Large scale landslide mud flow modeling, simulation, and comparison with observations

Landslide is a catastrophic natural event. Modeling, simulation, and early warning of landslide event can protect the safety of lives and properties. Therefore, study of landslide bears important scientific and practical value. In this research, we constructed a high performance parallel fluid dynamics model to study large scale landslide transport and evolution process. This model solves shallow water equation derived from 3 dimensional Euler equations in Cartesian coordinate system. Based on bottom topography, initial condition, bottom friction, and mudflow viscosity coefficient, density and other parameters, this model predicts landslide transport process and deposition distribution. Using 3 dimension bottom topography data from an digital elevation model in Zhou Qu area, this model produces the onset, transport and deposition process happened during Zhou Qu landslide. It also calculates spatial and temporal distribution of the mud flow transportation route, deposition depth, and kinematic energy of the event. This model together with an early warning system can lead to significant improvement to construction planning in landslide susceptible area.; Zhou Qu topography from Digital Elevation Model ; Modeling result from PLM (parallel landslide model)