Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Coupled numerical simulation of a flexible barrier impacted by debris flow with boulders in front

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Landslides Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Flexible barriers have been widely adopted to mitigate the debris flow disasters. However, the research on the coupled interaction analysis between flexible barriers and debris flows with boulders in front is rarely reported. In this paper, a two-stage coupled modeling technique which can account for the debris mobility, the non-linear behavior of a flexible barrier, and the dynamic interaction between flexible barriers and debris flows is developed firstly based on the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) method using LS-DYNA. The proposed coupling model is verified by a large-scale field test, comparing the flow velocity and flow depth of the debris flow, as well as the internal force and deformation of the flexible barrier. Further, the proposed numerical model is adopted to study the performance of flexible barrier impacted by debris flow with boulders in front. Two practical cases that the debris flow contains a single boulder with a diameter of 2 m and 1 m in front, respectively, are investigated. The impact positions are both the bottom center of the middle functional module of the barrier. The numerical results show that the barrier cannot intercept the debris flow with a boulder of 2 m in diameter. When the flexible barrier is subjected to three 1 m boulders in front of the debris flow, plastic hinges are formed at impact positions of the steel posts. It is recommended that additional protection measurements are required to maintain the structural integrity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Armanini A, Larcher M, Majone B, Riccardo Rigon GB, Hideaki M (1999) Restoration of the Basins Quebrada San José De Galipán and Quebrada El Cojo. Int Work debris flow disaster December 1999 Venez 1–12

  • Bugnion L, von Boetticher A, Wendeler C (2012a) Large scale field testing of hillslope debris flows resulting in the design of flexible protection. In: 12th Congress Interpraevent 2012. pp 59–66

  • Bugnion L, McArdell BW, Bartelt P, Wendeler C (2012b) Measurements of hillslope debris flow impact pressure on obstacles. Landslides 2011:179–187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-011-0294-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castanon-Jano L, Blanco-Fernandez E, Castro-Fresno D, Ballester-Muñoz F (2017) Energy dissipating devices in falling rock protection barriers. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50:603–619. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1130-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan SL, Zhou ZH, Liu YP (2012) Numerical analysis and design of flexible barriers allowing for sliding nodes and large deflection effects. In: C.K. Lau, E. Chan and J. Kwan (Eds). Proceedings of the One Day Seminar on Natural Terrain Hazards Mitigation Measures, 16 October 2012, Hong Kong. The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (Hong Kong) Limited, pp. 29–43

  • Cheung AKC, Yiu J, Lam HWK, Sze EHY (2018) Advanced numerical analysis of landslide debris mobility and barrier interaction. HKIE Trans Hong Kong Inst Eng 25:76–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/1023697X.2018.1462106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crosta GB, Imposimato S, Roddeman DG (2010) Numerical modelling of large landslides stability and runout. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 3:523–538. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-3-523-2003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeNatale JS, Iverson RM, Major J, LaHusen RG, Fiegel GL, Duffy JD (1999) Experimental testing of flexible barriers for containment of debris flows. US Geol Surv Open-File Rep:99–205

  • EOTA (2016) Flexible kits for retaining debris flows and shallow landslides/open hill debris flows (EAD 340020-00-0106)

  • Escallón JP, Wendeler C, Chatzi E, Bartelt P (2014) Parameter identification of rockfall protection barrier components through an inverse formulation. Eng Struct 77:1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2014.07.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrero AM, Segalini A, Umili G (2015) Experimental tests for the application of an analytical model for flexible debris flow barrier design. Eng Geol 185:33–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.12.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gentilini C, Gottardi G, Govoni L, Mentani A, Ubertini F (2013) Design of falling rock protection barriers using numerical models. Eng Struct 50:96–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2012.07.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geobrugg (2017) Shallow landslide system SPIDER® SL-150. Product manual SL-150

  • Grassl H, Volkwein A, Bartelt P (2003) Experimental and numerical modeling of highly flexible rockfall protection barriers. Proc Soil Rock Am 2003, Cambridge

  • Hungr O (1995) A model for the runout analysis of rapid flow slides, debris flows, and avalanches. Can Geotech J 32:610–623. https://doi.org/10.1139/t95-063

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iverson RM (2014) Debris flows: behaviour and hazard assessment. Geol Today 30:15–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/gto.12037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwan JSH, Cheung RWM (2012) Suggestions on design approaches for flexible debris-resisting barriers (DN 1/2012)

  • Kwan JSH, Chan SL, Cheuk JCY, Koo RCH (2014) A case study on an open hillside landslide impacting on a flexible rockfall barrier at Jordan Valley, Hong Kong. Landslides 11:1037–1050. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-013-0461-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwan JSH, Sze EHY, Lam C (2019) Finite element analysis for rockfall and debris flow mitigation works. Can Geotech J 56:1225–1250. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2017-0628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LS-Dyna theory manual (2006) Livermore software technology, California

  • Moon T, Oh J, Mun B (2014) Practical design of rockfall catchfence at urban area from a numerical analysis approach. Eng Geol 172:41–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.01.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qi X(2013) Mechanics performance of passive flexible protection structure. Dissertation, Southwest Jiaotong University (In Chinese)

  • Qi X, Yu ZX, Zhao L et al (2018) A new numerical modelling approach for flexible rockfall protection barriers based on failure modes. Adv Steel Constr 14:479–495. https://doi.org/10.18057/IJASC.2018.14.3.10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sze EHY, Koo RCH, Leung JMY, Ho KKS (2018) Design of flexible barriers against sizeable landslides in Hong Kong. HKIE Trans Hong Kong Inst Eng 25:115–128. https://doi.org/10.1080/1023697X.2018.1462107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volkwein A (2014) Flexible debris flow barriers – design and application. Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkwien A, Wendeler C, Guasti G (2011) Design of Flexible Debris Flow Barriers. Ital J Eng Geol Environ:1093–1100. https://doi.org/10.4408/IJEGE.2011-03.B-118

  • Wendeler C (2016) Debris-flow protection Systems for Mountain Torrents - basic principles for planning and calculation of flexible barriers. WSL Berichte

  • Wendeler C, Volkwein A, Roth A, Denk M, Wartmann S (2007) Field measurements used for numerical modelling of flexible debris flow barriers. In: Chen CL, Major JJ (eds) Proceedings of Debris-Flow Hazards Mitig. Mech. Predict. Assess. Millpress, Rotterdam, pp 681–687

    Google Scholar 

  • Wendeler C, Volkwein A, McArdell BW, Bartelt P (2018) Load model for designing flexible steel barriers for debris flow mitigation. Can Geotech J 39:1–18. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2016-0157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu H, Gentilini C, Yu Z, Qi X, Zhao S (2018) An energy allocation based design approach for flexible rockfall protection barriers. Eng Struct 173:831–852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.07.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu ZX, Qiao YK, Zhao L et al (2018a) A simple analytical method for evaluation of flexible rockfall barrier part 1: working mechanism and analytical solution. Adv Steel Constr 14:115–141. https://doi.org/10.18057/IJASC.2018.14.2.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu ZX, Qiao YK, Zhao L et al (2018b) A simple analytical method for evaluation of flexible rockfall barrier part 2: application and full-scale test. Adv Steel Constr 14:142–165. https://doi.org/10.18057/IJASC.2018.14.2.2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu ZX, Zhao L, Liu YP, Zhao SC, Xu H, Chan SL (2019) Studies on flexible rockfall barriers for failure modes, mechanisms and design strategies: a case study of Western China. Landslides 16:347–362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-018-1093-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Yu Z, Liu Y et al (2020) Numerical simulation of responses of flexible rockfall barriers under impact loading at different positions. J Constr Steel Res 167:105953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2020.105953

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zufferey P (2016) Illgraben 22.07.2016 - lave torrentielle, Murgang, debris flow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ENe7wDKP6I. Accessed 18 May 2019

Download references

Funding

The work is supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2018YFC1505405), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51678504), the Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province (Grant No. 2020YJ0263, 2018JY0029), the Key Research and Development Program of Sichuan Province (Grant No. 2019YFG0001) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 2682020CX62). The authors are grateful for financial support from the Research Grant Council of the Hong Kong SAR Government on the project “Joint-based second order direct analysis for domed structures allowing for finite joint stiffness (PolyU 152039/18E)”.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, No. 111, North 1st Section of Second Ring Road, Jinniu District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    L. Zhao & Z. X. Yu

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China

    L. Zhao, J. W. He, Y. P. Liu, Z. H. Zhou & S. L. Chan

  3. Research Center for Protection Structures Against Natural Hazards, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China

    L. Zhao & Z. X. Yu

Authors
  1. L. Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. W. He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Z. X. Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Y. P. Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Z. H. Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. L. Chan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y. P. Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhao, L., He, J.W., Yu, Z.X. et al. Coupled numerical simulation of a flexible barrier impacted by debris flow with boulders in front. Landslides 17, 2723–2736 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-020-01463-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-020-01463-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation