Abstract
Debris flows pose threats to sustainable development in many countries worldwide, including China, Japan, Switzerland and USA. To mitigate these flows, rigid and flexible barriers are commonly installed along the predicted flow paths. To arrest large volumes of debris flow, several barriers may be installed in series to create a cascading effect to progressively decelerate and retain the debris. Barriers may even be designed with a basal clearance to allow small discharges to pass underneath the barrier to reduce the peak impact force. Despite the importance of barriers as life-saving assets, their design remains essentially empirical because of the highly heterogeneous and scale-dependent nature of debris flow. These features of debris flow have hindered an understanding of their fundamental impact mechanisms, thereby hampering the development of scientific design guidelines to enable robust and cost-effective barriers. This forum paper presents a collection of physical experiments modelling the impact mechanisms of the two extreme cases of water and dry granular flows, and two-phase debris flows against single and dual rigid barriers, and a single flexible barrier. Furthermore, the effects of a basal clearance on the impact dynamics of dry granular flow against a single rigid barrier are examined. Experiments were conducted at two different scales, including 5 m-long and 28 m-long flumes. Based on the observed impact mechanisms and measured data, a newly developed analytical framework for designing multiple rigid barriers was evaluated. Recommendations and procedures are provided for the design of single and multiple rigid barriers with and without a basal clearance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Armanini A (2009) Discussion on: Experimental analysis of the impact of dry avalanches on structures and implication for debris flow (Zanuttigh, Lamberti). J Hydraul Res 47(3):381–383
Armanini A, Scotton P (1993) On the dynamic impact of a debris flow on structures. In Proceedings of XXV IAHR Congress, Tokyo (Tech. Sess. B, III), 203–210
Armanini A, Rossi G, Larcher M (2019) Dynamic impact of a water and sediments surge against a rigid wall. J Hydraul Res 58(2):314–325
ASI (2008) ONR 24801. Austrian Standard Institute, Austria, Protection Works for Torrent Control - Actions on Structures (Draft), p 25
Berger C, McArdell BW, Schlunegger F (2011) Direct measurement of channel erosion by debris flows, Illgraben, Switzerland. J Geophys Res Earth Surf 116:F01002
Bonnet-Staub I (1999) Definition d’une typologie des deposits de laves torrentielles et identification de critres granulomtriques et geotechniques concernant les zones sources. J Bull Eng Geol Environ 57(4):359–367
Brighenti R, Segalini A, Ferrero AM (2013) Debris flow hazard mitigation: a simplified analytical model for the design of flexible barriers. Comput Geotech 54:1–15
Bugnion L, McArdell BW, Bartelt P, Wendeler C (2012) Measurements of hillslope debris flow impact pressure on obstacles. Landslides 9(2):179–187
Development Bureau (2020) Geotechnical engineering office built a debris-resisting barrier in Tung Chung to reduce the risk of landslides on natural hillsides [online]. Available from https://www.devb.gov.hk/filemanager/tc/content_1044/20180204_08.html [cited 13 April. 2020]
Choi YJ (2010) A study on downstream process of debris flow mobilized from landslides, Master Thesis, Kangwon National University, Korea
Choi CE, Au-Yeung SCH, Ng CWW, Song D (2015) Flume investigation of landslide granular debris and water runup mechanisms. Géotech Lett 5(1):28–32
Choi CE, Ng CWW, Liu H, Wang Y (2020) Interaction between dry granular flow and rigid barrier with basal clearance: analytical and physical modelling. Can Geotech J 57(2):236–245
DeNatale JS, Iverson RM, Major JJ (1999) Experimental testing of flexible barriers for containment of debris flows. US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey
Faug T, Caccamo P, Chanut B (2012) A scaling law for impact force of a granular avalanche flowing past a wall. Geophys Res Lett 39(23):L23401
Faug T (2015) Macroscopic force experienced by extended objects in granular flows over a very broad Froude-number range: macroscopic granular force on extended object. Eur Phys J E 38:13–16
Froude MJ, Petley DN (2018) Global fatal landslide occurrence from 2004 to 2016. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 18:2161–2181
Iverson RM (1997) The physics of debris flows. Rev Geophys 35(3):245–296
Iverson RM (2015) Scaling and design of landslide and debris-flow experiments. Geomorphology 244:9–20
Iverson RM, George DL (2014) A depth-averaged debris-flow model that includes the effects of evolving dilatancy. I. Physical basis. Proceedings of the royal society a: mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 470(2170):20130819
Iverson RM, Logan M, LaHusen RG, Berti M (2010) The perfect debris flow? aggregated results from 28 large-scale experiments. J. Geophys. Res. Earth Surf. 115:F03005
Jakob M, Stein D, Ulmi M (2012) Vulnerability of buildings to debris flow impact. Nat Hazards 60:241–261
Koo RCH (2017) Mechanisms of interaction between dry sand flow and multiple rigid barriers: flume and finite-element modelling. Ph.D Thesis, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
Koo RCH, Kwan JSH, Ng CWW, Lam C, Choi CE, Song D, Pun WK (2017) Velocity attenuation of debris flows and a new momentum-based load model for rigid barriers. Landslides 14(2):617–629
Kwan JSH (2012) Supplementary technical guidance on design of rigid debris-resisting barriers, Technical Note No. TN 2/2012. Hong Kong, SAR China, Geotechnical Engineering Office, Civil Engineering and Development Department, The HKSAR Government
Kwan JSH, Cheung RWM (2012) Suggestion on design approaches for flexible debris resisting barriers. Discussion note DN1/2012. Hong Kong, SAR China, Geotechnical Engineering Office, Civil Engineering and Development Department, The HKSAR Government
Kwan JSH, Koo RCH (2015) Enhanced Technical Guidelines for Design of Debris-resisting Barriers. GEO Report No. 333. Hong Kong, SAR China, Geotechnical Engineering Office, Civil Engineering and Development Department, The HKSAR Government
Kwan JSH, Koo RCH, Ng CWW (2015) Landslide mobility analysis for design of multiple debris-resisting barriers. Can Geotech J 52(9):1345–1359
Liu HD (2019a) Effects on mesh size on the impact mechanism of debris flow impacting net barriers. Ph.D Thesis, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
Liu HM (2019b) Impact mechanisms of debris flow against multiple rigid barriers with basal clearance. PhD Thesis, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
Lo DOK (2000) Review of natural terrain landslide debris-resisting barrier design. Geotechnical Engineering Office, Hong Kong, SAR, China, p 91 (GEO report no. 104)
Ng CWW, Song D, Choi CE, Koo RCH, Kwan JSH (2016) A novel flexible barrier for landslide impact in centrifuge. Géotech Lett 6(3):221–225
Ng CWW, Choi CE, Koo RCH, Goodwin GR, Song D, Kwan JSH (2018) Dry granular flow interaction with dual-barrier systems. Géotechnique 68(5):386–399
Ng CWW, Choi CE, Majeed U, Poudyal S, De Silva WARK (2019) Fundamental framework to design multiple rigid barriers for resisting debris flows. In: Proceedings of the 16th asian regional conference on soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering. 14th to 18th October 2019. Taipei, Taiwan, China
Ng CWW, Wang C, Choi CE, De Silva WARK, Poudyal S (2020) Effects of barrier deformability on load reduction and energy dissipation of granular flow impact. Comput Geotech 121:103445
NILIM (2007) Manual of technical standard for establishing Sabo master plan for debris flow and driftwood. Technical Note of NILIM No. 364. Natural Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Japan. [In Japanese.]
Piton G, Recking A (2015) Design of sediment traps with open check dams. I: hydraulic and deposition processes. J Hydraul Eng 142(2):04015045
Remaitre A, Malet JP, Maquaire O, Ancey C (2003) Study of a debris-flow event by coupling a geomorphological and a rheological investigation, example of the Faucon stream (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France), Debris-Flow Hazards Mitigation, Mechanics, Prediction, and Assessment, eds. Rickenmann and Chen. Millpress, Rotterdam, pp 375–385
Rickenmann D (1999) Empirical relationships for debris flows. Nat Hazards 19:47–77
Song D, Ng CWW, Choi CE, Zhou GGD, Kwan JSH, Koo RCH (2017) Influence of debris flow solid fraction on rigid barrier impact. Can Geotech J 54(10):1421–1434
Sze EHY, Lam HWK (2017) Some suggested detailing of flexible net barriers traversing a stream course for drainage purposes, GEO Technical Note TN 3/2017. Geotechnical Engineering Office, Hong Kong, SAR, China
Takahashi T (1991) Debris flows. IAHR Monograph, A. A. Balkema:Rotterdam
Tecca P, Genevois R, Deganutti A, Armento MC (2007) Numerical modelling of two debris-flows in the Dolomites (Northeastern Italian Alps), Debris-flow Hazards Mitigation, Mechanics, Prediction, and Assessment, Chen CL, Major JJ (eds). Millpress, Rotterdam, pp 179–188
Volkwein A (2014) Flexible debris flow barriers. Design and application. WSL Berichte, 18. Birmensdorf, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Wendeler C, McArdell BW, Rickenmann D, Volkwein A, Roth A, Denk M (2006) Field testing and numerical modeling of flexible debris flow barriers. In Proceedings of the 6th international conference on physical modelling in geotechnics, Hong Kong, pp 1573–1578
White DJ, Take WA, Bolton MD (2003) Soil deformation measurement using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and photogrammetry. Géotechnique 53(7):619–631
Zanuttigh B, Lamberti A (2006) Experimental analysis of the impact of dry avalanches on structures and implication for debris flows. J Hydraul Res 44(4):522–534
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for financial support from the theme-based research grant T22-603/15-N and area of excellence project grant AoE/E-603/18, as well as the general research fund grants 16212618, 16209717, and 16210219 provided by the Research Grants Council of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. The authors are immensely grateful for the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51,709,052). This paper is published with the permission of the Head of the Geotechnical Engineering Office and the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Hong Kong SAR Government.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ng, C.W.W., Choi, C.E., Liu, H., Poudyal, S., Kwan, J.S.H. (2021). Design Recommendations for Single and Dual Debris Flow Barriers with and Without Basal Clearance. In: Sassa, K., Mikoš, M., Sassa, S., Bobrowsky, P.T., Takara, K., Dang, K. (eds) Understanding and Reducing Landslide Disaster Risk. WLF 2020. ICL Contribution to Landslide Disaster Risk Reduction. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60196-6_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60196-6_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-60195-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-60196-6
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)