Numerical modelling of run-out of sensitive clay slide debris

Abstract

Flow slides in sensitive clay deposits are common phenomena in Scandinavia and Canada. These flow slides have caused catastrophes to infrastructure and human life. The post-failure movements of such flow slides usually are characterized by their retrogression distances and or by the run-out distance of the slide debris. There are empirical and numerical methods used to assess the retrogression distance of slide debris. On contrary, convincing and accurate modeling techniques for run-out of sensitive clay slide debris, which is a very complex and challenging process, is yet to be developed Keeping this in view, this work presents a preliminary study to understand the run-out process in sensitive clay slide debris. An available numerical tool called DAN3D has been used to simulate the run-out process of three large flow slides occurred in Norway. In addition, back-calculation of a laboratory scale model test has been performed. A standardized calibration and adjustments on the models based on back analysis of real cases has to be done to use such models on sensitive clay debris analysis extensively. The Study shows that a very simple plastic model in DAN3D is able to estimate the run-out distance and the process.