Kinematic energy balance approach to submarine landslide evolution

Abstract

The paper applies the energy balance kinematic method of plasticity theory to the large deformation problem of initiation and propagation of the spreading and ploughing failure outside a failed slab in submarine sediments. The models account for the phenomenon of the progressive propagation of a slope parallel slip surface, which is also quantified using the energy balance approach. In contrast to existing approximate analytical and numerical solutions, the proposed approach provides a theoretical basis for spreading and ploughing criteria as well as the comprehensive dynamic solution of the problem of post-failure landslide evolution. Incremental integration of the derived analytical expressions for kinetic energy in time allows for modelling recurrent initiation of new kinematic failure mechanisms with their subsequent large-scale deformation. Treating the failed slab as well as the spreading and ploughing mechanisms as one composite dynamically evolving mass movement allows for the final post-failure geomorphology of the failed slope to be predicted using basic mechanical principles.