SLOWMOVE - A numerical model for the propagation of slow-moving landslides: issues and theoretical concepts

Abstract

Gravitational flows characterized by low velocities represent widely-spread and costly geological hazard and pose particular challenges for the development of a representative numerical model. In many cases their behavior depends on complex mechanical and fluid interactions. The development of a physical-based numerical simulation that allows for an accurate model of observed landslide motion is particularly challenging and underlies a number of assumptions and simplifications. Many conventional techniques do not take hydromechanical effects into account or include the inertia of the moving mass which may result in an overestimation of velocities of the flowing materials.