SPH Simulation of High-Volume Rapid Landslides Triggered by Earthquakes Based on a Unified Constitutive Model. Part II: Solid–Liquid-Like Phase Transition and Flow-Like Landslides

Abstract

High-volume fast-moving landslides undergo a solid–liquid-like phase transition. In this study we apply the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method to simulate the solid–liquid-like phase transition in earthquake-induced landslides based on a unified constitutive model. The feasibility analysis is carried out from two aspects: the governing equations in SPH and the unified constitutive model. A sand-collapse experiment simulating the fluidization motion is performed to verify the SPH model. Strong similarities between the SPH results and the experimental results are observed, confirming that the motion of geo-materials in different states can be simulated by the unified constitutive model. The entire process of the Tangjiashan landslide is reproduced. The SPH simulation shows that during the initiation process, the sliding-mass velocity was low as the geo-materials were in solid state. As shown in Part I of this study, a continuous slip surface formed at about 15[Formula: see text]s. The sliding body gains speed as it enters the fluid state. About 50[Formula: see text]s later, the mass gradually stops moving, reaches a steady state and returns to a solid phase. Besides, the SPH simulation based on elastic–plastic model clearly shows the advantage of the proposed model.