The phenomena of creep, soil creep, and solifluction in landslides

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
The construction of housing complexes in Greater Concepción, and in general in various Chilean cities, does not consider all the problems that future occupants of these homes may face related to the geographical features of the site. Within the construction, design, communications, and material selection criteria, climatic elements such as temperature and precipitation, geological elements such as rock types, erosion processes, and landslides, or hydrological elements such as river flooding are not always adequately taken into account. In this technical note, we will address the phenomena of creep, soil subsidence, and solifluction, which are sometimes unfamiliar to civil engineers, but which are nevertheless present and can be very active on sloping terrain. Ground movements on which civil works are built must be properly studied before construction begins.