Study of the interaction between dry granular flows and rigid barriers with an SPH model

This study uses an incompressible smoothed‐particle hydrodynamics model to investigate the interaction between dry granular material flows and rigid barriers. The primary aim is to summarise some practical guidelines for the design of debris‐resisting barriers. The granular materials are modelled as a rigid‐perfectly plastic material where the plastic flow corresponds to the critical state. The coupled continuity equation and momentum equation are solved by a semi‐implicit algorithm. Compared with flows in controlled flume experiments, the model adequately reproduces both the kinetic of the flows and the impact force under various conditions. Then the numerical simulations are used to study the detailed interaction process. It is illustrated quantitatively that the interaction force consists of two parts, ie, the earth pressure force caused by the weight of the soil and a dynamic force caused by the internal deformation (flowing mass on top of a dead zone). For the estimation of impact load, this study suggests that an increased earth pressure coefficient depending on the Froude number should be incorporated into the hydrostatic model.     

Assessment of debris flow multiple-surge load model based on the physical process of debris-barrier interaction

Debris-flow impact load is one of the key parameters for design of engineering countermeasures. The multiple-surge load model is a remarkable progress in estimating the debris-flow impact load, which clearly delineates the contribution of each surge to the total impact load and the corresponding acting points. In order to better understand the impact process of channelized debris flow against flexible barrier, a series of medium-scale flume experiments with varying debris-flow volumetric solid concentration (0.40/0.50/0.55) were conducted. Especially, surge impact behavior is focused so that the predictability of the multiple-surge load model could be assessed. The flume and model flexible barrier were instrumented so that both the barrier dynamic response and the debris-flow properties (flow regime) could be correlated to facilitate the assessment. The results show that multiple-surge load model well predicts the total impact load. However, due to the simplification in the impact process, the interaction between the mobile phase (surge) and the deposited phase is ignored, resulting in discrepancy in the load distribution between the model prediction and experimental result. The remixing of deposited debris by the subsequent surges leads to downward momentum transfer to the lower section of barrier, which should be regarded as an adverse scenario of the design of flexible-barrier anchor capacity.

     

Overturning stability of L-shaped rigid barriers subjected to rockfall impacts

Reinforced concrete barriers are commonly used as defence measures in hilly areas to contain falling boulders and landslide debris. These barriers are conventionally designed to satisfy the conditions of force and momentum equilibrium with a factor of safety. A major limitation of this approach is that the inertial resistance of the barrier is neglected such that the design could be over-conservative. This paper presents a novel displacement-based approach for the assessment of overturning stability of rigid L-shaped barriers subjected to rockfall impacts. Analytical solutions, which are derived based on conservation of momentum and energy, are used to take into account the contributions of the self-weight and, thus, the inertial resistance of the barrier in resisting an impact. The actual amount of energy transferred from the impacting boulder to the barrier is considered by including the coefficient of restitution between the two objects. The accuracy of the analytical solutions has been confirmed by laboratory impact experiments. Numerical assessments conducted using the new solutions indicate that a reasonably sized rigid barrier, due to its own inertial resistance, may adequately withstand the impact action of a heavy boulder rolling down a hillslope without relying on any anchorage to its support. A range of geometric design of the barriers with L-shaped cross sections also has been considered and analysed. The new approach presented in this paper is easy to apply in practice and will be useful for engineers designing concrete barriers as passive rockfall mitigation measures.     

Geophysical flows impacting a flexible barrier: effects of solid-fluid interaction

Flexible barriers undergo large deformation to extend the impact duration, and thereby reduce the impact load of geophysical flows. The performance of flexible barriers remains a crucial challenge because there currently lacks a comprehensive criterion for estimating impact load. In this study, a series of centrifuge tests were carried out to investigate different geophysical flow types impacting an instrumented flexible barrier. The geophysical flows modelled include covered in this study include flood, hyperconcentrated flow, debris flow, and dry debris avalanche. Results reveal that the relationship between the Froude number, Fr, and the pressure coefficient α strongly depends on the formation of static deposits called dead zones which induce static loads and whether a run-up or pile-up impact mechanism develops. Test results demonstrate that flexible barriers can attenuate peak impact loads of flood, hyperconcentrated flow, and debris flow by up to 50% compared to rigid barriers. Furthermore, flexible barriers attenuate the impact load of dry debris avalanche by enabling the dry debris to reach an active failure state through large deformation. Examination of the state of static debris deposits behind the barriers indicates that hyperconcentrated and debris flows are strongly influenced by whether excessive pore water pressures regulate the depositional process of particles during the impact process. This results in significant particle rearrangement and similar state of static debris behind rigid barrier and the deformed full-retention flexible barrier, and thus the static loads on both barriers converge.     

New impact equation using barrier Froude number for the design of dual rigid barriers against debris flows

Landslides - In the design of multiple rigid barriers, the height of the first barrier governs the impact dynamics of debris flow on the next barrier in a channel. However, current design...     

A unified CFD‐DEM approach for modeling of debris flow impacts on flexible barriers

This paper presents a unified modeling framework to investigate the impacts of debris flow on flexible barriers, based on coupled computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD‐DEM). We consider a debris flow as a mixture of fluid and particles where the fluid and particle phases are modeled by the CFD and the DEM, respectively. The fluid‐particle coupling is considered by the exchange of interaction forces between CFD and DEM calculations. The flexible barrier is simulated by the DEM as a network of bonded particles with remote interactions. The proposed coupled CFD‐DEM approach enables us to conveniently handle the complicated three‐way interactions among the fluid, the particles, and the flexible barrier structure for debris flow impact simulations. The proposed approach is first used to investigate the influences of channel inclination and the volumetric solid fraction in a debris mixture on the impact force, the resultant deformation, and the retained mass in a flexible barrier. The predictions agree well with existing experimental and numerical studies. We further examine the possible failure modes of a flexible barrier under debris flow impact and their underlying mechanisms. The performance of different components in a flexible barrier system, including single wires, double twists and cables, and their load sharing mechanisms, are carefully evaluated. The proposed unified framework offers a novel, promising pathway towards physically based, quantitative analysis and design of flexible barriers for debris flow mitigation.     

Effects of particle size of mono-disperse granular flows impacting a rigid barrier

Understanding the interaction between complex geophysical flows and barriers remains a critical challenge for protecting infrastructure in mountainous regions. The scientific challenge lies in understanding how grain stresses in complex geophysical flows become manifested in the dynamic response of a rigid barrier. A series of physical flume tests were conducted to investigate the influence of varying the particle diameter of mono-dispersed flows on the impact kinematics of a model rigid barrier. Particle sizes of 3, 10, 23 and 38 mm were investigated. Physical tests results were then used to calibrate a discrete element model for carrying out numerical back-analyses. Results reveal that aside from considering bulk characteristics of the flow, such as the average velocity and bulk density, the impact load strongly depends on the particle size. The particle size influences the degree of grain inertial stresses which become manifested as sharp impulses in the dynamic response of a rigid barrier. Impact models that only consider a single impulse using the equation of elastic collision warrant caution as a cluster of coarse grains induce numerous impulses that can exceed current design recommendations by several orders of magnitude. Although these impulses are transient, they may induce local strucutral damage. Furthermore, the equation of elastic collision should be adopted when the normalized particle size with the flow depth, δ/h, is larger than 0.9 for Froude numbers less than 3.5.     

Dynamic response of flexible rockfall barriers under different loading geometries

Flexible steel barriers are commonly constructed on steep hillsides to mitigate rockfall. The evaluation of the dynamic response of proprietary flexible barriers is conventionally performed using full-scale field tests by dropping a weight onto the barriers in accordance with the European test standard ETAG 27. The weight typically has a spherical or polyhedral shape and cannot reproduce more complex rockfall scenarios encountered in the field. A rigid slab may load a barrier over a larger area and its effect has not been investigated. In this study, a calibrated three-dimensional finite-element model was developed to study the performance of vertically and horizontally orientated rockfall barriers under concentrated areal impact loads. A new bilinear force-displacement model was incorporated into the model to simulate the behavior of the energy-dissipating devices on the barriers. The effect of different weight geometries was studied by considering impacts by a rigid single spherical boulder and a rigid slab. Results reveal that areal loading induced by a rigid slab increases the loading on the barrier foundation by up to 40 % in both horizontally and vertically positioned barriers when compared to a concentrated load scenario with a single boulder. This indicates that barriers tested under the current test standard does not give the worst-case scenario in terms of foundation loads, and barrier designers should take into account the possible effect of increased foundation loads by reinforcing the barrier posts and/or increasing their spacing.     

Dynamical evolution properties of debris flows controlled by different mesh-sized flexible net barriers

Because the flexible net barrier is a gradually developed open-type debris-flow counter-measure, there are still uncertainties in its design criterion. By using several small-scale experimental flume model tests, the dynamical evolution properties of debris flows controlled by large and small mesh-sized (equal to D₉₀ and D₅₀, respectively) flexible net barriers are studied, including the debris flow behaviors, segregation, and permeability of sediments, as well as the energy absorption rates and potential overtopping occurring when debris flows impact the small mesh-sized one. Experimental results reveal that (a) two sediment deposition patterns are observed depending on variations in debris flow textures and mesh sizes; (b) the aggregation against flexible net barriers is dominated by flow dynamics; (c) the segregation and permeable functions of the barrier are determined by the mesh size, concentration, and flow dynamics; and (d) the smaller mesh-sized flexible net barrier tends to be more efficient in restraining more turbulent debris flows and can absorb greater rate of kinematic energy, and finally, the great kinematic energy dissipation that occurs when secondary debris flows interact with the post-deposits in front of the small mesh-sized flexible net barrier is believed to cause the failure of overtopping phenomenon. The mesh size is concluded to be the decisive parameter that should be associated with debris flow textures to design the control functions of flexible net barriers.     

Performance of ethylene-vinyl acetate foam as cushioning material for rigid debris-resisting barriers

This paper reports an investigation on the performance of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam when used as a cushion layer for rigid barriers used to resist debris flow. Large-scale pendulum impact tests were conducted to study the effects of layer thickness on cushion performance under six successive impacts. Results show that for the first impact at 70 kJ, the peak contact force with the EVA foam thickness of 500 mm is about twice larger compared to that of 1000 mm. Results also reveal that the cushion mechanism of elastic collapse of cell walls in the EVA foam results in peak contact forces and maximum transmitted loads that are up to 30 and 50% lower compared to gabions for the first impact at 70 kJ, respectively. The elastic behavior of EVA foam provides consistent cushioning efficiency. Furthermore, EVA foam is found to be susceptible to degradation by ultraviolet light so that a suitable coating layer is required for outdoor use. Polyurea was identified as a suitable coating material and a small-scale coating trial was performed to confirm this. Findings presented in this paper will have direct implications on the future design of cushion layers for rigid barriers used to intercept debris flows.     

Effect of slit-type barrier on characteristics of water-dominant debris flows: small-scale physical modeling

Slit-type barriers, one of open-type barriers, are widely used as active measures to mitigate potential risk and damage by debris flows, and those are designed and installed to reduce the flow energy by only passing relatively small debris. However, the mechanisms of slit-type barriers in reducing the debris flow velocity and debris volume remain poorly understood because of the lack of well-controlled and reliable physical modeling results. This study explored the influence of various arrangements of slit-type barriers, including P-type barriers in which each rectangular barrier was placed in parallel and V-type barriers where the barriers were placed in a V-shape, on characteristics of water-dominant debris flows via small-scale model experiments. The debris flow events were reproduced against the slit-type barriers, where the velocity reduction and trap ratio were monitored, varying the angle and shape of barrier arrangements. The velocity reduction and trap ratio appeared to increase as the angle of the barrier wall decreased because of the decreased opening ratio. The V-type barriers resulted in higher velocity reduction and trap ratio than the P-type, primarily because of the smaller effective opening ratio and the more backwater effect. In addition, as the debris contained more boulders, the extent of velocity reduction and debris trap became greater in all barrier types. Two types of opening ratios, the projected and effective opening ratios, were correlated to the interactions between debris and walls. The obtained results provide baseline data for the optimum design of slit-type barriers against debris flow and suggest that the slit-type barriers can effectively manage the risk of damage by debris flows.     

泥石流冲击弧形拦挡坝动力响应研究

Dam foundation is subjected to a larger impact force when debris flow runs up, causing stress concentration and local impact failure. To address this problem, in this study the vertical structures are optimized into arc-shaped dams. Based on the principle of momentum and energy conservation, the theoretical calculations of the impact process of debris flow and arc-shaped dam are carried out, and the formulas of impact force and maximum run-up height of debris flow are deduced. The theoretical formulas are verified through a series of physical model tests of debris flow impact arc-shaped dam. The results show that the results of the physical model are highly consistent with those of the theoretical calculations, indicating that the proposed theoretical formulas are applicable in the calculation of the impact of debris flow on arc-shaped dam. The debris velocity, impact force and the maximum run-up height are proportional to the flume slope of debris flow. The impact force and the maximum run-up height are mainly controlled by Froude number(Fr), flume slope(?), and arc-shaped radius(R). Both the impact force and the maximum run-up height have quadratic relationships with the Froude number, and are inversely proportional to the cosine of the flume slope. Compared with the rigid vertical structures, the arc-shaped dams have no signicicant influence on the maximum run-up height, but it can reduce the normal impact force on the dam considerably, and the structure strength can also be enhanced by the strengthening of local structure. This study provides a theoretical and technical support for the dam structure design.     

坡度对碎屑流冲击立式拦挡墙力学特征的影响

由坡度和挡墙倾角的改变造成碎屑流冲击力学模型的改变是目前被忽略的问题。在碎屑流冲击倾式拦挡墙物理试验的基础上,利用离散元数值计算方法研究了坡度对碎屑流冲击立式拦挡墙（墙面与地面的夹角为90°）力学特征的影响,依据死区颗粒堆积特征,流动层颗粒冲击特征以及二者的相互作用特征提出了两种新力学模型：由倾斜冲击挡墙向坡面堆积转变的力学模型和考虑流动层对死区冲切摩擦作用的水平直接冲击力学模型。对不同冲击力学模型进行了验证分析,结果表明：坡度和挡墙倾角改变了死区的堆积特征从而改变了流动层的冲击方向和冲击力大小。当坡度小于40°时,碎屑流流动层首先沿死区上覆面倾斜冲击挡墙,在最大冲击力作用时刻,流动在坡面层状堆积,最大法向冲击合力可按静土压力公式估算。随着坡度的增大,在最大冲击力时刻,流动层颗粒直接冲击挡墙,但由于死区颗粒对流动层颗粒具有摩擦缓冲减速作用,大幅降低了流动层对挡墙的直接冲击力。此时死区对挡墙的作用力主要包括3个部分：流动层沿坡面冲击死区,由死区传递至挡墙的冲击力、流动层对死区的冲切摩擦力以及死区自重的静土压力。死区对挡墙作用力占最大法向冲击合力的比例增大至90%左右。当坡度由40°增大到50°时,在最大法向冲击合力作用时刻,流动层对死区的冲切摩擦力占最大冲击力的比例由15%增大到49%,流动层与死区之间的摩擦系数由滚动摩擦系数转变为静摩擦系数。提出的流动层对死区的冲切摩擦力为碎屑流冲击刚性挡墙力学计算模型提供了新的研究思路。     

Numerical study of retention efficiency of a flexible barrier in mitigating granular flow comparing with large-scale physical modeling test data

Retention behavior of a flexible barrier in mitigating a granular flow is still an open problem not fully understood, especially due to the complexity of the granular material and the flexible barrier. Understanding the retention mechanism and quantifying the influencing factors of retention efficiency are desirable for optimizing the design and minimizing the maintenance cost of a debris-resisting flexible barrier. In this paper, a numerical model, based on the discrete element method, is presented, calibrated, and validated to analyze the interaction between a granular flow and a flexible net. A full-scale numerical simulation is first performed to compare with a large-scale physical modeling test in the literature and validate the applied parameters in the simulation. The interaction and deposition characteristics of the granular flow interacting with a flexible net are revealed. Afterward, parametric study is performed to investigate the effects of the internal friction angle (φ) of debris material and the relative mesh size of flexible net on the retention efficiency and clogging mechanism of a flexible barrier. The simulation results illustrate that the particle passing ratio (P) increases with increment of the friction angle of particles and enlargement of the mesh size of a flexible net. Both parameters have critical effects on the retention efficiency of a flexible barrier in intercepting a granular flow. Therefore, the friction angle and the particle size distribution characteristics of the debris material are suggested being used for optimization of the mesh size and more efficient design of debris-resisting flexible barriers.

     

长江江苏段的水质模拟

将以有限控制体积法(FVM)为基础的二维水流-水质模型应用于长江江苏段流场和浓度场模拟,结果表明:该二维模型是合理的、可靠的和有效的,FVM配合通量向量分裂格式(FVS)是一种高解析度的数值方法。此外,根据流场和浓度场4个特征时刻的分布特点,确定了污染带的最大范围,得到了各排污口排放量与污染带长度之间的相关关系。     

Debris flow hazard mitigation: A simplified analytical model for the design of flexible barriers

A channelized debris flow is usually represented by a mixture of solid particles of various sizes and water flowing along a laterally confined inclined channel-shaped region to an unconfined area where it slows down and spreads out into a flat-shaped mass.The assessment of the mechanical behavior of protection structures upon impact with a flow, as well as the energy associated to it, are necessary for the proper design of such structures which, in densely populated areas, can prevent victims and limit the destructive effects of such a phenomenon.In the present paper, a simplified analysis of the mechanics of the impact of a debris flow is considered in order to estimate the forces that develop on the main structural elements of a deformable retention barrier.For this purpose, a simplified structural model of cable-like retention barriers has been developed – on basis of the equation of equilibrium of wires under large displacement conditions, – and the restraining forces, cable stresses and dissipated energies have been estimated.The results obtained from parametric analyses and full-scale tests have then been analysed and compared with the proposed model.     

Debris flow hazards for mountain regions of Russia: regional features and key events

The total area of debris flow territories of the Russian Federation accounts for about 10% of the area of the country. The highest debris flow activity areas located in Kamchatka-Kuril, North Caucasus and Baikal debris flow provinces. The largest debris flow events connected with volcano eruptions. Maximum volume of debris flow deposits per one event reached 500 × 10⁶ m³ (lahar formed during the eruption of Bezymyanny volcano in Kamchatka in 1956). In the mountains of the Greater Caucasus, the maximum volume of transported debris material reached 3 × 10⁶ m³; the largest debris flows here had glacial reasons. In the Baikal debris flow province, the highest debris flow activity located in the ridges of the Baikal rift zone (the East Sayan Mountains, the Khamar-Daban Ridge and the ridges of the Stanovoye Highland). Spatial features of debris flow processes within the territory of Russia are analyzed, and the map of Debris Flow Hazard in Russia is presented. We classified the debris flow hazard areas into 2 zones, 6 regions and 15 provinces. Warm and cold zones are distinguished. The warm zone covers mountainous areas within the southern part of Russia with temperate climate; rain-induced debris flows are predominant there. The cold zone includes mountainous areas with subarctic and arctic climate; they are characterized by a short warm period, the occurrence of permafrost, as well as the predominance of slush flows. Debris flow events are described for each province. We collected a list of remarkable debris flow events with some parameters of their magnitude and impact. Due to climate change, the characteristics of debris flows will change in the future. Availability of maps and information from previous events will allow to analyze the new cases of debris flows.     

基于CFX的江口沟泥石流危险区范围预测模拟

拟建猴子岩水电站移民安置点位于江口沟泥石流堆积扇上,通过现场调查泥石流形成条件和运动特征,获得了1958年发生的50 a一遇泥石流危险区范围,根据雨洪法计算确定了泥石流的相关运动学参数。使用基于有限体积法的CFX软件,选择Bingham流变模型对江口沟泥石流流动过程的液面分布情况和速度场进行了三维数值模拟,得出了泥石流危险区范围和速度场分布情况。模拟结果显示,江口沟50 a一遇泥石流流过堆积区的平均速度为5.76 m/s,其中最大速度为13.59 m/s。数值模拟计算得出的危险范围较1958年扩大,是因为早期泥石流堆积物将原有地面特别是沟道附近地面抬高,使得现状条件下泥石流更容易向两侧漫流泛滥而扩大。上述结果为泥石流防治工程设计及危险区范围划定提供了一种新的方法,对工程实践具有重要的指导意义。     

A Factor Strength Approach for the Design of Rock Fall and Debris Flow Barriers

This paper discusses the applicability and the limitations of an approach to the limit states design of flexible barrier in which the soil/rock strength are factored as required in the European construction code. It shows as this approach has different implications if it is applied to the same kind of structure when loaded by different phenomena (rockfall and debris flow in particular). Flexible barriers are common countermeasures to protect from rockfall hazard and to restrain debris flow events. Even if an intense scientific production has demonstrated the difference between the two phenomena, the protection systems are still often designed in the same way. Additionally, the Eurocode 7 (EC7), which is the European Standard concerning geotechnical design, has not been conformed to these kinds of structures and consequently a relationship between the reliability of the system and the partial factors does not exist. Since most of the parameters that rule these systems are not even considered in the code, the Authors propose the study of two cases, in which rockfall and debris flow occur, respectively, to analyse the applicability and the limitations of EC7 principles to design the suitable kind of structure.