Application of LS-RAPID to simulate the motion of two contrasting landslides triggered by earthquakes

Abstract

Earthquake-triggered landslides are one of the most significant hazards worldwide. These landslides, involving small or large volumes, can develop debris flows or avalanches with high mobility and long runout distances. The motion processes of this type of landslide are also quite complicated. This study reproduced the motion processes of two landslides using the LS-RAPID program. The Aso-Bridge landslide occurred on April 16, 2016, and it featured rapid movement and a long runout distance. The Kataragai landslide occurred on April 9, 2018, and it traveled with a flow-like behavior. This work presents the features and mechanical parameters of these two landslides by means of survey investigations and laboratory experiments. We established pre-failure models and reproduced motion processes of these two landslides using the LS-PAPID program. Two indicators, consisting of the sliding speed and traveling morphology at different intervals, were considered to describe the motion processes. Results indicated that the resultant maximum sliding speeds of these two landslides were approximately 297.1 and 43.6 m/s, respectively, and that post-failure morphologies were consistent with those observed in field investigations.

Keywords

• earthquake-induced landslides
• rapid and long runout
• flow-like movement
• computer simulation
• motion process