ePrints

Rockslide and impulse wave modelling in the Vajont reservoir by DEM-CFD analyses

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Stefano Utili

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.

Abstract

water waves due to rockslides plunging into awater reservoir. Quasi-3D DEM analyses in plane strain bya coupled DEM-CFD code are adopted to simulate therockslide from its onset to the impact with the still waterand the subsequent generation of the wave. The employednumerical tools and upscaling of hydraulic properties allowpredicting a physical response in broad agreement with theobservations notwithstanding the assumptions and characteristicsof the adopted methods. The results obtained bythe DEM-CFD coupled approach are compared to thosepublished in the literature and those presented by Crostaet al. (Landslide spreading, impulse waves and modellingof the Vajont rockslide. Rock mechanics, 2014) in acompanion paper obtained through an ALE-FEM method.Analyses performed along two cross sections are representativeof the limit conditions of the eastern and westernslope sectors. The max rockslide average velocity and thewater wave velocity reach ca. 22 and 20 m/s, respectively.The maximum computed run up amounts to ca. 120 and170 m for the eastern and western lobe cross sections, respectively.These values are reasonably similar to thoserecorded during the event (i.e. ca. 130 and 190 m, respectively).Therefore, the overall study lays out a possibleDEM-CFD framework for the modelling of the generationof the hydrodynamic wave due to the impact of a rapidmoving rockslide or rock–debris avalanche.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Zhao T, Utili S, Crosta GB

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering

Year: 2016

Volume: 49

Pages: 2437-2456

Print publication date: 01/06/2016

Online publication date: 13/03/2015

Acceptance date: 27/02/2015

ISSN (print): 0723-2632

ISSN (electronic): 1434-453X

Publisher: Springer

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00603-015-0731-0

DOI: 10.1007/s00603-015-0731-0

Altmetrics

Share