Modeling Gravity Hazards from Rockfalls to Landslides

Gravity Hazards: From Individual Rockfalls to Large Landslides provides state-of-the-art methods in the field of modeling of rock-flow hazards, with descriptions of applied numerical approaches. These approaches are based on the trajectography, discrete, or continuum strategies. The authors emphasize the discrete element method (DEM), which is first validated by comparison with laboratory experiments, then used to study the sensitivity of various parameters, and finally applied to real and natural cases. The book ends with an introduction to a hybrid continuum method able to bridge the gap between cases dominated by discreteness and those involving a very large number of elements. Covers conventional methods used to study gravitational phenomena using empirical parametersPresents a new numerical tool taking account of the physical phenomenon (friction, dissipation, realistic block shapes) and a methodology for parameter calibration and the achievement of numerical simulations Applies the numerical model to real cases with a critical analysis of its applicability in the field of engineeringEmphasizes the discrete element method (DEM)