Influence of structural heterogeneities and of large scale topography on imbricate gravitational rock slope failures: New insights from 3-D physical modeling and geomorphological analysis

► The initial topography exerts a strong control on gravitational slope failure. ► The number of simulated fracture sets greatly influences the volume mobilized and it kinematics. ► The failure zone involved in the 1991 event is smaller than the results produced by the analogue modelling. ► This failure indicates that the zone mobilized in 1991 is potentially only a part of a larger deep-seated landslide and/or wider deep seated gravitational slope deformation.