Аssessment of the degree of deformation of sections of the Сhikola – Мatsuta highway crossing large landslide arrays (Irafsky district, Republic of North Ossetia – Alania)

Abstract

The object of the study is landslide activity on the Chikola-Matsuta highway passing through the territory of the Irafsky district of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The paper presents the results of systematization and analysis of various sources containing information on the location and activity (for 2005-2023) of large landslide massifs crossed by the Chikola-Matsuta highway. The location of these large landslides is shown in a cartographic form. Some qualitative and quantitative (area, volume and capacity) characteristics of these landslide massifs intersected by the highway are given, and a brief description of the soils forming them is given. The analysis of the most significant activations on these landslides over the studied period of time has been carried out and the sections of the highway located in their area of action have been identified. The main natural and man-made factors that cause the constant and periodic activation of the studied landslides are characterized. The varying degree of manifestation of these factors in different years determines the diverse activity of deformation stresses on the studied landslide massifs and, accordingly, the different degree of damage to the roadbed and road infrastructure in the zone of their influence. During the time period under review (2005–2023), the degree of their deformation (damage, destruction) by landslide masses was estimated for the sections of the highway located in the area of the studied landslides and quantitative characteristics of the damage were given. An analysis of the socio-economic consequences of the identified, most significant landslide activations crossed by the Chikola-Matsuta highway allows us to conclude that they are quite dangerous for automobile traffic along this road.