Parametric analysis of the mobility of debris from flow slides in sensitive clays

Abstract

Sensitive clays are prone to various types of landslides. Among these are flow slides that are able to affect hectares of land. Moreover, debris from these flow slides has a high mobility with run out distance of hundreds of meters, even in relatively flat areas, are quite common. In the context of hazard mapping, mobility of the debris is also an important factors to consider. In this context, a parametric analysis using simplified geometries is undertaken in order to evaluate the run out characteristics of these flows (such has the length of the run out area and the lateral spread of the debris) as a function of the rheological parameters such as the yield stress and viscosity. In order to proceed with the parametric analysis, a newly developed 3D numerical model was used.