Investigation of non-deformable and deformable landslides using meshfree method

In this study, a meshfree method is introduced to simulate various types of landslides. Special attention was paid to the impact wave and sediment deformation due to their importance to the environment and human society. A multiphase model was applied in the meshfree method to reproduce two different phases. Different gradient models were compared and proper operators were selected to adapt the meshfree method for multiphase flow simulation. A widely used rheology model was utilized to represent the behavior of the non-Newtonian fluid in the deformable landslide cases. Non-deformable and deformable landslides are both simulated as typical landslide cases in this study with consideration of submerged and unsubmerged conditions. Good agreement between present numerical results and previous experimental or numerical results from the literatures indicated the present meshfree method is able to predict the impact wave and sediment deformation generated by the landslide, and thus, this model is capable of forecasting the flood and catastrophic impacts of landslides. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.