Numerical Study of the Characteristics of Surface Waves Generated by Submarine Landslides

Surface waves generated by landslides in the dam reservoir regions are important in dam design and study of landslides in the dam lake area. This type of waves can produce flooding in the dam lake region and large run-up heights on the dam body. The impacts of this flooding and run-up, can lead to significant damages along the shore line of the lake and on the dam itself. In this paper, numerical study of the characteristics of the impulse waves generated by submarine landslides is presented. The study aims to evaluate the effects of landslide shape, and turbulence models on the impulse wave characteristics. The volume of fluid (VOF) technique is used to track the free surface of water and beach solid movements. Simulated results show the complex flow patterns in the lake due to occurrence of a submarine landslide in terms of the velocity field and free surface profiles. Hydrodynamic forces applied to the sliding materials are computed, which are used by geotechnical engineers to study the stabilization of the slope. Simulation results are in close agreement with the experimental observations.