Investigation of the dynamic process of the Xinmo landslide using the discrete element method

Abstract

Abstract As a useful tool to simulate the movement of granular materials, the Particle Flow Code is used to analyze the dynamic process of the Xinmo landslide, including: disintegration, entrainment, granular flow and accumulation. The microparameters of the landslide rock mass were calibrated with uniaxial compression and landslide deposition simulations. The results show that the kinetic characteristics of the collapse mass were more sensitive to the bond strength than to the friction coefficient. For the colluvium on the runout path, the influence on the kinetic characteristics was insignificant in the case of the lower bond strength and friction coefficient. The whole process lasted approximately 100 s, and the main sliding time was 65 s. The peak velocity was 72.4 m/s, and the maximum displacement was approximately 2.5 km. The results indicate that the gravitational potential energy was mainly converted into friction energy and kinetic energy in the acceleration stage. However, the proportion of the collision energy increased gradually in the deceleration stage. The entrainment effect plays an important role in the Xinmo landslide movement. The high gravitational potential energy of the collapse mass was the basis of the high mobility, and the mobility was further enhanced because of the entrainment effect.