Introduction to the Badong Field Test Site for Landslide Research in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area of China

Abstract

The initial impoundment and periodic water level variation may change the balance of geological environment of the reservoir area and bring different kinds of geohazards. Reservoir induced landslides typify such hazards that present challenges to the long-time operation of the Three Gorges Water Conservancy and Hydropower Project of China. The Huangtupo landslide, with multiple sliding stages and masses, is one of the largest and most destructive landslides still deforming in the Three Gorges Reservoir area. From 2008, we take the Huangtupo landslide as a typical case, and build a large field test site to provide an unprecedented opportunity for the research on the evaluation and prevention of reservoir induced landslides. The test site is composed with a tunnel group with a total length of 1.1 km and a series of monitoring system on both earth surface and underground. Through the tunnel group and multiple monitoring systems, visitors can directly enter the Huangtupo No.1 riverside sliding mass to closely observe the bedrock, sliding zone, and sliding mass, and also operate related scientific experiments and deep monitoring, such as large scale in-situ mechanical tests, underground hydrological tests, deep stress, deformation and environment monitoring. Now, the test site becomes an important site for international research, education, and academic communication about geohazards.