Debris flow
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The largest debris flows in the Alps have swept away up to half a million cubic metres of material, transported it down the valley and deposited it there. Such a vast quantity would require over 40,000 trucks to remove it. Quantities that would fit into around 1,000 trucks are not uncommon.
Our software RAMMS::DEBRISFLOW makes it possible to calculate these debris flow processes and evaluate the effect of protective measures. The simulation calculates the potential flow and breakout paths of a debris flow depending on rainfall and terrain, including the slope gradient.
Moreover, as debris flows surge towards the valley, they grow to many times the size of the mass that was originally unleashed. This affects the speed and runout distance, the ability of the flow to break out of the channel and ultimately the force that is exerted on infrastructure in the runout zone, such as protective structures, bridges or buildings. RAMMS is able to simulate the erosion behaviour of a debris flow.
New findings from research, field measurements, experiments and laboratory tests continuously contribute to improving the module.
Further Informationen
Services & Products
Natural hazards portal
Person in charge:
Thomas Stucki
RAMMS - Rapid Mass Movement Simulation
Person in charge:
Marc Christen
Contact
Dr. Perry Bartelt
Groupleader, Senior Scientist
bartelt(at)slfto make life hard for spam bots.ch
+41 81 417 02 51+41 81 417 02 51
Marc Christen
System specialist - RAMMS Software
Publications
Murgänge und Hangmuren gefährden in gebirgigen Regionen Personen und Sachwerte. Im Rahmen des integralen Risikomanagements können neben der Berücksichtigung von Naturgefahren in der Raumplanung bauliche, organisatorische oder ingenieurbiologische Schutzmassnahmen getroffen werden.
WSL Berichte 102
2020
This thesis is an outcome of a joint research project between Geobrugg AG and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), in order to investigate the use of flexible ring net barriers to retard or stop debris flows.
WSL Berichte 44
2016
Results of a research project aimed at developing a dimensioning concept for flexible debris flow protection systems. The concept involves specially focused research combining laboratory tests, fully instrumented field installations and the corresponding numerical simulations.
WSL Berichte 18
2014
Dieser Bericht fasst die Resultate eines Forschungsprojekts zusammen, das zum Ziel hatte, ein Konzept für flexible Murgangbarrieren zu entwickeln. Das Konzept beinhaltet Laborversuche, voll instrumentierte Feldinstallationen und die entsprechenden numerischen Simulationen.
WSL Berichte 8
2014
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Lucas, D.; Fankhauser, K.; Maurer, H.; McArdell, B.; Grob, R.; Herzog, R.; Bleiker, E.; Springman, S.M., 2020: Slope stability of a scree slope based on integrated characterisation and monitoring. Water, 12, 2: 447 (38 pp.). doi: 10.3390/w12020447
Zimmermann, F.; McArdell, B.W.; Rickli, C.; Scheidl, C., 2020: 2D runout modelling of hillslope debris flows, based on well-documented events in Switzerland. Geosciences, 10, 2: 70 (17 pp.). doi: 10.3390/geosciences10020070
De Haas, T.; McArdell, B.W.; Conway, S.J.; McElwaine, J.N.; Kleinhans, M.G.; Salese, F.; Grindrod, P.M., 2019: Initiation and flow conditions of contemporary flows in Martian gullies. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 124, 8: 2246-2271. doi: 10.1029/2018JE005899
Marchetti, E.; Walter, F.; Barfucci, G.; Genco, R.; Wenner, M.; Ripepe, M.; McArdell, B.; Price, C., 2019: Infrasound array analysis of debris flow activity and implication for early warning. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 124, 2: 567-587. doi: 10.1029/2018JF004785
Hürlimann, M.; Coviello, V.; Bel, C.; Guo, X.; Berti, M.; Graf, C.; Hübl, J.; Miyata, S.; Smith, J.B.; Yin, H., 2019: Debris-flow monitoring and warning: review and examples. Earth-Science Reviews, 199: 102981 (26 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.102981
Uchida, T.; Nishiguchi, Y.; McArdell, B.W.; Satofuka, Y., 2019: Numerical simulation for evaluating the phase-shift of fine sediment in stony debris flows. In: Kean, J.W.; Coe, J.A.; Santi, P.M.; Guillen, B.K. (eds), 2019: Debris-flow hazards mitigation: mechanics, monitoring, modeling, and assessment. 7th intemational conference on debris-flow hazards mitigation (DFHM7), Golden, USA. 451-458. doi: 10.25676/11124/173185
Densmore, A.L.; De Haas, T.; McArdell, B.; Schuerch, P., 2019: Making sense of avulsions on debris-flow fans. In: Kean, J.W.; Coe, J.A.; Santi, P.M.; Guillen, B.K. (eds), 2019: Debris-flow hazards mitigation: mechanics, monitoring, modeling, and assessment. 7th intemational conference on debris-flow hazards mitigation (DFHM7), Golden, USA. 637-644. doi: 10.25676/11124/173161
Graf, C.; Christen, M.; McArdell, B.W.; Bartelt, P., 2019: An overview of a decade of applied debris-flow runout modeling in Switzerland: challenges and recommendations. In: Kean, J.W.; Coe, J.A.; Santi, P.M.; Guillen, B.K. (eds), 2019: Debris-flow hazards mitigation: mechanics, monitoring, modeling, and assessment. 7th intemational conference on debris-flow hazards mitigation (DFHM7), Golden, USA. 685-692.
Hirschberg, J.; McArdell, B.W.; Badoux, A.; Molnar, P., 2019: Analysis of rainfall and runoff for debris flows at the Illgraben catchment, Switzerland. In: Kean, J.W.; Coe, J.A.; Santi, P.M.; Guillen, B.K. (eds), 2019: Debris-flow hazards mitigation: mechanics, monitoring, modeling, and assessment. 7th intemational conference on debris-flow hazards mitigation (DFHM7), Golden, USA. 693-700.
Scheidl, C.; McArdell, B.; Nagl, G.; Rickenmann, D., 2019: Debris-flow behavior in super- and subcritical conditions. In: Kean, J.W.; Coe, J.A.; Santi, P.M.; Guillen, B.K. (eds), 2019: Debris-flow hazards mitigation: mechanics, monitoring, modeling, and assessment. 7th intemational conference on debris-flow hazards mitigation (DFHM7), Golden, USA. 437-442. doi: 10.25676/11124/173187
Rickenmann, D.; Karrer, T.; McArdell, B.; Scheidl, C., 2019: Small scale debris-flow experiments on run-up height. In: Kean, J.W.; Coe, J.A.; Santi, P.M.; Guillen, B.K. (eds), 2019: Debris-flow hazards mitigation: mechanics, monitoring, modeling, and assessment. 7th intemational conference on debris-flow hazards mitigation (DFHM7), Golden, USA. 414-420. doi: 10.25676/11124/173191
Frank, F.; Huggel, C.; McArdell, B.W.; Vieli, A., 2019: Landslides and increased debris-flow activity: a systematic comparison of six catchments in Switzerland. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 44, 3: 699-712. doi: 10.1002/esp.4524
Wendeler, C.; Volkwein, A.; McArdell, B.W.; Bartelt, P., 2018: Load model for designing flexible steel barriers for debris flow mitigation. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 99: 893-910. doi: 10.1139/cgj-2016-0157
Schimmel, A.; Hübl, J.; McArdell, B.; Walter, F., 2018: Automatic identification of alpine mass movements by a combination of seismic and infrasound sensors. Sensors, 18, 5: 1658 (19 pp.). doi: 10.3390/s18051658
Walter, F.; Burtin, A.; McArdell, B.W.; Hovius, N.; Weder, B.; Turowski, J.M., 2017: Testing seismic amplitude source location for fast debris-flow detection at Illgraben, Switzerland. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 17, 6: 939-955. doi: 10.5194/nhess-17-939-2017
Frank, F.; McArdell, B.W.; Oggier, N.; Baer, P.; Christen, M.; Vieli, A., 2017: Debris-flow modeling at Meretschibach and Bondasca catchments, Switzerland: sensitivity testing of field-data-based entrainment model. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 17, 5: 801-815. doi: 10.5194/nhess-17-801-2017
Jacquemart, M.; Meier, L.; Graf, C.; Morsdorf, F., 2017: 3D dynamics of debris flows quantified at sub-second intervals from laser profiles. Natural Hazards, 89, 2: 785-800. doi: 10.1007/s11069-017-2993-1
Baer, P.; Huggel, C.; McArdell, B.W.; Frank, F., 2017: Changing debris flow activity after sudden sediment input: a case study from the Swiss Alps. Geology Today, 33, 6: 216-223. doi: 10.1111/gto.12211
Von Boetticher, A.; Turowski, J.M.; McArdell, B.W.; Rickenmann, D.; Hürlimann, M.; Scheidl, C.; Kirchner, J.W., 2017: DebrisInterMixing-2.3: a finite volume solver for three-dimensional debris-flow simulations with two calibration parameters – part 2: model validation with experiments. Geoscientific Model Development, 10, 11: 3963-3978. doi: 10.5194/gmd-10-3963-2017
Rickenmann, D., 2017: Bedload transport measurements with geophones, hydrophones, and underwater microphones (passive acoustic methods). In: Daizo Tsutsumi, J.; Laronne, B. (eds), 2017: Gravel-bed rivers: processes and disasters. Chichester, Wiley-Blackwell. 185-208. doi: 10.1002/9781118971437.ch7
Bartelt, P.; McArdell, B.; Graf, C.; Christen, M.; Buser, O., 2016: Dispersive pressure, boundary jerk and configurational changes in debris flows. International Journal of Erosion Control Engineering, 9, 1: 1-6. doi: 10.13101/ijece.9.1
Wendeler, C.; Volkwein, A., 2015: Laboratory tests for the optimization of mesh size for flexible debris-flow barriers. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 15, 12: 2597-2604. doi: 10.5194/nhess-15-2597-2015
Stähli, M.; Sättele, M.; Huggel, C.; McArdell, B.W.; Lehmann, P.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Berne, A.; Schleiss, M.; Ferrari, A.; Kos, A.; Or, D.; Springman, S.M., 2015: Monitoring and prediction in early warning systems for rapid mass movements. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 15, 4: 905-917. doi: 10.5194/nhess-15-905-2015
Schraml, K.; Thomschitz, B.; McArdell, B.W.; Graf, C.; Kaitna, R., 2015: Modeling debris-flow runout patterns on two alpine fans with different dynamic simulation models. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 15, 7: 1483-1492. doi: 10.5194/nhess-15-1483-2015
Scheidl, C.; McArdell, B.W.; Rickenmann, D., 2015: Debris-flow velocities and superelevation in a curved laboratory channel. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 52, 3: 305-317. doi: 10.1139/cgj-2014-0081
Sättele, M.; Bründl, M.; Straub, D., 2015: Reliability and effectiveness of early warning systems for natural hazards: concept and application to debris flow warning. Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 142: 192-202. doi: 10.1016/j.ress.2015.05.003
Bebi, P.; Putallaz, J.; Fankhauser, M.; Schmid, U.; Schwitter, R.; Gerber, W., 2015: Die Schutzfunktion in Windwurfflächen. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Forstwesen, 166, 3: 168-176. doi: 10.3188/szf.2015.0168
Stähli, M.; Graf, C.; Scheidl, C.; Wyss, C.R.; Volkwein, A., 2015: Experimentelle Erkundung von Wildbächen, Murgängen, Hangrutschungen und Steinschlag: aktuelle Beispiele der WSL. Geographica Helvetica, 70, 1: 1-9. doi: 10.5194/gh-70-1-2015
Rheinberger, C.M.; Romang, H.E.; Bründl, M., 2013: Proportional loss functions for debris flow events. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 13, 8: 2147-2156. doi: 10.5194/nhess-13-2147-2013
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