Numerical simulation of dike failure using a GPU-based coupled DEM–SPH model

Abstract

Dike failure includes a complex fluid–solid interaction process, which is one of the challenges in investigating dike failure problem. Given the characteristics of dike failure, a GPU-based coupled discrete element method (DEM)-smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) model is proposed and adopted to simulate dike failure problems in this study. GPU parallel computing is involved in the proposed model and solid and fluid phases are modeled by DEM and SPH respectively. Overtopping-induced dike failure is numerically tested to validate the proposed model, and the computed motion of sediments and water and the dike surface profiles are in good agreement with experimental results. Then the proposed model is adopted to simulate seepage-induced dike failures, which have relatively covert behaviors compared with the overtopping-induced dike failure. The evolution of dike saturated zone and sediment displacement during this process is studied, and a sensitivity analysis of sediment diameter indicates that it has a great impact on the dike deformation. Finally, the effect of bottom drainage length on the development of seepage inside dike is investigated.