Integrating experimental and numerical approaches to simulate viscous debris flows using an HBP-SPH framework.

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Environmental Science
• Computational Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Debris flow modeling, especially for viscous flows, is challenging due to rheological model limitations and sparse field data.
• Existing methods struggle to accurately capture complex flow dynamics and material behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To improve the accuracy and reliability of debris flow modeling.
• To integrate numerical simulations with experimental and field data for enhanced calibration.
• To develop a flexible and scalable framework for simulating viscous debris flows.

Main Methods:

• Integration of the Herschel-Bulkley-Papanastasiou (HBP) model with Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) within the DualSPHysics framework.
• Flume-based experiments to collect data on flow initiation, velocity, and deposition.
• Geotechnical and geophysical investigations to refine rheological parameters.
• Application and validation of the calibrated model using the 2020 Pettimudi debris flow event.

Main Results:

• The SPH-HBP model successfully simulated the 2020 Pettimudi debris flow, accurately predicting peak velocity (16 m/s), hydrodynamic pressures (80-200 kPa), and deposition width (110 m).
• Model predictions were validated against field surveys and historical data, confirming its reliability.
• The integrated approach effectively addressed limitations of conventional methods in modeling viscous debris flows.

Conclusions:

• The combination of SPH and the HBP model offers a robust and flexible methodology for simulating viscous debris flows.
• This approach provides valuable insights into debris flow mechanics, enhancing hazard assessment and mitigation planning.
• The study demonstrates the potential for improved debris flow analysis in vulnerable regions worldwide.