Trap simulation of woody debris by using cylindrical assembled element with roots in Distinct Element Method

Abstract

This paper proposes an application of the distinct element method on damming up performance of drift wood capturing structure subjected to woody debris with root. In order to simulate the behavior of drift woods, an assembled element model made of column shape elements is developed. In advance to analysis works, the debris flow experiments, with various combinations of the length of drift woods and the intervals of vertical columns of the structure, were carried out, and those are simulated by the proposed method. Simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results from the viewpoints of debris flow and the capture mechanism of the capturing structure.