Loess geohazards research in China: Advances and challenges for mega engineering projects
Autor: | Tom Dijkstra, Xingmin Meng, Janusz Wasowski, C. Hsein Juang |
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Rok vydání: | 2019 |
Předmět: |
Levelling
Loess Plateau (China) Loess geohazards Loess landslides Ground fissures Mega engineering projects 0211 other engineering and technologies Geology Excavation Landslide 02 engineering and technology Silt 010502 geochemistry & geophysics Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology 01 natural sciences Land reclamation Mining engineering Agricultural land Loess Geohazard 021101 geological & geomatics engineering 0105 earth and related environmental sciences |
Zdroj: | Engineering geology 251 (2019). info:cnr-pdr/source/autori:CH Juang, T Dijkstra, J Wasowski, X Meng/titolo:Loess geohazards research in China: advances and challenges for mega engineering projects/doi:/rivista:Engineering geology/anno:2019/pagina_da:/pagina_a:/intervallo_pagine:/volume:251 |
ISSN: | 0013-7952 |
Popis: | © 2019 Loess is a meta-stable, cemented assemblage of mainly silt and clay-sized particles of low plasticity. When dry it behaves like a brittle material, but when wetted up the fabric rapidly collapses. Unique geomorphological features include extensive surface erosion, soil piping (loess ‘karst’), catastrophic landslides, and widespread collapse (hydro-consolidation). The Chinese Loess Plateau is a more or less continuous drape of thick loess covering some 440,000 km2. It is one of China's regions that is most prone to geohazards. This paper reviews advances in the research related to loess geohazards, drawing particular attention to the need to apply research findings to recent, very large (mega-)construction projects in loess terrain such as the Mountain Excavation and City Construction in Yan'an levelling 78 km2 for urban expansion, the Lanzhou New District creating 246 km2 of new level ground for construction, and large engineered interventions in the landscape for gully control and land reclamation such as those in Shaanxi and Gansu generating agricultural land covering an area of some 8000 km2. These projects are in response to increasing pressures to facilitate expansion of urban centres, their interconnecting infrastructures and their agricultural support systems. It is argued that, where proper application of scientific knowledge for engineering control (e.g. densification, drainage) of these new landscapes is absent, these projects could generate a substantial, and costly geohazard legacy for future generations. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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