Inference of creep mechanism in underground soil loss of karst conduits I. Conceptual model

Karst is widely distributed in the southwest of China, especially in Guizhou Province. The phenomenon of desertification in these areas is very serious. And soil erosion is the key link in the process of desertification. Through field monitoring, underground soil leakage is derived to the main mode of soil loss in this area. Shear strength tests and creep experiments were carried out with the aim of analyzing the creep mechanism in underground soil loss. It is shown that the water content can lead to the great influence on the shear strength of the brown clay. This variation has been combined with creep characteristics besides the structural geology, hydrology condition and brown clay distribution circumstance (field observation). A conceptual creep model of the brown clay sliding along the karst conduits has been unveiled to show the detailed inference of the creep mechanism in the underground soil loss: geology and hydrology control the development of the karst conduit system; and penetration of water induces the weakening of the shear strength of the surface soil and accelerates the creeping and sliding of the brown clay along the karst conduit system. This understanding of the creep mechanism has significant implications for the future management of the soil erosion in the karst area. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012