Full dynamic process simulation of landslides using a combination of limit analysis and Savage–Hutter model

This paper deals with the full dynamic process of landslides, including the landslide initiation process and the mass movement and accumulation process. This paper presents a new approach combination of the limit analysis and the depth-averaged Savage–Hutter model to simulate the full dynamic process of the landslides triggered by earthquakes. In this procedure, limit analysis is used to find the critical sliding surface. Subsequently, the depth-averaged Savage–Hutter model is used to simulate the mass movement and accumulation based on the critical sliding surface. This approach is illustrated by simulating the full dynamic process of a landslide triggered by earthquake. Simulation results indicate that the position of the sliding surface has a strong effect on the mass movement and accumulation. Finally, results from the simulation of the Daguangbao landslide and the real-world effects of the landslide are compared. The results indicate that the proposed approach is valid and reasonable to predict the full dynamic process of landslides.