Numerical simulation of fast granular flow facing obstacles on steep terrains

The interaction between fast shallow granular flow and obstacles on steep terrain is an important aspect of granular mechanics and defending against geological hazards. In this study, we used a depth-averaged model for granular flow facing obstacles on steep terrains in a bed-fitted coordinate system where the obstacle system is treated as a local bed deviation term. A second-order Riemann-free scheme is extended to compute the depth-averaged model with a wetting–drying technique, which is verified by several granular flow cases, such as aluminum bar collapse and granular flow runout on a steep slope. Numerical simulations were performed for the case of granular flow facing a (i) single hemispherical obstacle and (ii) system of three hemispherical obstacles to produce a dynamical process and deposit profile, and show good agreement with experimental results. Granular flow facing a single obstacle on a concave plane produces a detached shock wave that moves upstream and a tailing rapid transition zone that moves down, which will merge to form a new shock for deposition. Granular flows facing a three-hemisphere obstacle system produce a tailing rapid transition zone that moves downstream and a downstream wavy shock that results from the interaction of three bow shocks in front of each obstacle. The downstream wavy shock moves upstream and merges with the upstream transition zone to form a new curved shock, which later relaxes to a deposit owing to bed friction. These findings provide some supplemental understandings of flow structures of fast granular flow facing obstacles.