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Estimating the impact force generated by granular flow on a rigid obstruction

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Abstract

Flowing sediments such as debris and liquefied soils could exert a tremendous amount of force as they impact objects along their paths. The total impact force generally varies with slope angle, velocity at impact, and thickness of the flowing sediment. Estimation of the impact force of flowing sediments against protective measures such as earth retaining structures is an important factor for risk assessment. In this paper, we conduct small-scale laboratory physical modeling of sand flow at different slopes and measure the impact force exerted by this material on a fixed rigid wall. We also conduct numerical simulations in the Eulerian framework using computational fluid dynamics algorithms to analyze and reproduce the laboratory test results. The numerical simulations take into consideration the overtopping of the wall with sand, which influenced the measured impact force–time history responses. In addition, the numerical simulations are shown to capture accurately the change of the impact force with slope angle. Finally, the modeling approach conducted in this study is used to estimate the quasi-static force generated by the sediment as it comes to rest on the wall following impact.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the US National Science Foundation under Contract Number CMMI-0824440 and the US Department of Energy under Contract Number DE-FG02-03ER15454 to Stanford University. We thank the two reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Shuji Moriguchi & Ronaldo I. Borja

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan

    Atsushi Yashima

  3. River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan

    Kazuhide Sawada

Authors
  1. Shuji Moriguchi
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  2. Ronaldo I. Borja
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  3. Atsushi Yashima
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  4. Kazuhide Sawada
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Correspondence to Ronaldo I. Borja.

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Moriguchi, S., Borja, R.I., Yashima, A. et al. Estimating the impact force generated by granular flow on a rigid obstruction. Acta Geotech. 4, 57–71 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-009-0084-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-009-0084-5

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