A THM-coupled MPM framework for modelling rock-ice avalanches

IF 6.2 1区工程技术 Q1 COMPUTER SCIENCE, INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS

Computers and Geotechnics Pub Date : 2025-09-02 DOI:10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107603

Xiaoqin Lei , Siming He , Changbing Qin , Jidong Zhao , Gordon G.D. Zhou , Liu Ming

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Rock-ice avalanches exhibit hypermobility due to thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes involving ice-water phase transitions, frictional heating, and thermal pressurization. They are typically characterized by high velocities and extended runout distance, posing significant hazards to human life and infrastructure in cold mountainous regions. This study presents a novel three-phase material point method (MPM) framework unifying THM coupling among skeleton deformation, pore water seepage, heat transfer, and ice-water phase change within the sliding rock-ice mixture. It also features a multi-material frictional contact model to describe the interactions of multiphase porous mixture with the basal terrain, accounting for frictional heating and thermal pressurization at the interface. The framework further introduces a shear band scaling technique to resolve sub-grid thermal-hydraulic processes. It is validated against (i) the classical freezing process in a semi-infinite porous medium, (ii) frictional heating in elastic/elastoplastic sliding blocks, and (iii) the 2016 Lamplugh rock-ice avalanche. The predictions demonstrate that thermal pressurization substantially reduces basal friction, reasonably explaining the extreme runout (10.5 km) at Lamplugh. The framework offers a unified prediction tool for simulating THM-driven hypermobility in complex terrains.

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模拟岩冰雪崩的thm耦合MPM框架

由于热-水-机械（THM）过程，包括冰-水相变、摩擦加热和热加压，岩冰雪崩表现出超流动性。它们的典型特征是速度快，跳动距离长，对寒冷山区的人类生命和基础设施构成重大危害。本文提出了一种新的三相物质点法（MPM）框架，统一了滑动岩冰混合物中骨架变形、孔隙水渗流、传热和冰-水相变之间的THM耦合。它还具有多材料摩擦接触模型，用于描述多相多孔混合物与基底地形的相互作用，考虑了界面处的摩擦加热和热压。该框架进一步引入了剪切带缩放技术来解决亚网格热水力过程。该理论在以下条件下得到了验证：(i)半无限多孔介质中的经典冻结过程，（ii）弹性/弹塑性滑动块中的摩擦加热，以及（iii） 2016年Lamplugh岩冰雪崩。预测表明，热加压大大减少了基础摩擦，合理地解释了Lamplugh的极端跳动（10.5 km）。该框架为模拟复杂地形中thm驱动的超机动提供了统一的预测工具。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Computers and Geotechnics 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

9.10

自引率

15.10%

发文量

438

审稿时长

45 days

期刊介绍： The use of computers is firmly established in geotechnical engineering and continues to grow rapidly in both engineering practice and academe. The development of advanced numerical techniques and constitutive modeling, in conjunction with rapid developments in computer hardware, enables problems to be tackled that were unthinkable even a few years ago. Computers and Geotechnics provides an up-to-date reference for engineers and researchers engaged in computer aided analysis and research in geotechnical engineering. The journal is intended for an expeditious dissemination of advanced computer applications across a broad range of geotechnical topics. Contributions on advances in numerical algorithms, computer implementation of new constitutive models and probabilistic methods are especially encouraged.