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The basal entrainment of debris flows play a significant role in its amplification and the final volume of deposition could be several to hundred times of its initial volume. In this paper, the shallow water equations coupled with basal material entrainment applied in debris flows have been given to demonstrate the amplification. A new basal entrainment model taking advantage of both Coulomb and Voellmy frictional laws are proposed, providing a unified formula to simulate the stop-and-go process of debris flows. Both time and space second-order MacCormack-TVD finite difference method is suggested to solve the coupled equations. Numerical comparisons with USGS flume experiment and Hongchun gully debris flow in Wenchuan earthquake-induced area are carried out to prove its effectiveness. It is established that the momentum exchange term between the flows and the basal materials has a significant influence on the dynamic characteristics and the entrainment effects are essential to model the dynamic process of debris flows in an earthquake-induced area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On June 17, 2020, a large debris flow occurred in the Meilong catchment following a short-duration, high-intensity rainstorm. The debris flow was initiated by two shallow landsides upstream of the catchment and had a volume of approximately 7.7 × 105 m3. It blocked the river and then induced flooding, causing significant losses to the local residents. In this study, through a combination of field observation, image interpretation, and laboratory experiments, the initiation mechanism, erosion depth along the main channel, and deposition area of this debris flow were comprehensively analyzed. A sequentially integrated numerical model considering the rainfall interception by vegetation, infiltration, and runoff process was developed. Considering the spatial variations in the climatic, hydrological, and geotechnical parameters, the entire process of debris flow initiation, motion, entrainment, and deposition was simulated. The computational outcomes matched well with the field observation results. A combination of the proposed integrated model and spatially varying parameters can be used to effectively describe the debris flow characteristics in the initiation and propagation stages and provide significant insights into the physical processes involved in such hazards. • The Meilong debris flow was initiated by two shallow landsides upstream. • An integrated numerical model with spatial variations of parameter is developed. • The computational outcomes of debris flow match well with the field observation. • A well-monitored groundwater data should be available to predict shallow landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A two-dimensional mountainous mass flow dynamic procedure solver (Massflow-2D) using the MacCormack-TVD finite difference scheme is proposed. The solver is implemented in Matlab on structured meshes with variable computational domain. To verify the model, a variety of numerical test scenarios, namely, the classical one-dimensional and two-dimensional dam break, the landslide in Hong Kong in 1993 and the Nora debris flow in the Italian Alps in 2000, are executed, and the model outputs are compared with published results. It is established that the model predictions agree well with both the analytical solution as well as the field observations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Ill-considered urban planning around Niwan gully may multiply the human and economic losses caused by debris flows. • A depth-integrated model was adopted to determine the hazard zones of debris flows with different recurrence intervals. • The debris flow inundation and evolutionary trajectory are shown to be reasonably comparable with historical debris flows. • This study established a relatively complete system to implement hazard and risk assessment in the study area. The highly geologically active, structurally complex Bailongjiang river basin, Longnan City, Gansu Province hosts many debris-flow gullies. The recent Wenchuan and Jiuzhaigou earthquakes have increased the amount of source material available in these debris flow gullies, and the disturbed nature of the slopes makes them prone to failure under high rainfall, increasing the risk of large-scale debris flows. Moreover, poor urban planning in the region may multiply the human and economic losses caused by debris flows. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the potential hazard zones associated with such debris flows and to implement debris flow hazard and risk assessment. In this paper, Niwan gully is chosen as the study object, as it is characterized by repeated debris flow outbreaks and an ill-considered urban planning at the outlet of the gully. A depth-integrated continuum method is adopted to determine the potential hazard zones of debris flows with different recurrence intervals. The debris flow inundation and evolutionary trajectory are shown to be reasonably comparable with historical debris flows. A two-factor model that couples maximum flow depth with momentum is used to better classify the hazard zones. This study also provides a complete and efficient means to determine the values of debris flow parameters and to implement a hazard and risk assessment based on the solid material reserve method and a probabilistic method. This proposed approach efficiently generated a debris flow risk distribution map that can be used for effective disaster prevention in the Bailongjiang River basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]