Open Access

ARTICLE

Interaction Mechanisms between Natural Debris Flow and Rigid Barrier Deflectors: A New Perspective for Rational Design and Optimal Arrangement

by Yu Huang¹, Beilei Liu¹, Dianlei Feng^2,*, Hao Shi¹

1 Department of Geotechnical Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
2 Department of Hydraulic Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

* Corresponding Author: Dianlei Feng. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Recent Advances in Computational Methods for Performance Assessment of Engineering Structures and Materials against Dynamic Loadings)

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2024, 139(2), 1679-1699. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2023.044094

Received 20 July 2023; Accepted 31 October 2023; Issue published 29 January 2024

Abstract

Rigid barrier deflectors can effectively prevent overspilling landslides, and can satisfy disaster prevention requirements. However, the mechanisms of interaction between natural granular flow and rigid barrier deflectors require further investigation. To date, few studies have investigated the impact of deflectors on controlling viscous debris flows for geological disaster prevention. To investigate the effect of rigid barrier deflectors on impact mechanisms, a numerical model using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method with the Herschel–Bulkley model is proposed to simulate the interaction between natural viscous flow and single/dual barriers with and without deflectors. This model was validated using laboratory flume test data from the literature. Then, the model was used to investigate the influence of the deflector angle and multi-barrier arrangements. The optimal configuration of multi-barriers was analyzed with consideration to the barrier height and distance between the barriers, because these metrics have a significant impact on the viscous flow pile-up, run-up, and overflow mechanisms. The investigation considered the energy dissipation process, retention efficiency, and dead-zone formation. Compared with bare barriers with similar geometric characteristics and spatial distribution, rigid barriers with deflectors exhibit superior effectiveness in preventing the overflow and overspilling of viscous debris flow. Recommendations for the rational design of deflectors and the optimal arrangement of multi-barriers are provided to mitigate geological disasters.

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