scholarly journals The quantitative estimation of the vulnerability of brick and concrete wall impacted by an experimental boulder

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Zhang ◽  
Z. X. Guo ◽  
D. Wang ◽  
H. Qian

Abstract. There is little historic data about the vulnerability of damaged elements due to debris flow events in China. Therefore, it is difficult to quantitatively estimate the vulnerable elements suffered by debris flows. This paper is devoted to the research of the vulnerability of brick and concrete walls impacted by debris flows. An experimental boulder (an iron sphere) was applied to be the substitute of debris flow since it can produce similar shape impulse load on elements as debris flow. Several walls made of brick and concrete were constructed in prototype dimensions to physically simulate the damaged structures in debris flows. The maximum impact force was measured, and the damage conditions of the elements (including cracks and displacements) were collected, described and compared. The failure criterion of brick and concrete wall was proposed with reference to the structure characteristics as well as the damage pattern caused by debris flows. The quantitative estimation of the vulnerability of brick and concrete wall was finally established based on fuzzy mathematics and the proposed failure criterion. Momentum, maximum impact force and maximum impact bending moment were compared to be the best candidate for disaster intensity index. The results show that the maximum impact bending moment seems to be most suitable for the disaster intensity index in establishing vulnerability curve and formula.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haixin Zhao ◽  
Lingkan Yao ◽  
Yong You ◽  
Baoliang Wang ◽  
Cong Zhang

In this study, we present a new method to calculate debris flow slurry impact and its distribution, which are critical issues for designing countermeasures against debris flows. There is no unified formula at present, and we usually design preventive engineering according to the uniform distribution of the maximum impact force. For conducting a laboratory flume experiment, we arrange sensors at different positions on a dam and analyze the differences on debris flow slurry impact against various densities, channel slopes, and dam front angles. Results show that the force of debris flow on the dam distributes unevenly, and that the impact force is large in the middle and decreases gradually to the both sides. We systematically analyze the influence factors for the calculation of the maximum impact force in the middle point and give the quantitative law of decay from the middle to the sides. We propose a method to calculate the distribution of the debris flow impact force on the whole section and provide a case to illustrate this method.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
pp. 5015-5044 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Zhang ◽  
Z. X. Guo ◽  
D. Wang ◽  
H. Qian

Abstract. There is little historic data about the vulnerability of the damage elements in debris flow disaster in China. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate the vulnerability of debris flow quantitatively. This paper was devoted to the research of the vulnerability of brick and concrete building impacted by debris flow which widely existed in affected area. Under two assumptions, several prototype walls of brick and concrete were constructed to simulate the damaged structures in debris flow while the iron spheres were taken as the substitute of debris flow. The failure criterion of brick and concrete building was proposed with referring to the structure standards (brick and concrete) and the damage pattern in debris flow. The quantitatively estimation of vulnerability of brick and concrete building was finally established based on Fuzzy mathematics and the proposed failure criterion. The results show that the maximum impact bending moment is the best fit to be the disaster-causing factor in vulnerability curve and formula. The experiments in this paper is the preliminary research on the vulnerability of the element impacted by debris flow. The method and conclusion will be useful for the quantitative estimation of the vulnerability in debris flow and also can be referred in other types of the vulnerable elements research.


Author(s):  
Hervé Vicari ◽  
C.W.W. Ng ◽  
Steinar Nordal ◽  
Vikas Thakur ◽  
W.A. Roanga K. De Silva ◽  
...  

The destructive nature of debris flows is mainly caused by flow bulking from entrainment of an erodible channel bed. To arrest these flows, multiple flexible barriers are commonly installed along the predicted flow path. Despite the importance of an erodible bed, its effects are generally ignored when designing barriers. In this study, three unique experiments were carried out in a 28 m-long flume to investigate the impact of a debris flow on both single and dual flexible barriers installed in a channel with a 6 m-long erodible soil bed. Initial debris volumes of 2.5 m<sup>3</sup> and 6 m<sup>3</sup> were modelled. For the test setting adopted, a small upstream flexible barrier before the erodible bed separates the flow into several surges via overflow. The smaller surges reduce bed entrainment by 70% and impact force on the terminal barrier by 94% compared to the case without an upstream flexible barrier. However, debris overflowing the deformed flexible upstream barrier induces a centrifugal force that results in a dynamic pressure coefficient that is up to 2.2 times higher than those recommended in guidelines. This suggests that although compact upstream flexible barriers can be effective for controlling bed entrainment, they should be carefully designed to withstand higher impact forces.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Nam ◽  
Man-Il Kim ◽  
Dong Kang ◽  
Byung Kim

Recently, human and property damages have often occurred due to various reasons—such as landslides, debris flow, and other sediment-related disasters—which are also caused by regional torrential rain resulting from climate change and reckless development of mountainous areas. Debris flows mainly occur in mountainous areas near urban living communities and often cause direct damages. In general, debris flows containing soil, rock fragments, and driftwood temporarily travel down to lower parts along with a mountain torrent. However, debris flows are also often reported to stream down from the point where a slope failure or a landslide occurs in a mountain directly to its lower parts. The impact of those debris flows is one of the main factors that cause serious damage to structures. To mitigate such damage of debris flows, a quantitative assessment of the impact force is thus required. Moreover, technologies to evaluate disaster prevention facilities and structures at disaster-prone regions are needed. This study developed two models to quantitatively analyze the damages caused by debris flows on structures: Type-1 model for calculating the impact force, which reflected the flow characteristics of debris flows and the Type-2 model, which calculated the impact force based on the topographical characteristics of mountainous regions. Using RAMMS a debris flow runoff model, the impact forces assessed through Type-1 and Type-2 models were compared to check reliability. Using the assessed impact forces, the damage ratio of the structures was calculated and the amount of damage caused by debris flows on the structures was ultimately assessed. The results showed that the Type-1 model overestimated the impact force by 10% and the Type-2 model by 4% for Mt. Umyeon in Seoul, compared to the RAMMS model. In addition, the Type-1 model overestimated the impact force by 3% and Type-2 by 2% for Mt. Majeok in Chuncheon, South Korea.


2008 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1778-1783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam B. Prochaska ◽  
Paul M. Santi ◽  
Jerry D. Higgins

Estimation of the impact forces from boulders within a debris flow is important for the design of structural mitigation elements. Boulder impact force equations are most sensitive to the inputs of particle size and particle velocity. Current guidelines recommend that a design boulder should have a size equal to the depth of flow and a velocity equal to that of the flow. This study used video analysis software to investigate the velocities of different sized particles within debris flows. Particle velocity generally decreased with increasing particle size, but the rate of decrease was found to be dependent on the abilities of particles to rearrange within debris flows.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Tang ◽  
Yan Yan ◽  
Kaiheng Hu

&lt;p&gt;Runoff-generated debris flow has hazardous implications for downstream communities and infrastructure in alpine landscapes. Our understanding of fluid mechanisms of debris flows is very limited, in part, by a lack of direct observations and measurements. Seismic ground motion-based observations provide new constraints on debris flow physics, but it is still not widely applied due to the missing of validated inversion models for interpreting the impact force which generates seismic ground motion. Here we propose a physical model for the high-frequency spectral distribution of impact force signal generated by debris flows. Then we present a new inversion model based on the physical model for the impact force signal and apply this to the devastating debris flows in Dongchuang, China, on 25 August 2004. The amplitude and frequency characteristics of the impact force data can enable the estimation of grain size, sediment concentration, and sediment flux. Results suggest that in-situ data from three sensors could have provided a reconstruction of sediment flux profile in the vertical direction. Meanwhile, an inversion model designed for debris flows impact force would potentially provide hydrodynamics information as well.&lt;/p&gt;


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaojie Zhang

&lt;p&gt;Conventional sensors for debris flow monitoring suffer from several drawbacks including low service life, low reliability in long-distance data transfer, and stability in severe weather conditions. Recently, fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based sensors have been developed to monitor debris flows. However, they can be easily damaged by the impact forces of boulders within debris flow. This paper presents a new FBG-based device to measure the strain induced by the impact force of debris flow with high reliability and effectiveness. The effects of the impact forces of debris flows have been investigated. Then, the relationship between the strain and the debris flow energy correlating with the damage to building structures has been established. It is shown that this new FBG-based device is capable of monitoring and warning about debris flows. The impact experiment results show that the peak value of dynamic strain on the fixed end of the new device is positively correlated with the external impact force. Using an impact force, we establish a relationship between the measured strain and the potential of a debris flow resulting in damage to structures was established. This follows the general rule that a larger measured strain corresponds to a higher level of debris flow. Using this relationship, we can quantify a dangerous level of debris flow using the monitored strain data. Our new device is capable of monitoring and warning about dangerous debris flows, allowing for more effective debris flow mitigation.&lt;/p&gt;


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuai Li ◽  
Xiaoqing Chen ◽  
Chong Peng ◽  
Jiangang Chen

&lt;p&gt;Drainage channel with step-pool systems are widely used to control debris flow. However, the blocking of debris flow often gives rise to local damage at the steps and baffles. Hence, the estimation of impact force of debris flow is crucial for design step-pools channel. This paper presents a numerical study on the impact behavior of debris flows using SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) method. Some important parameters, such as the baffle shape (square, triangle, and trapezoid) and the densities of debris flows are considered to examine their influence on the impact force. The results show that the largest peak impact force is obtained at the second last baffle, rather than the first baffle. Moreover, the square baffle gives rise to the largest impact force whereas the triangle baffle bears the smallest one among the three baffles. Generally, the peak impact force increases with increasing the inflow density. However, a threshold density, beyond which the peak impact force will decrease, is suggested by the simulations. Based on the numerical results, an improved expression to predict the impact force considering the inclined angle of baffle is proposed.&lt;/p&gt;


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2021
Author(s):  
Man-Il Kim ◽  
Jae-Hwan Kwak

Studies have been conducted to understand the physical characteristics of debris flows and quantitatively assess the vulnerability of the buildings nearby to mitigate damage from debris flow disasters. However, there remains a paucity of research on vulnerability assessments that discuss the impact force of debris flow and building resistance within certain sections, where debris flows spread from an outlet. In this regard, the study assesses the vulnerability of buildings to debris flows while considering the distance from an outlet. For this purpose, it selects the two sites of Chuncheon-shi in Gangwon-do and Cheongju-shi in Chungcheongbuk-do in South Korea, which are widely known for having experienced debris flow damage in 2011 and 2017, respectively. For the sites, the study conducts an inverse analysis through debris flow simulation to understand the physical characteristics of debris flows, including flow depth, flow velocity, and impact force. Then, the study assesses vulnerability by estimating the resistance of the materials of the buildings placed in the range where debris flows spread, which allows the calculation of a vulnerability index that a building material may have and the estimation of a safety distance from the outlet for each material of the buildings in the study sites. The result shows that with an increasing distance from the outlet, the flow depth, velocity, and impact force, which represent debris flow properties, tend to decrease. This again results in vulnerability being gradually reduced. The study also suggests that buildings are exposed to the risk of debris flow disasters at a sections 40 to 60 m from an outlet for wood material construction, 70 to 110 m for brick-masonry material construction, and all sections from an outlet for prefabricated material construction. Based on this result, the vulnerability index is estimated for the wood material (0.85), brick-masonry material (0.58), and prefabricated material (0.003).


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