Investigation of a landslide in Maskinongé, Québec

Abstract

Several first-time landslides occurred in the Maskinongé area, Quebec, during the summer, which is rather unusual. They have been studied in detail, including a site investigation. The results show the following: (i) piezocone tests indicate that the clay mass close to the slopes of precarious stability is softened; (ii) the failure surface develops within the softened zone; and (iii) three of the four landslides occurred during the summer period when pore pressures are low, indicating that failure could be due to fatigue phenomena.