Predicting Debris Flow Runout with SFLOW Model: Case Study of Datong and Taicun Gullies, Lijiang, China

• Published in: Geotechnical and geological engineering 2025, Vol.43 (1), p.47
• Main Authors: Mehmood, Qaiser, Qing, Wang, Chen, Jianping, Rahman, Gohar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alluvial fans; Catastrophic events; Civil Engineering; Debris flow; Detritus; Disasters; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Field investigations; Finite volume method; Flood predictions; Geological hazards; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Gullies; Hydrogeology; Mathematical models; Mountain regions; Mountainous areas; Mountains; Original Paper; Rainstorms; Risk management; Safety management; Snowmelt; Socioeconomic aspects; Terrestrial Pollution; Waste Management/Waste Technology
• ISSN: 0960-3182; 1573-1529
• DOI: 10.1007/s10706-024-03020-y

Catastrophic debris flow events frequently occur in mountainous areas around the globe, which poses a serious threat to the socio-economic environment and safety in the alluvial fans. Debris flow often occurs under conditions triggered by heavy rainstorms and rapid snowmelt making it one of the most destructive geological disasters because it does not have any warning signs. With the rapid expansion of mountainous areas around the world, especially in China, making China the worst-hitting country by debris flow, particularly the mountainous areas in the southwest of China. Therefore, it is of great importance to evaluate the runout prediction of the potential debris flow in these regions to protect infrastructure, residences, and human lives. Presently, employing numerical simulation methods proves to be an effective approach in evidently representing the runout behavior of potential debris flows. This study adopts comprehensive methods of field investigation and the SFLOW model utilizing the finite volume method to evaluates the potential runout range and flooding path, with flow depths and velocities of Datong and Taicun debris flow gullies. The model findings demonstrates that debris flows with recurrence periods of 20, 50, and 100 years will menace the safety and lives as well as the property of locals in Datong and Taicun Gullies. Generally, the SFLOW model can address debris flow problems on irregular terrain precisely and efficiently and it can be exercised for comparable risk management and engineering designs.