Experimental and SPH Modeling of Debris-Flow Impact on Dual Rigid Barriers with Deflector
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 5
Abstract
Multiple barrier system has become a widely adopted method to mitigate debris flows, which consists of smaller barriers that progressively retain the debris to reduce the acceleration and carbon footprint. Different from single barriers, the impact force on multiple barriers depends on the overflow from the upstream barrier. Overflow may substantially accelerate the flow by converting potential energy into kinetic energy with limited energy dissipation. While installing a deflector at the crest of a single barrier suppresses overflow, the efficacy of a deflector in reducing impact force in a multiple barrier system is not well understood yet. In this study, physical tests were conducted using a 28-m-long flume to investigate the impact dynamics of debris flow against dual rigid barriers with a deflector installed at the first barrier. A smoothed particle hydrodynamic (SPH) model was calibrated by back analyzing the flume tests. A numerical parametric study was then conducted to investigate the efficiency of a deflector in reducing impact force from different volumes of debris flow against dual barriers. Newly modified equations are proposed that can reasonably predict the overflow velocity, the velocity after landing, and landing distance considering a deflector. Physical and numerical results reveal that a deflector at the first barrier can efficiently reduce overflow by redirecting the flow to roll back and reduce the landing distance by up to 75%. A deflector at the first barrier can reduce the impact force at the second barrier by up to 90%.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful for financial support from research grant AoE/E-603/18 provided by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), China. S. Poudyal, W.A.R.K. De Silva, and A. Bhatta gratefully acknowledge the support of Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) provided by the RGC of HKSAR.
References
Calvetti, F., C. D. Prisco, I. Redaelli, A. Sganzerla, and E. Vairaktaris. 2019. “Mechanical interpretation of dry granular masses impacting on rigid obstacles.” Acta Geotech. 14 (5): 1289–1305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-019-00831-9.
Chambon, G., R. Bouvarel, D. Laigl, and M. Naaim. 2011. “Numerical simulations of granular free-surface flows using smoothed particle hydrodynamics.” J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. 166 (12–13): 698–712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnnfm.2011.03.007.
Choi, C. E., S. C. H. Au-Yeung, C. W. W. Ng, and D. Song. 2015. “Flume investigation of landslide granular debris and water runup mechanisms.” Géotech. Lett. 5 (1): 28–32. https://doi.org/10.1680/geolett.14.00080.
Choi, C. E., C. W. W. Ng, S. R. Goodwin, L. Liu, and W. Cheung. 2016. “Flume investigation of the influence of rigid barrier deflector angle on dry granular overflow mechanisms.” Can. Geotech. J. 53 (10): 1751–1759. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2015-0248.
Dai, Z., Y. Huang, H. Cheng, and Q. Xu. 2014. “3D numerical modeling using smoothed particle hydrodynamics of flow-like landslide propagation triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.” Eng. Geol. 180 (Aug): 21–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.03.018.
Gao, L., L. M. Zhang, and R. W. M. Cheung. 2018. “Relationships between natural terrain landslide magnitudes and triggering rainfall based on a large landslide inventory in Hong Kong.” Landslides 15 (4): 727–740. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-017-0904-x.
Hübl, J., A. Strauss, M. Holub, and J. Suda. 2005. “Structural mitigation measures.” In Proc., 3rd Probabilistic Workshop: Technical Systems + Natural Hazards, 115–126. Vienna, Austria: Univ. of Natural Resources and Life Sciences.
Iverson, R. M., and D. L. George. 2014. “A depth-averaged debris-flow model that includes the effects of evolving dilatancy. I. Physical basis.” Proc. R. Soc. A 470 (2170): 20130819. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2013.0819.
Iverson, R. M., D. L. George, and M. Logan. 2016. “Debris flow runup on vertical barriers and adverse slopes.” J. Geophys. Res. Earth Surf. 121 (12): 2333–2357. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JF003933.
Jing, L., C. Y. Kwok, Y. F. Leung, Z. Zhang, and L. Dai. 2018. “Runout scaling and deposit morphology of rapid mudflows.” J. Geophys. Res.: Earth Surf. 123 (8): 2004–2023. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JF004667.
Koo, R. C. H., J. S. H. Kwan, C. W. W. Ng, C. Lam, C. E. Choi, D. Song, and W. K. Pun. 2017. “Velocity attenuation of debris flows and a new momentum-based load model for rigid barriers.” Landslides 14 (2): 617–629. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-016-0715-5.
Kwan, J. S. H. 2012. Supplementary technical guidance on design of rigid debris-resisting barriers. Technical note no. TN 2/2012. Hong Kong: Geotechnical Engineering Office.
Kwan, J. S. H., R. C. H. Koo, and C. W. W. Ng. 2015. “Landslide mobility analysis for design of multiple debris-resisting barriers.” Can. Geotech. J. 52 (9): 1345–1359. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2014-0152.
Li, S., C. Peng, W. Wu, S. Wang, X. Chen, J. Chen, G. G. Zhou, and B. K. Chitneedi. 2020. “Role of baffle shape on debris flow impact in step-pool channel: An SPH study.” Landslides 17 (Aug): 2099–2111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-020-01410-w.
Lin, C., M. Pastor, A. Yague, S. M. Tayyebi, M. M. Stickle, D. Manzanal, T. Li, and X. Liu. 2019. “A depth-integrated SPH model for debris floods: Application to Lo Wai (Hong Kong) debris flood of August 2005.” Géotechnique 69 (12): 1035–1055. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.17.P.267.
Ng, C. W. W., A. Bhatta, C. E. Choi, S. Poudyal, H. Liu, R. W. M. Cheung, and J. S. H. Kwan. 2022a. “Effects of debris flow rheology on overflow and impact dynamics against dual-rigid barriers.” Géotechnique 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.21.00226.
Ng, C. W. W., C. E. Choi, G. R. Goodwin, and W. W. Cheung. 2017. “Interaction between dry granular flow and deflectors.” Landslides 14 (4): 1375–1387. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-016-0794-3.
Ng, C. W. W., C. E. Choi, and S. R. Goodwin. 2019. “Froude characterization for unsteady single-surge dry granular flows: Impact pressure and runup height.” Can. Geotech. J. 56 (12): 1968–1978. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2018-0529.
Ng, C. W. W., C. E. Choi, R. C. H. Koo, S. R. Goodwin, D. Song, and J. S. Kwan. 2018. “Dry granular flow interaction with dual-barrier systems.” Géotechnique 68 (5): 386–399. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.16.P.273.
Ng, C. W. W., C. E. Choi, H. Liu, S. Poudyal, and J. S. H. Kwan. 2021a. “Design recommendations for single and dual debris–flow barriers with and without basal clearance.” In Understanding and Reducing Landslide Disaster Risk: Volume 1 Sendai landslide partnerships and Kyoto Landslide commitment 5th, 33–53. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
Ng, C. W. W., A. Leonardi, U. Majeed, M. Pirulli, and C. E. Choi. 2023a. “A physical and numerical investigation of flow–barrier interaction for the design of a multiple-barrier system.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 149 (1): 04022122. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002932.
Ng, C. W. W., Z. Li, Y. D. Wang, H. Liu, S. Poudyal, and W. A. R. K. De Silva. 2023b. “Influence of deflector on the impact dynamics of debris flow against rigid barrier.” Eng. Geol. 321 (Jun): 107135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2023.107135.
Ng, C. W. W., H. Liu, C. E. Choi, J. S. H. Kwan, and W. K. Pun. 2021b. “Impact dynamics of boulder-enriched debris flow on a rigid barrier.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 147 (3): 04021004. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002485.
Ng, C. W. W., U. Majeed, and C. E. Choi. 2022b. “Effects of solid fraction of saturated granular flows on overflow and landing mechanisms of rigid barriers.” Géotechnique 74 (1): 27–41. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.21.00170.
Peng, C., S. Wang, W. Wu, H. S. Yu, C. Wang, and J. Y. Chen. 2019. “LOQUAT: An open-source GPU-accelerated SPH solver for geotechnical modeling.” Acta Geotech. 14 (5): 1269–1287. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-019-00839-1.
Petley, D. 2012. “Global patterns of loss of life from landslides.” Geology 40 (10): 927–930. https://doi.org/10.1130/G33217.1.
Takahashi, T. 2014. Debris flow: Mechanics, prediction and countermeasures. 2nd ed. London: Taylor and Francis.
VanDine, D. F. 1996. Debris flow control structures for forest engineering. Vancouver, BC, Canada: Ministry of Forests.
Wang, W., G. Chen, Z. Han, S. Zhou, H. Zhang, and P. Jing. 2016. “3D numerical simulation of debris-flow motion using SPH method incorporating non-Newtonian fluid behavior.” Nat. Hazard. 81 (3): 1981–1998. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2171-x.
Zhan, L., C. Peng, B. Zhang, and W. Wu. 2019. “A stabilized TL–WC SPH approach with GPU acceleration for three-dimensional fluid–structure interaction.” J. Fluids Struct. 86 (Apr): 329–353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfluidstructs.2019.02.002.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 5 • May 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 4, 2023
Accepted: Dec 14, 2023
Published online: Feb 21, 2024
Published in print: May 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jul 21, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Continuum mechanics
- Debris
- Displacement (mechanics)
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Energy conversion
- Energy dissipation
- Energy engineering
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Environmental engineering
- Flow (fluid dynamics)
- Fluid dynamics
- Fluid mechanics
- Forces (type)
- Hydrologic engineering
- Impact forces
- Numerical analysis
- Overflow
- Pollutants
- Solid mechanics
- Solid wastes
- Solids flow
- Structural mechanics
- Thermodynamics
- Wastes
- Water and water resources
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.