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Preliminary Discrete Particle Model in a Computer Simulation of Cohesive Debris Flows

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Abstract

The paper presents a numerical method to simulate the dynamics of a cohesive debris flow. The model is based on a molecular dynamics algorithm where the equation of motion is calculated for an ensemble of interacting particles. In addition to the hard-core repulsion and to the other forces commonly introduced to simulate granular media, in this work an attractive force between particles is added as a model for cohesion. The model is computationally straightforward and devoid of a series of cumbersome problems affecting fluid mechanical codes. Preliminary simulations presented here look promising, and indicate directions of study for a better comparison and test against field data.

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Correspondence to Fabio V. De Blasio.

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De Blasio, F.V. Preliminary Discrete Particle Model in a Computer Simulation of Cohesive Debris Flows. Geotech Geol Eng 30, 269–276 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-011-9469-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-011-9469-y

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