It is concluded that inter bedding structure of soft and hard formation consists of the main geological background, which induced the arching of the formation under gravity. Stability analysis by considering different loadings shows that ground building load in the middle can restrain the development of shear sliding zone in the middle, but may extend the shear sliding zone at the foot area which will reduce the safety of the front.