Abstract
Landslide dams are formed mostly in V-shaped valleys, with poor stability and a high risk of failure. Once landslide dams fail, they may cause floods or debris flows that endanger lives, property, and infrastructure downstream. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the stability immediately once a landslide dam is formed. The geometry of a landslide dam is the most critical to its stability assessment. However, the complex terrain and geomorphological conditions in the disaster area often make field surveys difficult. Aerial photography and satellite imagery technology are usually limited by poor weather conditions, which bring severe restrictions to the timely acquisition of the geometry of a landslide dam. In this paper, a discrete element simulation model was proposed and verified by two experiments, and then a series of numerical simulations were performed to investigate the geometry and formation process of landslide dams under different topographic factors including the motion path dip-angle, the river bed inclination, and the angle between valley slopes (valley angle). The results show that the geometry and formation process of landslide dams are significantly affected by the topographic factors. According to the results of comprehensive numerical analysis, a simple predictive model for landslide dam geometry in V-shaped valleys was established, and two landslide dams with data collected from early events were employed to validate the predictive model. Based on the easily accessible topographical factors, the proposed model accomplished the fast prediction of landslide dam geometry. This research provides a vital basis for the stability evaluation of landslide dams and can be used for the disaster emergency response before the dams break.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barrios GKP, Carvalho RMD, Kwade A, Luís MT (2013) Contact parameter estimation for DEM simulation of iron ore pellet handling. Powder Technol 248(2):84–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2013.01.063
Casagli N, Ermini L, Rosati G (2003) Determining grain size distribution of the material composing landslide dams in the Northern Apennines: sampling and processing methods. Eng Geol 69(1–2):83–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(02)00249-1
Chang DS, Zhang LM, Xu Y, Huang RQ (2011) Field testing of erodibility of two landslide dams triggered by the 12 may Wenchuan earthquake. Landslides 8(3):321–332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-011-0256-x
Costa JE, Schuster RL (1988) Formation and failure of natural dams. Bull geol soc am. Geol Soc Am Bull 100(7):1054–1068. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1988)1002.3.CO;2
Cundall PA, Strack ODL (1980) Discussion: a discrete numerical model for granular assemblies. Géotechnique 30(3):331–336. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1980.30.3.331
Deng Q, Gong L, Zhang L et al (2016) Simulating dynamic processes and hypermobility mechanisms of the wenjiagou rock avalanche triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake using discrete element modelling. Bull Eng Geol Environ 76(3):923–936. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-016-0914-2
Dong JJ, Lai PJ, Chang CP, Yang SH, Yeh KC, Liao JJ, Pan YW (2014) Deriving landslide dam geometry from remote sensing images for the rapid assessment of critical parameters related to dam-breach hazards. Landslides 11:93–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-012-0375-z
Dunning SA, Rosser NJ, Petley DN et al (2006) Formation and failure of the Tsatichhu landslide dam, Bhutan. Landslides 3(2):107–113. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-005-0032-x
Ermini L, Casagli N (2003) Prediction of the behaviour of landslide dams using a geomorphological dimensionless index. Earth Surf Process Landf 28:31–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.424
Evans SG, Delaney KB, Hermanns RL, Strom AL, Scarascia Mugnozza G (2011) The formation and behaviour of natural and artificial rockslide dams; implications for engineering performance and hazard management. In: Evans SG, Hermanns RL, Strom AL, Scarascia Mugnozza G (eds) Natural and artificial rock slide dams. Lecture notes in earth sciences, vol 133. Springer, pp 1–Berlin, 76. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04764-0_1
Hashemi HMB, Amoudi OSB (2018) A review on the angle of repose of granular materials. Powder Technol 330:397–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2018.02.003
Korup O (2005) Geomorphic hazard assessment of landslide dams in South Westland, New Zealand: fundamental problems and approaches. Geomorphology 66(1–4):167–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2004.09.013
Korup O, Tweed F (2007) Ice, moraine, and landslide dams in mountainous terrain. Quat Sci Rev 26(25–28):3406–3422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2007.10.012
Lo CM, Lin ML, Tang CL, Hu JC (2011) A kinematic model of the hsiaolin landslide calibrated to the morphology of the landslide deposit. Eng Geol 123(1–2):22–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2011.07.002
Nian TK, Wu H, Chen GQ, Zheng DF, Zhang YJ, Li DY (2018) Research progress on stability evaluation method and disaster chain effect of landslide dam. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 37(8):1796–1812. (in Chinese). https://doi.org/10.13722/j.cnki.jrme.2017.1655
Nian TK, Zhang YJ, Wu H, Chen GQ, Zheng L (2020) Runout simulation of seismic landslides using DDA with state-dependent shear strength model. Can Geotech J. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2019-0312
Peng M, Zhang LM (2012) Breaching parameters of landslide dams. Landslides 9(1):13–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-011-0271-y
Riley PB, Meredith AS, Lilley PB (1993) Tunawaea landslide dam collapse - physical and environmental consequences. Proceedings IPENZ Annual Conference, Hamilton, New Zealand, pp 629–639
Shigeto Y, Sakai M (2011) Parallel computing of discrete element method on multi-core processors. Particuology 9(4):398–405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2011.04.002
Stefanelli CT, Segoni S, Casagli N, Catani F (2016) Geomorphic indexing of landslide dams evolution. Eng Geol 208:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.04.024
Strom A (2010) Landslide dams in Central Asia region. J Jpn Landslide Soc 47:309–324. https://doi.org/10.3313/jls.47.309
Strom A (2013) Geological prerequisites for landslide dams’ disaster assessment and mitigation in Central Asia. In: Wang F, Miyajima M, Li T, Shan W, Fathani T (eds) Progress of geo-disaster mitigation Technology in Asia. Environmental science and engineering (environmental engineering). Springer, Berlin. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29107-4_2
Tang CL, Hu JC, Lin ML et al (2009) The tsaoling landslide triggered by the chi-chi earthquake, Taiwan: insights from a discrete element simulation. Eng Geol 106(1–2):1–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2009.02.011
Utili S, Zhao T, Houlsby GT (2015) 3D DEM investigation of granular column collapse: evaluation of debris motion and its destructive power. Eng Geol 186:3–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.08.018
Wahl TL (2004) Uncertainty of predictions of embankment dam breach parameters. J Hydraul Eng 130:389–397. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(2004)130:5(389)
Walder JS, O’Connor JE (1997) Methods for predicting peak discharge of floods caused by failure of natural and constructed earthen dams. Water Resour Res 33(10):2337–2348. https://doi.org/10.1029/97wr01616
Wang L, Li R, Wu B, Wu Z, Ding Z (2017) Determination of the coefficient of rolling friction of an irregularly shaped maize particle group using physical experiment and simulations. Particuology 38:185–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2017.06.003
Wang F, Dai Z, Okeke CAU, Mitani Y, Yang H (2018a) Experimental study to identify premonitory factors of landslide dam failures. Eng Geol 232:123–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.11.020
Wang F, Okeke ACU, Kogure T, Sakai T (2018b) Assessing the internal structure of landslide dams subject to possible piping erosion by means of microtremor chain array and self-potential surveys. Eng Geol 234:11–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.12.023
Webby MG, Jennings DN (1994) Analysis of dam break flood caused by failure of Tunawaea landslide dam, proceedings of international conference on hydraulics in civil engineering 1994. University of Brisbane, Australia, pp 163–168
Weidinger JT, Wang J, Ma N (2002) The earthquake-triggered rock avalanche of Cui Hua, Qin Ling mountains, P.R. of China - the benefits of a lake-damming prehistoric natural disaster. Quat Int 93:207–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1040-6182(02)00019-8
Wensrich CM, Katterfeld A (2012) Rolling friction as a technique for modelling particle shape in dem. Powder Technol 217:409–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2011.10.057
Wu H, Nian TK, Chen GQ, Zhao W, Li DY (2020) Laboratory-scale investigation of the 3-D geometry of landslide dams in a U-shaped valley. Eng Geol 265:105428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105428
Xiong Y, Li GS, Zhou HW et al (2013) An overview of the treatment to three quake lake located at Baisha River basin. Chin Rural Water Hydropower 07:118–121 (in Chinese)
Xu Q, Fan XM, Huang RQ, Westen CV (2009) Landslide dams triggered by the Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan province, South West China. Bull Eng Geol Environ 68(3):373–386. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-009-0214-1
Yan R (2006) Secondary disaster and environmental effect of landslide and collapsed dams in the upper reaches of Minjiang River. Dissertation, Sichuan University. (in Chinese)
Yuan Q (2012) Earthquake disaster investigation of V-shaped deep valley and research of disaster mitigation countermeasures for highway reconstruction engineering. Dissertation, Southwest Jiaotong University. (in Chinese)
Yuan RM, Tang CL, Hu JC, Xu XW (2014) Ejection mechanism of the Donghekou landslide triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake revealed by discrete element modeling. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 14(5):3895. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-14-1195-2014
Zhang LM, Peng M, Chang D, Xu Y (2016) Statistical analysis of failures of landslide dams. In: Zhang LM, Peng M, Chang D, Xu Y (eds) Dam failure mechanisms and risk assessment. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118558522.ch3
Zhao J, Shan T (2013) Coupled CFD-DEM simulation of fluid-particle interaction in geomechanics. Powder Technol 239:248–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2013.02.003
Zhao GW, Jiang YJ, Qiao JP, Yang ZJ, Ding PP (2018) Numerical and experimental study on the formation mode of a landslide dam and its influence on dam breaching. Bull Eng Geol Environ 78(4):2519–2533. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-018-1255-0
Zhou YC, Xu BH, Yu AB, Zulli P (2002) An experimental and numerical study of the angle of repose of coarse spheres. Powder Technol 125(1):45–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0032-5910(01)00520
Zhou JW, Yang XG, Li HT et al (2009) Engineering geomechanics analysis of the Barrier Lake in Baisha River at Dujiangyan City induced by Wenchuan Earthquake. Adv Eng Sci 41(03):102–108+164. (in Chinese). https://doi.org/10.15961/j.jsuese.2009.03.013
Funding
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51579032, U1765107, & 51879036). Their support is gratefully acknowledged.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, D., Nian, T., Wu, H. et al. A predictive model for the geometry of landslide dams in V-shaped valleys. Bull Eng Geol Environ 79, 4595–4608 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-01828-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-01828-5