Effects of model parameters, topography, and scale on the mass movement processes of debris avalanches using the discrete element method

The mass movement process of a debris avalanche is a complex dynamic system and is influenced by topographic conditions, material composition, sliding-bed surface conditions and other factors. A discrete element method is used to simulate the mass movement process of debris avalanches and is validated by laboratory flume tests. Sensitivity analyses for the model parameters show that a low bond strength indicates that a small impact force can lead to slope failure. The friction coefficient has a little effect on the mass movement process. However, high particle stiffness and bond strength causes the sliding material to behave like a rigid block of rock; therefore low bond strength and particle stiffness are selected to simulate the laboratory flume tests. The velocity of the sliding material increases with the increasing slope of the flume. If the sliding material hits a barrier, the travel direction will change and energy dissipation will occur, resulting in the sudden decrease in velocity. With an increase in landslide volume, the model parameters particle stiffness and parallel bond strength should be increased to ensure the reasonableness of the simulated results. When the landslide volume is not large enough, the selection of those model parameters has no significant effect on the movement process. The proper selection of model parameters is very important for the reasonableness of the simulated results.