Understanding Landslides through Case Studies

Slope instability is a major problem in many parts of the world. It has affected both the safety of people and that of constructions such as buildings, roads and dams. In order to prevent, assess consequences of or mitigate landslides, a good understanding of the phenomenon is vital. This reference book gives a full and well-illustrated treatment of the mechanisms leading to slope movements and landslides. Composed of two parts, both theoretical and practical aspects are discussed; the first part describes soil behaviour and properties in the context of slopes, the processes involved in slope formation and how some factors influence slope movements and stability. The second part consists of about 30 well-documented case histories from many parts of the world that were carefully selected and written by experts to demonstrate the most common processes of deformation and failure. This book is unique in that it treats the mechanical processes involved. Intended for researchers, practitioners and graduate students working on soil engineering and geohazards but also makes attractive reading for a broader audience of civil engineers and geologists.