Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An Equivalent Stiffness Flexible Barrier for Protection Against Boulders Transported by Debris Flow

  • Research paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Civil Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Flexible ring nets exhibit complex nonlinear mechanical behaviour when subjected to static and dynamic impact loads. This research presents the development of an efficient numerical model for assessing the performance of flexible netting barriers used in debris flow and rockfall risk mitigation. The model is calibrated through benchmark analyses and based on the equivalent stiffness method. The results demonstrate that the proposed numerical approach offers a significant computational cost reduction of 80% compared to complex numerical models while maintaining high accuracy. The coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian finite element method (CEL) is employed to simulate fluid–debris–structure interaction, showing damage characteristics consistent with flexible ring net barriers. The model is suitable for accurately determining the impact forces acting on the barrier and presents the debris behaviour and movement at various flow velocities. Notably, the results confirm that the presented model is capable of evaluating the interaction between the flexible barrier and debris flow with boulders and is an efficient approach to estimating the performance of flexible protection subjected to impacts.

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
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21
Fig. 22
Fig. 23
Fig. 24
Fig. 25

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Petley D (2012) Global patterns of loss of life from landslides. Geology. https://doi.org/10.1130/G33217.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Pachauri RK, Allen MR, Barros VR, Broome J, Cramer W, Christ R, Church J A, Clarke L, Dahe Q, Dasgupta P (2014) Climate change 2014: synthesis report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/

  3. Tang H, Xia C, Wang K, Jiang J, Xia H (2022) Reliability-based vulnerability analysis of bridge pier subjected to debris flow impact. Struct Infrastruct Eng. https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2022.2074468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. VanDine D (1996) Debris flow control structures for forest engineering. In: Res. Br., BC Min. For., Victoria, BC, Work. Pap, vol 8

  5. Jakob M (2005) Debris-flow hazard analysis. In: Debris-flow hazards and related phenomena. Springer, pp 411–443 https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27129-5_17

  6. Piton G, Recking A (2016) Design of sediment traps with open check dams. I: hydraulic and deposition processes. J Hydraul Eng. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Leonardi A, Pirulli M (2020) Analysis of the load exerted by debris flows on filter barriers: comparison between numerical results and field measurements. Comput Geotech. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2019.103311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Takahashi T (2007) Debris flow: mechanics, prediction and countermeasures. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780203946282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Cortes Arevalo VJ, Sterlacchini S, Bogaard TA, Junier S, van de Giesen N (2016) Decision support method to systematically evaluate first-level inspections of the functional status of check dams. Struct Infrastruct Eng. https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2016.1144619

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Suda J, Strauss A, Rudolf-Miklau F, Hübl J (2009) Safety assessment of barrier structures. Struct Infrastruct Eng. https://doi.org/10.1080/15732470701189498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Mizuyama T (2008) Structural countermeasures for debris flow disasters. Int J Eros Control Eng. https://doi.org/10.13101/ijece.1.38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Armanini A (1997) On the dynamic impact of debris flows. In: Recent developments on debris flows. Springer, pp 208–226. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0117770

  13. Yu Z, Liu C, Guo L, Zhao L, Zhao S (2019) Nonlinear numerical modeling of the wire-ring net for flexible barriers. Shock Vib. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3040213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Thoeni K, Lambert C, Giacomini A, Sloan SW (2013) Discrete modelling of hexagonal wire meshes with a stochastically distorted contact model. Comput Geotech. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2012.10.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Bertrand D, Trad A, Limam A, Silvani C (2012) Full-scale dynamic analysis of an innovative rockfall fence under impact using the discrete element method: from the local scale to the structure scale. Rock Mech Rock Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-012-0222-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Frenez T, Roth A, Kaestli A (2004) Debris flow mitigation by means of flexible barriers. In: Proceedings of the 10th congress interpraevent. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-12-1693-2012

  17. Fonseca RL, Quintana CR, Megal LL, Roth A (2007) Protection systems against debris flows. WIT Trans Built Environ. https://doi.org/10.2495/SAFE070081

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wendeler C, Volkwein A, Roth A, Denk M, Wartmann S (2007) Field measurements and numerical modelling of flexible debris flow barriers. In: Debris-flow hazards Mitig. Mech. Predict. Assess. Millpress, Rotterdam. https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl:11851

  19. Volkwein A (2005) Numerical simulation of flexible rockfall protection systems. In: Computing in civil engineering, pp 1–11 https://doi.org/10.1061/40794(179)122

  20. Vagnon F, Segalini A (2016) Debris flow impact estimation on a rigid barrier. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-16-1691-2016

  21. Zhao L, He JW, Yu ZX, Liu YP, Zhou ZH, Chan SL (2020) Coupled numerical simulation of a flexible barrier impacted by debris flow with boulders in front. Landslides. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-020-01463-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Escallón J, Wendeler C (2013) Numerical simulations of quasi-static and rockfall impact tests of ultra-high strength steel wire-ring nets using Abaqus/Explicit 2013 SIMULIA Community conference, https://www.3ds.com/fileadmin/PRODUCTS/SIMULIA/PDF/scc-papers

  23. Trad A, Limam A, Bertrand D, Robit P (2013) Multi-scale analysis of an innovative flexible rockfall barrier. Rockfall Eng. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118601532.ch9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Gentilini C, Govoni L, de Miranda S, Gottardi G, Ubertini F (2012) Three-dimensional numerical modelling of falling rock protection barriers. Comput Geotech. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2012.03.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Van Tran P, Maegawa K, Fukada S (2013) Prototype of a wire-rope rockfall protective fence developed with three-dimensional numerical modeling. Comput Geotech. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2013.06.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Huang Y, Yiu J, Pappin J, Sturt R, Kwan JS, Ho KK (2014) Numerical investigation of landslide mobility and debris-resistant flexible barrier with LS-DYNA. In: Proceedings of the 13th international LS-DYNA users conference

  27. Nicot F, Cambou B, Mazzoleni G (2001) Design of rockfall restraining nets from a discrete element modelling. Rock Mech Rock Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s006030170017

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Tahmasbi S, Giacomini A, Wendeler C, Buzzi O (2019) On the computational efficiency of the hybrid approach in numerical simulation of rockall flexible chain-link mesh. Rock Mech Rock Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-019-01795-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Wendeler C (2016) Debris-flow protection systems for mountain torrents—basic principles for planning and calculation of flexible barriers. Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL. www.wsl.ch/publikationen/pdf/15501.pdf

  31. Sautter KB, Hofmann H, Wendeler C, Wilson P, Bucher P, Bletzinger K-U, Wüchner R (2021) Advanced modeling and simulation of rockfall Attenuator barriers via partitioned DEM-FEM coupling. Front Built Environ. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2021.659382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Crosta G, Imposimato S, Roddeman D (2009) Numerical modelling of entrainment/deposition in rock and debris-avalanches. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2008.10.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Lin CH, Hung C, Hsu TY (2020) Investigations of granular material behaviors using coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian technique: From granular collapse to fluid-structure interaction. Comput Geotech. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2020.103485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Qiu G, Henke S, Grabe J (2011) Application of a coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian approach on geomechanical problems involving large deformations. Comput Geotech. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2010.09.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Documentation A (2014) Abaqus Analysis User’s Guide, Version 6.14. Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp., Providence

  36. Chen HX, Li J, Feng SJ, Gao HY, Zhang DM (2019) Simulation of interactions between debris flow and check dams on three-dimensional terrain. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.02.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Imran J, Harff P, Parker G (2001) A numerical model of submarine debris flow with graphical user interface. Comput Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0098-3004(00)00124-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Jeong SW, Locat J, Leroueil S, Malet J-P (2010) Rheological properties of fine-grained sediment: the roles of texture and mineralogy. Can Geotech J. https://doi.org/10.1139/T10-012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Kaitna R, Rickenmann D, Schatzmann M (2007) Experimental study on rheologic behaviour of debris flow material. Acta Geotech. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-007-0026-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Sha SY, Dyson AP, Kefayati G, Tolooiyan A (2023) Simulation of debris flow-barrier interaction using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics and coupled Eulerian Lagrangian methods. Finite Elem Anal Des. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finel.2022.103864

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  41. Leonardi A, Wittel FK, Mendoza M, Vetter R, Herrmann HJ (2016) Particle–fluid–structure interaction for debris flow impact on flexible barriers. Compu Aided Civ Infrastruct Eng. https://doi.org/10.1111/mice.12165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Dai ZL, Huang Y, Cheng HL, Xu Q (2017) SPH model for fluid–structure interaction and its application to debris flow impact estimation. Landslides. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-016-0777-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Ciurleo M, Mandaglio MC, Moraci N (2021) A quantitative approach for debris flow inception and propagation analysis in the lead up to risk management. Landslides. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-021-01630-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. European Commitee for Standardization (2002) EN 10264-2: steel wire and wire products—steel wire for ropes—part 2: cold drawn non alloy steel wire for ropes for general applications

  45. Kwan JS, Chan SL, Cheuk JC, Koo R (2014) A case study on an open hillside landslide impacting on a flexible rockfall barrier at Jordan Valley. Landslides, Hong Kong. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-013-0461-x

    Book  Google Scholar 

  46. Sasiharan N, Muhunthan B, Badger T, Shu S, Carradine D (2006) Numerical analysis of the performance of wire mesh and cable net rockfall protection systems. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2006.09.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Dhakal S, Bhandary N, Yatabe R, Kinoshita N (2011) Experimental, numerical and analytical modelling of a newly developed rockfall protective cable-net structure. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-11-3197-2011

  48. Mentani A, Govoni L, Giacomini A, Gottardi G, Buzzi O (2018) An equivalent continuum approach to efficiently model the response of steel wire meshes to rockfall impacts. Rock Mech Rock Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-018-1490-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Geobrugg AG (2016) Product manual VX/UX debris flow barriers. https://www.geobrugg.com/

  50. Li X, Zhao J, Kwan JS (2020) Assessing debris flow impact on flexible ring net barrier: a coupled CFD-DEM study. Comput Geotech. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2020.103850

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Zhang Y, Qin Y, Zhu Y, Shi J, Huo W (2022) Numerical and analytical studies of flexural behaviour of prestressed UHPC joints. Struct Infrastruct Eng. https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2022.2082493

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Martinez CE (2009) Eulerian-Lagrangian two phase debris flow model. https://doi.org/10.25148/etd.FI09121601

  53. Persi E, Petaccia G, Sibilla S (2018) Large wood transport modelling by a coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian approach. Nat Hazards. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-017-2891-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Persi E, Petaccia G, Sibilla S, Lucía A, Andreoli A, Comiti F (2020) Numerical modelling of uncongested wood transport in the Rienz river. Environ Fluid Mech. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-019-09707-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Financial support for this research has been provided by Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Grants Program (NDRRGP) as part of the Australian Government National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework (NDRRF) and the Tasmanian Government Disaster Resilience Strategy, in partnership with the Tasmanian State Emergency Services (TSES). The grant's title is “Mount Wellington Debris Flow Risk Reduction and Mitigation Strategies”. The first author is funded by the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Computational Engineering for Sustainability Lab (CES-Lab), School of Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7005, Australia

    Shiyin Sha, Ashley P. Dyson, Gholamreza Kefayati & Ali Tolooiyan

Authors
  1. Shiyin Sha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ashley P. Dyson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gholamreza Kefayati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ali Tolooiyan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali Tolooiyan.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sha, S., Dyson, A.P., Kefayati, G. et al. An Equivalent Stiffness Flexible Barrier for Protection Against Boulders Transported by Debris Flow. Int J Civ Eng 22, 705–722 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-023-00914-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-023-00914-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation