Continuum-mechanical models help understand natural
disasters
An estimated 600 people worldwide die every year due to
landslides, debris flows and rock avalanches; material damages amount to twelve
million US Dollars. Such disasters occur when a previously solid mass of grain
components, such as sand, gravel or rock, begins to slide or flow – like sand
in an hourglass. Such events may be triggered by strong rainfall or
earthquakes. If, in addition, the gaps between the grains are filled with
water, the process becomes even more complex. Researchers at the Chair of
Continuum Mechanics are studying the
underlying physical processes with the aid of mathematical models and computer
simulations.