DEM simulation for attainment distance of soil during cliff collapses and proposal of a simple prediction method

Abstract

Analytical methods based on the solid mechanics theorem such as the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) are not able to consider the attainment distance of soil during cliff collapse, even if it is able to estimate the location and the quantity of collapsed soil in the slope.
In this study, a series of numerical simulation for the damage cases in Kiryu-city (2002) are performed based on the Distinct Element Method (DEM). On the basis of the comparisons between the calculated and observed deformation, a simple prediction method for the attainment distance of soil during cliff collapse, which is the method that obtained a hint from the method proposed by Kaibori (1986), is proposed. This is such a significant method that avoids the difficulty over the actual calculation cost associated with DEM.