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Discrete modelling of debris flows for evaluating impacts on structures

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Abstract

Lahars (volcanic debris flows) are natural phenomena that can generate severe damage and wreak havoc in densely populated urban areas. The evaluation of the forces and pressures generated by these mass flows on constructions (e.g., buildings, bridges and other infrastructure) is crucial for civil protection, assessment of physical vulnerability and risk management. The current tools developed to model the spread of flows at large scale in densely populated urban areas remain inaccurate in the evaluation of mechanical efforts. Here, we developed a discrete numerical model for evaluating debris-flow (DF) impact forces at the local scale of one structure (pillar or column) like a building, a bridge and other infrastructure. In this model, the large-sized solid particles that damage infrastructures and edifices are explicitly modelled using Distinct Element Method (DEM). We considered the fluid and fine-grained solid particles not only in the frame of the pressure exerted on structures, but also through their effects on the movement of particles, i.e. buoyancy and drag. The fluid velocity field and the fluid free surface obtained from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculation based on Navier–Stokes equations are imported in the DEM simulation. This model is able to reproduce a range of magnitudes of DFs in terms of volumes, velocities and flow heights. Finally, the model provides insights on impact forces generated by particles on structures and on hydrostatic and/or dynamic pressure due to the combined effect of fluid and solid phases. The model provides results consistent with existing empirical models.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Municipality of Arequipa, the Arequipa Civil Defence and the Department of Geology of the University Nacional San Agustin in Arequipa. This work was supported by the Pack Ambition Recherche project QUoRUM from the Région Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (RC, BC, PB). JCT acknowledges the support received from the Agence Nationale de la Recherche of the French government through the program "Investissements d’Avenir" (16-IDEX-0001 CAP 20-25).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Clermont Auvergne INP, Institut Pascal, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Rime Chehade, Bastien Chevalier & Pierre Breul

  2. Itasca Consultants SAS, 29 Avenue Joannes Masset, F-69009, Lyon, France

    Fabian Dedecker

  3. CNRS, OPGC, IRD, Laboratoire Magmas Et Volcans, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Jean-Claude Thouret

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  1. Rime Chehade
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  5. Jean-Claude Thouret
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Correspondence to Bastien Chevalier.

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The original online version of this article was revised: The authors would like to update Figure 5. The notation of the subscript of letter \rho is not displayed correctly: it should display \rho_{Mu} the subscript {Mu} does not appear as it should in the Figure.

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Chehade, R., Chevalier, B., Dedecker, F. et al. Discrete modelling of debris flows for evaluating impacts on structures. Bull Eng Geol Environ 80, 6629–6645 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02278-3

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