68th Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 7th Canadian Permafrost Conference

GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF A LARGE LANDSLIDE SITE AT QUYON, QUÉBEC

Session: In Situ Testing and Instrumentation I / Essais in situ et instrumentation I

Baolin Wang, Natural Resources Canada (Canada)
Gregory Brooks, Natural Resources Canada (Canada)
James Hunter, Natural Resources Canada (Canada)

Geotechnical investigations were conducted at a large landslide site near Quyon, Québec. Previous studies concluded that the landslide was triggered by an earthquake about a thousand years ago. The current study continues the previous work to confirm the slope failure mechanism and the earthquake magnitude. This paper presents the results of the first year’s study. Cone Penetrometer Tests (CPT), field Vane Shear Tests (VST) and laboratory tests were conducted. The CPT bearing factor Nkt is determined to be a constant 10.5. The CPT pore water bearing factor Ndu is dependent on the pore pressure parameter Bq. The soil undrained shear strength (Su) ranged from 30 kPa to about 250 kPa. A clay layer of Su lower than 100 kPa exists at all the undisturbed locations, but is either absent or dislocated within the landslide zone.