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Regional level debris-flow hazard assessment for alpine infrastructure facilities using the 3D numerical high-performance simulation tool FIMT
Scheikl, Manfred Powell, David
Scheikl, Manfred
Powell, David
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2019
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Abstract
Alpine infrastructure such as roads, railways, pipelines, powerlines and hydropower facilities, as well as alpine communities, are exposed to debris-flow hazards, rock-fall and snow avalanches. In most cases, debris-flows are rainfall induced and affect large areas, causing substantial financial and individual damages. Austrian infrastructure owners are maintaining approximately 5,000 km of railway tracks and at least 1,000 km of high priority highways which are exposed to debris-flow hazards. For assessing potential debris-flow impact along these infrastructure routes, the stand-alone physical-numerical based modeling tool FIMT (Flow Impact Modeling Tool) was developed in-house by ALPINFRA, which is applied on a 3D topography with a spatial resolution of 5x5m. The model is applied on a regional scale and areas with more than 3,000 km² were analyzed simultaneously. Debris-flows are highly dynamic, complex flow processes of multi-phase fluids with a constantly varying flow regime during single events and along flow paths. Many researchers, including Pudasaini et. al., 2005, Wang et. al., 2004 and Iverson, 1997, 2001, 2004 provide well developed physical approaches for single- and multi-phase fluids. The Mohr-Coulomb based friction model of Voellmy (1955) however, provides an acceptable and numerically implementable alternative, considering dry friction as well as hydraulic driven parameters. This approach was initially developed for snow avalanches and is now implemented in various debris flow and other rapid mass movement modeling software tools. Ahead of the implementation of the model for regional hazard assessments, ALPINFRA conducted calibration and parametric studies. These were done in test-regions and based on extensive field work, investigation of historical events and detailed numerical back analysis. Since 2013, all parts of the Austrian railway network exposed to debris-flow, major Austrian highways, as well as gas-pipelines and hydro power facilities have been analyzed with this tool as a basis for hazard and risk studies. For regional scales, simulation results have a comparatively high resolution (5x5m) and build a high-quality basis for hazard mapping, budgeting of mitigation measures and planning of detailed investigation projects.
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