scholarly journals Numerical Simulation of Failure Behavior of Granular Debris Flows Based on Flume Model Tests

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Zhou ◽  
Ye-xun Li ◽  
Min-cai Jia ◽  
Cui-na Li

In this study, the failure behaviors of debris flows were studied by flume model tests with artificial rainfall and numerical simulations (PFC3D). Model tests revealed that grain sizes distribution had profound effects on failure mode, and the failure in slope of medium sand started with cracks at crest and took the form of retrogressive toe sliding failure. With the increase of fine particles in soil, the failure mode of the slopes changed to fluidized flow. The discrete element methodPFC3Dcan overcome the hypothesis of the traditional continuous medium mechanic and consider the simple characteristics of particle. Thus, a numerical simulations model considering liquid-solid coupled method has been developed to simulate the debris flow. Comparing the experimental results, the numerical simulation result indicated that the failure mode of the failure of medium sand slope was retrogressive toe sliding, and the failure of fine sand slope was fluidized sliding. The simulation result is consistent with the model test and theoretical analysis, and grain sizes distribution caused different failure behavior of granular debris flows. This research should be a guide to explore the theory of debris flow and to improve the prevention and reduction of debris flow.

Author(s):  
Mathieu Brotons ◽  
Philippe Jean

The accurate prediction of SPM vessel yaw motion is important to its mooring system design. Inconsistencies have been observed between the numerical and model test predictions of offloading responses. In some cases, the numerical simulation predicted unstable yaw behavior of the vessel (fishtailing) while the model tests did not show such instability. This discrepancy between experiment and theory casts doubt as to whether the numerical simulation predicts correctly the vessel yaw motion. The work presented in this paper investigates the following two hypotheses to possibly explain the non-expected fishtailing in the numerical simulations: The mooring software may not accurately integrate non-linear differential equations that describe the yaw motion of the SPM vessel. Some damping terms may be under-estimated in the software (user input issue). To validate the integration scheme of the system of non-linear differential equations as implemented in the mooring software, a stability analysis has been conducted on a shuttle tanker moored to a West Africa deep water buoy. Variations of parameters like the hawser length, its axial stiffness and the vessel’s drag coefficients have been studied to explore their impacts on the vessel yaw stability. The approach is to identify without performing any time domain simulations, the domains of stability by linearizing the differential equations of SPM vessel’s yaw motion around its equilibrium point. The validity of the developed approach is then confirmed by performing time domain simulations of the same case. The second conjecture which may explain the non-expected fishtailing in numerical simulations was that some damping terms may be under-estimated. A semi empirical formula for the drag moment can be derived from rotation tests and comparisons were performed with the engineering model implemented in the mooring analysis software. The results show that by calibrating this damping term with the one derived from the experiments, the numerical simulations would match the stable yaw motion behavior as predicted during model tests. Following the above findings, a tool has been developed to fit the yaw drag moment engineering model based on experimental measurements, for any case of mooring analysis.


1993 ◽  
Vol 8 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 63-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Specht

This paper deals with the numerical simulation of the deployment process of a parabolic space reflector. The described deployable antenna is of the rigid panel type. The numerical simulations cover kinematic, inverse dynamic, quasi-static and dynamic analysis modes. Special phenomena included are hinge friction and the investigation of a deployment failure mode. Different software packages have been applied and their performance has been assessed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 848-858
Author(s):  
Jun Wang ◽  
Yan Yu ◽  
Xinfeng Wei ◽  
Qinghua Gong ◽  
Haixian Xiong

Debris flows are a common natural disaster in mountainous areas and often cause severe casualties and property loss. Debris-flow run-out effects analysis can provide an idea of the spatial risks posed to the downstream area of a debris flow, which is extremely important for local populations’ lives, disaster mitigation and planning the layout of economic construction. The objective of this study is to develop a new method to quantify debris flow run-out effects by combining debris flow simulation results and data for different types of land use within the inundated area. After a three-dimensional numerical simulation platform was established, the numerical simulation method was applied as a modeling tool to simulate the inundated areas and final buried depths under rainfalls with different return periods. The simulated result for flow depth under a 100-year return period rainfall event was validated based on field measurements. Finally, the debris-flow run-out effects under different return periods were analyzed by combining the simulation results and land use data. The proposed method can enhance the accuracy of debris-flow spatial risk assessment and has great value for application.


2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. T. Chau ◽  
K. H. Lo

Abstract. As over seventy percent of the land of Hong Kong is mountainous, rainfall-induced debris flows are not uncommon in Hong Kong. The objective of this study is to incorporate numerical simulations of debris flows with GIS to identify potential debris flow hazard areas. To illustrate this approach, the proposed methodology is applied to Leung King Estate in Tuen Mun. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the terrain and the potential debris-flow sources were generated by using GIS to provide the required terrain and flow source data for the numerical simulations. A theoretical model by Takahashi et al. (1992) improved by incorporating a new erosion initiation criterion was used for simulating the runout distances of debris flows. The well-documented 1990 Tsing Shan debris flow, which occurred not too far from Leung King Estate, was used to calibrate most of the flow parameters needed for computer simulations. Based on the simulation results, a potential hazard zone was identified and presented by using GIS. Our proposed hazard map was thus determined by flow dynamics and a deposition mechanism through computer simulations without using any so- called expert opinions, which are bounded to be subjective and biased.


2011 ◽  
Vol 261-263 ◽  
pp. 928-932
Author(s):  
Jian Zhou ◽  
Ye Xun Li ◽  
Min Cai Jia ◽  
Qi Wei Jian ◽  
Kai Min Zhou

Based on self-designed flume model device of sandy debris flow, the experiments under artificial rainfall were carried out to study the debris flow failure mode of different grain size. By using the Digital Photogrammetry for Deformation Measurement GEODOG, the failure process and displacement field of sandy debris flow were analyzed. The studies indicate that the failure mode of medium sand is Retrogressive Toe Sliding as the movement of particle concentrated on sand anterior of flume model. The failure mode of fine sand is Flow-slide Failure as the movement of particle concentrated on sand in the rear of flume model.


Geosciences ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nejc Bezak ◽  
Jošt Sodnik ◽  
Matjaž Mikoš

Debris flows with different magnitudes can have a large impact on debris fan characteristics such as height or slope. Moreover, knowledge about the impact of random sequences of debris flows of different magnitudes on debris fan properties is sparse in the literature and can be improved using numerical simulations of debris fan formation. Therefore, in this paper we present the results of numerical simulations wherein we investigated the impact of a random sequence of debris flows on torrential fan formation, where the total volume of transported debris was kept constant, but different rheological properties were used. Overall, 62 debris flow events with different magnitudes from 100 m3 to 20,000 m3 were selected, and the total volume was approximately 225,000 m3. The sequence of these debris flows was randomly generated, and selected debris fan characteristics after the 62 events were compared. For modeling purposes, we applied the Rapid Mass Movement Simulations (RAMMS) software and its debris flow module (RAMMS-DF). The modeling was carried out using (a) real fan topography from an alpine environment (i.e., an actual debris fan in north-west (NW) Slovenia formed by the Suhelj torrent) and (b) an artificial surface with a constant slope. Several RAMMS model parameters were tested. The simulation results confirm that the random sequence of debris flow events has only some minor effects on the fan formation (e.g., slope, maximum height), even when changing debris flow rheological properties in a wide range. After the 62 events, independent of the selected sequence of debris flows, the final fan characteristics were not significantly different from each other. Mann–Whitney (MW) tests and t-tests were used for this purpose, and the selected significance level was 0.05. Moreover, this conclusion applies for artificial and real terrain and for a wide range of tested RAMMS model rheological parameters. Further testing of the RAMMS-DF model in real situations is proposed in order to better understand its applicability and limitations under real conditions for debris flow hazard assessment or the planning of mitigation measures.


Author(s):  
Alexandre Almeida Del Savio ◽  
Samuel Ismael Quisca Astocahuana ◽  
Leonardo Franco Castillo Navarro

Debris flows are geophysical phenomena, caused by torrential rain, which occur in mountainous areas, characterized by the detachment of slope and riverbed materials and their consequent dislodge through watersheds and streams. Debris flows usually carry sludge, water and rocks, and can destroy everything in their path. On February 8th, 2019, an event of this type occurred and destroyed Mirave’s community in Peru, which was located in the areas of transport and deposition of debris flows. This research presents the modeling and numerical simulation to reproduce the transport and deposition processes of the debris flow that occurred in Mirave. The initiation process of the debris flow in streams was represented by hydrographs obtained from the estimated rain runoff volumes and solid materials found at each evaluated micro watershed. The numerical simulation results show acceptable results in terms of reproduction of the extension of the affectation and deposition areas of solids related to the studied debris flow. The resulting velocity field shows an adequate representation of the erosion zones observed in the area. The model used for evaluating the disaster risk by debris flows can predict and delimit, with acceptable accuracy, the potentially dangerous areas for a mudslide event. The application of the proposed methodology for assessing the disaster risk due to debris flows at watersheds and streams is useful to understand the extent of debris flow affectation during extreme weather events, as well as to develop emergency plans, and to formulate disaster management policies in Peru or in other countries with similar conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1286-1301
Author(s):  
Yang Liu ◽  
Hongde Chen ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Shuai Yang ◽  
Anqing Chen

AbstractCurrently, the sedimentation process concerning the formation of the morphological changes of deltas under the action of waves has received little attention. Two numerical simulations were carried out in this study to explore the sedimentary morphological changes of deltas under wave action. In the first experiment, the morphological characteristics of river-dominated deltas and wave-dominated deltas were compared. Results showed that a wave-dominated delta was more likely to produce slender and stable rivers relative to a river-dominated delta. In the second experiment, the morphologies of wave-dominated deltas with sediments of different grain sizes were compared. Results indicated that delta morphology was not significantly correlated with the median grain size ({\phi }_{50}) of the sediment, and the average grain size of the coarser sediments ({\phi }_{25}) was an important factor affecting delta morphology. Moreover, a delta with a larger {\phi }_{25} value of the input sediment, a smaller topset gradient, and a smaller number of active river channels had a more arcuate shape. The results showed that the hydrodynamic numerical simulation method has the ability to reveal the evolution of deltas under the action of waves. The final simulation results were consistent with the actual delta data.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin L. Harvey ◽  
Tristram C. Hales ◽  
Daniel E. J. Hobley ◽  
Xuanmei Fan ◽  
Jie Liu ◽  
...  

<p>Large, catchment transitioning debris flows are an important mechanism for transporting sediment from hillslopes into higher order channels. Extremely large flows can exceed volumes of 10<sup>9</sup> m<sup>3</sup>, however even flows with volumes of  ~10<sup>3</sup> m<sup>3</sup> can lead to fatalities and extensive damage. Few processes transport a wider range of grain sizes than debris flows, which can transport grains from clays to 10 m boulders. While the structure of debris flows can often be inferred by their deposits, the range of grain sizes presents a challenge for their interpretation. Debris flow grain size distributions can be used to constrain debris flow runout due to their effect on excess pore pressure dissipation. Currently, there is limited data available for the entire grain size distribution of debris flow deposits in the field.</p><p>We constrained the entire grain size distribution for two extremely large (>1 km in length) post-earthquake debris flows in Sichuan Province, China. These debris flows were triggered in August 2019 after an extreme rainfall event occurred close to the epicentre of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. We sampled the debris flows in November 2019 at intervals of 200 m and 500 m, respectively. At each site, we used a combination of field and laboratory sieving to obtain the coarse and fine fraction for both the surface and subsurface. We dug 1 m x 1 m x 0.5 m pits, excavating each layer at 10 cm depth increments. We sieved these increments into five size fractions in the field, including < 1 cm. We sieved 1 kg of the <1 cm fraction in the laboratory to estimate the distribution of the finest grains. The coarse surface fraction was then independently constrained using photogrammetry. Preliminary results for one debris flow show that the distribution of fine grains (~<4 mm) is consistent both laterally and vertically across the runout. This suggests that the processes occurring vertically and laterally during deposition result in the consistent distribution of fines.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-34
Author(s):  
Taro Uchida ◽  
Yuki Nishiguchi ◽  
Brian W. McArdell ◽  
Yoshifumi Satofuka

Physically based numerical simulation models have been developed to predict hazard area relating to debris flows. Since fine sediments are expected to behave as a part of the fluid rather than solid phase in stony debris flows, several models have recently included this process of the phase shift from solid to fluid in the context of fine sediment. However, models have not been fully tested regarding the ability to reproduce a variety of debris flow characteristics. We therefore tested (i) applicability of a numerical simulation model for describing debris flow characteristics and (ii) the effect of phase shift of fine sediment on debris flow behaviors. Herein we applied a numerical simulation model to a well-documented dataset from the Illgraben debris flow observation station in Switzerland. Based on the stony debris flow concept, we physically modeled effects of the phase shift of sediment on transport capacity and flow resistance. We successfully reproduced the observed bulk density, erosion and deposition patterns, front velocity, and erosion rate, although we had to tune the ratio of fine sediment that behaves as a fluid. Considering the effects of the phase shift of sediments, we conclude that physically based numerical simulation models can describe a variety of debris flow behaviors.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document