The combined use of physically based models for the analysis of debris flows

The paper presents a methodology for the analysis of debris flows through the combined use of two physically based models (TRIGRS, SPH) for the study of triggering and propagation phases, respectively. In particular, TRIGRS, used to analyse the triggering phase, allowed the identification of triggering areas and the estimation of mobilized volumes. These volumes were used as input data of the SPH model for the back analysis of the propagation phase in terms of both main pathway and depositional area. The implementation of both models required the use of geotechnical data obtained from in situ surveys and laboratory tests. The methodology, applied to a landslide event occurred in the province of Reggio Calabria, showed that the results obtained combining these models are coherent with the back-analysis of the real event, in terms of both triggering areas and propagation zones