The goal of this article is to revise several aspects of the well-known classification of landslides, developed by Varnes (1978). The primary recommendation is to modify the definition of landslide-forming materials, to provide compatibility with accepted geotechnical and geological terminology of rocks and soils. Other, less important modifications of the classification system are suggested, resulting from recent developments of the landslide science. The modified Varnes classification of landslides has 32 landslide types, each of which is backed by a formal definition. The definitions should facilitate backward compatibility of the system as well as possible translation to other languages. Complex landslides are not included as a separate category type, but composite types can be constructed by the user of the classification by combining two or more type names, if advantageous.

The Varnes classification of landslide types, an update

Keywords: Dimensionnement ; Classification ; Excavation ; Ouvrages souterrains ; Contrainte ; Ouvrages de soutenement Reference Record created on 2004-09-07, modified on 2016-08-08

Support of underground excavations in hard rock

Jointed rock masses comprise interlocking angular par- ticles or blocks of hard brittle material separated by discontinuity surfaces which may or may not be coated with weaker materials. The strength of such rock masses depends on the strength of the intact pieces and on their freedom of movement which, in turn, depends on the number, orientation, spacing and shear strength of the discontinuities. A complete understanding of this problem presents formidable theoretical and experi- mental problems and, hence, simplifying assumptions are required in order to provide a reasonable basis for estimating the strength of jointed rock masses for engineering design purposes. This Paper summarizes some of the basic information upon which such simplifying assumptions can be made. A simple empirical failure criterion is presented and its application in engineering design is illustrated by means of a number of practical examples. Des masses jointives de rochers comprennent des particules angulaires enchevetrees ou des ...

https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/pdf/10.1680/geot.1983.33.3.187

Strength of jointed rock masses

Discontinuity spacings in rock

Permafrost in steep bedrock is abundant in many cold-mountain areas, and its degradation can cause slope instability that is unexpected and unprecedented in location, magnitude, frequency, and timing. These phenomena bear consequences for the understanding of landscape evolution, natural hazards, and the safe and sustainable 
operation of high-mountain infrastructure. Permafrost in steep bedrock is an emerging field of research. Knowledge of rock temperatures, ice content, mechanisms of degradation, and the processes that link warming and destabilization is often fragmental. 
In this article we provide a review and discussion of existing literature and pinpoint important questions. Ice-filled joints are common in bedrock permafrost and possibly actively widened by ice segregation. Broad evidence of destabilization by warming permafrost exists despite problems of attributing individual events to this phenomenon 
with certainty. Convex topography such as ridges, spurs, and peaks is often subject to faster and deeper thaw than other areas. Permafrost degradation in steep bedrock can be 
strongly affected by percolating water in fractures. This degradation by advection is difficult to predict and can lead to quick and deepdevelopment of thaw corridors along 
fractures in permafrost and potentially destabilize much greater volumes of rock than conduction would. Although most research on steep bedrock permafrost originates from the Alps, it will likely gain importance in other geographic regions with mountain permafrost.

/pdf/permafrost-in-steep-bedrock-slopes-and-its-temperature-on9e1gruwl.pdf

Permafrost in steep bedrock slopes and its temperature‐related destabilization following climate change

This book is concerned with the stability of rock slopes, with methods for assessing this stability and with techniques for improving the stability of slopes which are potentially dangerous. The geotechnical problems of rock slope design are discussed for the mining or civil engineer who is not a specialist in rock or soil mechanics; many work examples are included to assist in relating the techniques described to his own slope problems. Methods for the collection and interpretation of geological and groundwater information are presented and tests for the determination of relevant mechanical properties of rock are described.

Jonathan D. Bray

Papers

Rock slope engineering