19 Debris Flow Protection With Flexible Barriers - E

Slope Solution Workshop | Duncan Ecclestone
FLEXIBLE DEBRIS
FLOW BARRIERS
FLEXIBLE DEBRIS FLOW
BARRIERS
Content
1. NATURAL HAZARD DEBRIS FLOW

2. PROJECT HISTORY
3. RESEARCH BACKGROUND
4. DESIGN CONCEPT / ONLINE
TOOL DEBFLOW
Flexible
Debris Flow 2 19.04.2022
Barriers
01
NATURAL HAZARD DEBRIS FLOW
Flexible
Debris Flow
Barriers
3 19.04.2022
DISTINCTION MUDFLOW -
GRANULAR FLOW
Mudflow Granular flow
Lower density: 1600-1900 kg/m3 High density: 1900-2300 kg/m3

Faster front velocity: 3 – 10 m/s Slower front velocity: 3 – 7 m/s
video 10 x faster
Flexible
Barriers
PREMISES
Topographical requirements
steep dewatering slopes

with unconsolidated
material
gullies
significant
catchment area with
one dewatering direction
Flexible
Barriers
CHARACTERISTICS
Significant damage can be

caused by debris flow and
shallow landslide process
High energy flow with an
enormous destructive potential
Hard to forecast
Impact loads are not very well
known
Because of climate change need
for new protection measures
Flexible
Barriers
02
PROJECT HISTORY
Flexible
Debris Flow
Barriers
7 19.04.2022
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1996: Test at USGS flume in Oregon with ring nets
Flexible
Barriers
1998: Debris flow event in Aobandani, Japan
Flexible
Barriers
2002: First internal preliminary design report / FARO
Click icon to add picture
Flexible
Barriers
2004: First customer project: Narrows / Gaviota Pass
Flexible
Barriers
2005: Start of KTI-Project together with WSL
Flexible
Barriers
03
RESEARCH BACKGROUND
Flexible
Debris Flow
Barriers
13 19.04.2022
RESEARCH APPROACH
Of load bearing behavior with

1:1 field tests + Laboratory tests + Numerical Modeling
= Optimization of the structural system of flexible debris flow barriers
Flexible
Barriers
ILLGRABEN VALLEY AND TEST
SITE LOCATION
Rhone river
Deposit area of Illbach
river
Debris flow barrier test
site
Check-dams and
controlled river border
Illbach river
Debris flow
accumulation area
Flexible
Barriers
THE ILLGRABEN SYSTEM
Parameters of the Illgraben catchment
Area 10.5 km2

Ground coverage
Rock, loose material 25%
Forest 30%
Open vegetation 43%
Lake 2%
Highest point 2790 m ASL
Lowest point 610 m ASL
Exposure N
Mean slope of torrent 16%
Mean slope of fan 10%
Length of main channel 2.6 km
Flexible
Barriers
Historical data in the debris flow activity
Very active catchment in the

alps:
5-6 natural debris flows / year
Regular activity in the last
100 years:
Events Volume
numerous < 75000 m3
5 75000 – 250 000 m3
1 500000 m3
View upper part of torrent
Flexible
Barriers
1961: Historical event

Debris flow of ~500 000 m3
Flexible
Barriers
1:1 FIELD TESTS IN THE
ILLGRABEN 2005 - 2008
3 rain gauges Geophone Flow height measure
radar-, laser devices
Debris flow balance

Catchment area 10.5 km2
Shear
wall
Test barrier
~2 k
mw
ith 8
-10%
incli
natio
n
Zürich
Illgraben
Geneva
Flexible
Barriers
RESEARCH BACKGROUND
Video camera Laser

floodlight
Load cells
Flexible
Barriers
DEBRIS FLOW BARRIER TEST
SITE
August 12th 2004 – Details for 4 surges
Flexible
Barriers
SITE
VX – Debris flow barrier
Measurement of impact forces

on net
Measurement of net behavior
during impact stress
Gain of input parameter for back-
up calculations and further
analysis (e.g. Finite Element
Model)
Dimensioning of VX-ringnet on test site
Height 3.5 m
Width 12 m
Ringnet type 16/3/300
Flexible
Barriers
RING-NET BARRIER DETAILS
Abrasion protection 3 x 2 Support ropes Brake rings Drilled Anchors
Flexible
Barriers
BRAKE RING DETAIL
Flexible
Barriers
RING NET
Flexible
Barriers
SITE
VX – DF-ringnet barrier: Instrumentation
6 Load cells with integrated

data collection
Flexible
Barriers
FILLING EVENT 2006
Volume ≈ 15'000 m3
Velocity ≈ 3 m/s
Density ≈ 1'600 kg/m3
Flexible
Barriers
MEASUREMENTS ILLGRABEN
PRE AND POST FILLING EVENT
Deposit volume  Volume ≈ 1000 m3
Flexible
Barriers
FIRST EVENT 08!
Velocity ≈ 3 m/s
Density ≈ 2‘000 kg/m3
Fliesshöhe [m]
400.00 6
5.5
350.00
Unteres Tragseil 1
5
300.00 4.5
Unteres Tragseil 2
4
250.00
Belastung Tragseile [kN]

3.5
Fliesshöhe/Füllstandshöhe [m]
200.00 3
2.5
150.00
2
100.00 1.5
1
50.00
0.5
0.00 0
Flexible
Barriers
OVERTOPPING
Flexible
Barriers
Research approach –
Multilevel barrier test side
Flexible
Barriers
RESEARCH APPROACH -
LABORATORY TESTS
Variation of material, mesh size, different barriers and basal
openings
Force [N]
700
Fdyn
600
500
Kraft [N]
400
Fstat
300
200
100
0
0 1'000 2'000 3'000 4'000 5'000 6'000 7'000
Time [s][ms]
Zeit
Material: Hasliberg Solid content: 55 %

d90: 30 mm Start volume: 50 l
Water content: 45 % Barrier: net 3 cm
Flexible
Barriers
RESEARCH RESULTS –
NUMERICAL MODELING
Flexible
Barriers
DIMENSIONING OF FLEXIBLE
DEBRIS FLOW BARRIERS
Dimensioning concept
Based on WSL studies at the Illgraben

Considers stopping of the front, filling and overflow of the
barrier
Load case 1 Stopping front: debris pressure & impulse
Load case 2 overflow: debris pressure
Flexible
Barriers
FLEXIBLE, PERMEABLE DEBRIS
FLOW BARRIERS
Geobrugg VX / UX
Height Width
VX
VX080-H4 2-4 m up to 15 m
VX140-H4 2-4 m Up to 15 m
VX100-H6 3-6 m Up to 15 m
VX160-H6 3-6 m Up to 15 m
UX
UX100-H4 2-4 m Up to 25 m
UX160-H4 2-4 m Up to 25 m
UX120-H6 3-6 m Up to 25 m
UX180-H6 3-6 m Up to 25 m
Flexible
Barriers
FLOW BARRIERS
Light systems
Height Width
VX
VX060L-H4 2-4 m up to 10 m
UX
UX060L-H4 2-4 m Up to 20 m
no overflowing (no abrasion protection)

small volumes (limited impact width)
Flexible
Barriers
FLOW BARRIERS: VX
Flexible
Barriers
FLOW BARRIERS: UX
Flexible
Barriers
RANGE OF APPLICATION
Retention of debris flow with one barrier
Flexible
Barriers
Outlet structure of a retention basin
Flexible
Barriers
Retention of large volumes by means of multilevel barriers
Flexible
Barriers
Erosion control and replacement from check dams
Flexible
Barriers
Protection against erosion of the river bed / foundation protection
Flexible
Barriers
Erosion control / replacement of check dams in big flooding rivers
Flexible
Barriers
Deviation / repair of damaged check dams
Flexible
Barriers
Range of application
14 m high hanger net construction as debris flow bassin
Flexible
Barriers
Protection against blockage of culverts
Flexible
Barriers
DIFFERENT APPLICATION (NOT
COMPARABLE)
Driftwood -> reduced hydrostatic pressure
Flexible
Barriers
Thanks for your attention
Flexible
Barriers

19 Debris Flow Protection With Flexible Barriers - E

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Slope Solution Workshop | Duncan Ecclestone

1. NATURAL HAZARD DEBRIS FLOW

Lower density: 1600-1900 kg/m3 High density: 1900-2300 kg/m3

steep dewatering slopes

Significant damage can be

1996: Test at USGS flume in Oregon with ring nets

1998: Debris flow event in Aobandani, Japan

2002: First internal preliminary design report / FARO

Click icon to add picture

2004: First customer project: Narrows / Gaviota Pass

2005: Start of KTI-Project together with WSL

Of load bearing behavior with

= Optimization of the structural system of flexible debris flow barriers

Parameters of the Illgraben catchment

Area 10.5 km2

Historical data in the debris flow activity

Very active catchment in the

View upper part of torrent

1961: Historical event

Debris flow balance

Video camera Laser

Measurement of impact forces

Abrasion protection 3 x 2 Support ropes Brake rings Drilled Anchors

6 Load cells with integrated

Belastung Tragseile [kN]

Material: Hasliberg Solid content: 55 %

Based on WSL studies at the Illgraben

no overflowing (no abrasion protection)

Retention of debris flow with one barrier

Outlet structure of a retention basin

Retention of large volumes by means of multilevel barriers

Erosion control and replacement from check dams

Protection against erosion of the river bed / foundation protection

Erosion control / replacement of check dams in big flooding rivers

Deviation / repair of damaged check dams

14 m high hanger net construction as debris flow bassin

Protection against blockage of culverts

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