Towards a predictive multi-phase model for alpine mass movements and process cascades

This is a Preprint and has not been peer reviewed. The published version of this Preprint is available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2022.106866. This is version 1 of this Preprint.

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Authors

Alessandro Cicoira, Lars Blatny, Xingyue Li, Bertil Trottet, Johan Gaume

Abstract

Alpine mass movements can generate process cascades involving different materials including rock, ice, snow, and water. Numerical modelling is an essential tool for the quantification of natural hazards, but state-of-the-art operational models reach their limits when facing unprecedented or complex events. Here, we advance our predictive capabilities for process cascades on the basis of a three-dimensional numerical model, coupling fundamental conservation laws to finite strain elastoplasticity.

Through its hybrid Eulerian-Lagrangian character, our approach naturally reproduces fractures and collisions, erosion/deposition phenomena, and multi-phase interactions, which finally grant very accurate simulations of complex dynamics. Four benchmark simulations demonstrate the physical detail of the model and its applicability to real-world full-scale events, including various materials and ranging through four orders of magnitude in volume. In the future, our model can support risk-management strategies through predictions of the impact of potentially catastrophic cascading mass movements at vulnerable sites.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31223/X59S51

Subjects

Engineering

Keywords

Material Point Method, natural hazards, Computational Mechanics, Process cascades, Avalanche dynamics, Mass movements, Vajont, Piz Cengalo, Flüela Wisshorn, Whymper hanging glacier

Dates

Published: 2021-12-22 10:25

Last Updated: 2021-12-22 18:24

License

CC BY Attribution 4.0 International

Additional Metadata

Conflict of interest statement:
None.