Kinematic evolution and shear strength in the complex landslides of the Maratea Valley (PZ, Italy)

It is suggested that a structural kinematic mechanism could have formed the so-called Maratea "Sackung" (A. GUERRICCHIO, G. MELIDORO, 1979) (more comp rehensible as the "Sagging" phenomenon) and enabled the complex surrounding landslides to take place. For the same deformation speed, the change in re sistance as a function of different stress conditions was identified by mea ns of triaxial testing carried out on test pieces obtained from both undist urbed and remoulded samples of the basal clay complex with "Sicilide" affin ity. Finally, the results obtained were compared with slide velocity during the last decade and the various thicknesses of the partially detrital mass in w hich the main landslides occur. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.