Simulation of the vaiont landslide via multi-body material point method with cohesive frictional interfaces

In this study, the Vaiont landslide is simulated using an enhanced material point method (MPM) capable of modeling multi-body interactions with cohesive-frictional interfaces. The interface model accuracy is examined through several benchmark problems. Afterward, the capability of the numerical tool in the simulation of large deformations during a failure is demonstrated in two problems. After the verification phase, the Vaiont landslide is modeled considering three distinct elastoplastic bodies with cohesive-frictional interfaces. The calculated final configuration has excellent agreement with field observations. The effect of the number of masses contributed to the problem is investigated for the next step. Finally, the Vaiont landslide is modeled with rigid boundaries and a main sliding body. It is shown that the rigid boundary assumption may cause significant errors in the final geometry evaluation.