2014 OSO LANDSLIDE – Initiation and Flowslide

Presented By: Dr. Timothy D. Stark, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE

This presentation will supplement the 2016 Short Course topic of “Stability of Natural and Man-made Slopes.” After Dr. Stark’s presentation, please join the Geo-Institute for a social and networking hour. Those interested may also join the Geo-Institute and Younger Members Forum for a tailgate at 5:00 PM and Pirates game at 7:05 PM against the Washington Nationals. Tickets for the tailgate and baseball game may be purchased separately through the YMF.

Dr. Stark’s presentation will focus on the March 22, 2014 Landslide near Oso, Washington. This major and tragic landslide exhibited some interesting geo-mechanical behavior including a runout of over one mile, which devastated the adjacent Steelhead Haven Community. The presentation will focus on this and prior landslides at this site, triggering of the 2014 landslide, and initiation and runout of the resulting flowslide. In particular, Professor Stark will focus on the field investigation, laboratory testing, and slope stability analyses used to determine the triggering mechanism for the 2014 landslide and the shear strength and dynamic analysis used to explain the flowslide volume and runout distance. The results of this study are being used to gain a better understanding of landslide triggering mechanisms and develop improved methods for landslide hazard and risk assessments.

Timothy D. Stark, Ph.D., P.E. has been a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since 1991. His research interests include the static and seismic stability of natural and manmade slopes, three-dimensional slope stability analyses, shear strengths for slope stability analyses, and earthquake-induced liquefaction and post-liquefaction strength of cohesionless soils.

Registration will be opening soon.

1:00 PM Registration

1:30 Presentation

2:30 Networking and Happy Hour

(Heavy Appetizers Provided)