Numerical Modelling Based on Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Analysis of Debris Flow at Rinjani Volcano, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Debris flow is a disaster occurring in cases where a sediment particle flows at high speed, down to the slope, and usually with high viscosity and speed. This disaster is very destructive and human life-threatening, especially in mountainous areas. As one of the world’s active volcanoes in the world, Rinjani had the capacity to produce over 3 million m3 volume material in the 2015 eruption alone. Therefore, this study proposes a numerical model analysis to predict the debris flow release area (erosion) and deposition, as well as the discharge, flow height, and velocity. The Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was analyzed in ArcGIS, to acquire the Cartesian coordinates and “hillshade” form. This was also used as a method to produce vulnerable areas in the Jangkok watershed. Meanwhile, the Rapid Mass Movement Simulation (RAMSS) numerical modeling was simulated using certain parameters including volume, friction, and density, derived from the DEM analysis results and assumptions from similar historical events considered as the best-fit rheology. In this study, the release volume was varied at 1,000,000 m3, 2,000,000 m3, and 3,000,000 m3, while the simulation results show movement, erosion, and debris flow deposition in Jangkok watershed. This study is bound to be very useful in mitigating debris flow as disaster anticipation and is also expected to increase community awareness, as well as provide a reference for structural requirements, as a debris flow prevention.

Evaluation of timber floor in-plane retrofitting interventions on the seismic response of masonry structures by DEM analysis: a case study

The seismic response of existing masonry structures is strongly influenced by floor and roof in-plane properties. A strengthening intervention is often needed for traditional timber floors to overcome their low in-plane stiffness and to preserve historical buildings. In this study, the effects of unreinforced and reinforced timber floors on the seismic behaviour of an existing listed masonry building are investigated with dynamic non-linear analyses by means of the Discrete Element Method (DEM). With this approach, the failure processes and collapse sequences of masonry structures can be captured in detail. A previously developed model of the floor cyclic behaviour, based on experimental data, is applied herein to DEM models of the masonry building. Different seismic ground accelerations, different floor types and different floor-to-wall connections are considered. The results highlight the effectiveness of the analysed floor strengthening solution in reducing the out-of-plane displacements of masonry walls. With adequate connections, the reinforced floor is able to transfer the seismic forces to the shear-resistant walls up to the shear-sliding collapse of the structural sidewalls. A comparison with the ideal rigid diaphragm case confirms the good performance of the strengthened floors. The small observed out-of-plane displacements are compatible with the masonry wall capacity, and the reinforced floor hysteretic cycles contribute to dissipate part of the input energy. Moreover, different designs of the connections can also cap the transferred seismic forces to an acceptable level for shear-resistant walls.