Abstract
Computer methods for analysis of stresses, strains and displacements of soil structures have made spectacular advances in recent years. Now, a new field of analysis with substantial practical significance is opening up. This is the quantitative analysis of motion of rapidly moving masses of earth and fragmented rock in landslides such as debris avalanches, debris flows, flow slides and rock avalanches. The new methods accept an unstable body of material on the slope as input (the “landslide source”) and map its propagation down the slope in terms of flow depth and velocity. This allows outlining the extent of potential hazard areas and the distribution of hazard intensity parameters within them as needed for detailed hazard mapping, estimation of risks and design of remedial measures such as deflecting walls, dykes or barriers. Two advanced numerical solutions based on integrated “shallow-flow” Lagrangian theory of unsteady flow of non-Newtonian fluid are described in terms of their theoretical background, assumptions regarding the type of flow and rheological characteristics, as well as examples of a variety of results. The two models are the pseudo-three dimensional code DAN and its extension into three dimensions, DAN3D. Both codes have the following main capabilities: 1) Open rheological kernel, allowing the choice of a variety of rheological relationships to suit a particular character of the moving mass; 2) ability to change rheology during the flow; 3) non-hydrostatic, anisotropic internal stress distribution controlled by longitudinal strain; and 4) ability to entrain material during the flow. Both codes are highly efficient and both produce similar results when applied to the same example.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Cruden, D. M. and Krahn, J. (1978). Rockslides and avalanches, Frank Rockslide, Alberta, Canada. in B. Voight (ed.), Elsevier, Amsterdam, Vol. 1, pp. 365–392.
Ho, K. and Li, V. (2008). Proceedings of the 2007 International Forum on Landslide Disaster Management, Hong Kong, Geotechnical Division, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (2 volumes).
Hungr, O. (1995). “A model for the runout analysis of rapid flow slides, debris flows, and avalanches.” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 610–623.
Hungr, O. (2008). “Simplified models of spreading flow of dry granular material.” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 45, No. 6, pp. 1156–1168.
Hungr, O., Corominas, J., and Eberhardt, E. (2005). “Estimating landslide motion mechanism, travel distance and velocity.” Landslide Risk Management, Proceedings, Vancouver Conference, State of the Art Paper #4, In: Hungr, O., Fell, R., Couture, R. and Eberhardt, E. (eds.), Taylor and Francis Group, London, pp. 99–128.
Hungr, O., Evans, S. G., Bovis, M., and Hutchinson, J. N. (2001). “Review of the classification of landslides of the flow type.” Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 221–238.
Manzella, I. (2008). Dry rock avalanche propagation: Unconstrained flow experiments with granular materials and blocks at small scale, PhD dissertation, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, p. 200.
McDougall, S. (2006). A new continuum dynamic model for the analysis of extremely rapid landslide motion across complex 3D terrain, PhD dissertation, Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of British Columbia, p. 253.
McDougall, S. and Hungr, O. (2004). “A model for the analysis of rapid landslide motion across three-dimensional terrain.” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 45, No. 5, pp. 1084–1097.
McDougall, S. and Hungr, O. (2005). “Modelling of landslides which entrain material from the path.” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 1437–1448.
Pudasaini, S. P. and Hutter, K. (2007). Avalanche dynamics, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, p. 602.
Savage S. B. and Hutter, K. (1989). “The motion of a finite mass of granular material down a rough incline.” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 199, No. 1, pp. 177–215.
Voellmy, A. (1955). “Über die zerstörunskraft von lawinen.” Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Vol. 73, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, pp. 159–162, pp. 212–217, pp. 246–249, and pp. 289–285 (in German).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hungr, O. Numerical modelling of the motion of rapid, flow-like landslides for hazard assessment. KSCE J Civ Eng 13, 281–287 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-009-0281-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-009-0281-7