Influence of sediment permeability in seismic-induced submarine landslide mechanism: CFD-MPM validation with centrifuge tests and analysis

Abstract

Seismic-induced submarine landslides pose significant risks to offshore structures. To enhance our understanding of this phenomenon, we have developed a CFD-MPM capable of simulating complete mechanisms behind earthquake induced submarine landslide. Recent centrifuge tests have demonstrated that the permeability of marine sediment is a critical factor in determining the failure mechanism of submarine landslides. Specifically, a lower permeability increases the likelihood of a slope transitioning from failure to gravity debris flow. Our CFD-MPM, validated with centrifuge tests, supports this conclusion. Moreover, we conducted a sensitivity analysis of seismic-induced submarine landslides using the CFD-MPM. In the case of contractive soil, a lower permeability leads to slower dissipation of excess pore water pressure, resulting in longer submarine debris flow runouts. Additionally, in the case of softening soil, a lower permeability increases the chances of spreads as a failure mechanism, while a higher permeability favours retrogressive flow slides. This study sheds light on the diverse effects of sediment permeability on submarine landslide mechanisms, offering crucial insights for hazard assessment and mitigation strategies in offshore engineering and coastal management.