SPH-DEM Coupling for Debris Flows

Abstract

Debris flows are natural events with a high potential of damage due to the materials, volume, and velocity they can reach once the flows were triggered. Mathematical models and numerical schemes constitute a transcendental way to get a deeper comprehension of these natural phenomena. Thus, the coupling of numerical methods is becoming more relevant to describe the behaviour of debris flows. The coupling of Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and Discrete Element Method (DEM) is presented in this work to show the capability to represent the interaction of several materials simultaneously. SPH is employed to represent the fluid and soil by using different constitutive models, from a continuum approach. On the other hand, DEM describes immersed objects to represent large boulders and unmoveable boundary conditions. Thus, it is possible to couple the behaviour occurring at very different scales, fines and water through the continuum approach, and boulders with the discrete one. A hypothetical case here presented shows the potential of our coupling method for simulating debris flows.

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