Objective The evolution mechanism and catastrophic process of dam-break debris flows in the Bailong River basin were investigated in order to provide technical support for their early warning and prevention. Methods Ganjia gully in Hanwang Town, Longnan City was selected as the study area. Characteristics of source materials, topography, and rainfall were obtained through indoor remote sensing interpretation and field investigation. Combined with disaster-forming conditions such as regional geological structures and seismic activity, the movement characteristics of dam-break debris flows were systematically analyzed. Furthermore, three dam-break modes, including main gully, branch gully, and cascading dam-break, were simulated and comparatively analyzed using the numerical simulation platform OpenLISEM. Results ① The Ganjia gully watershed had abundant source materials and numerous collapse-slide masses, with rainstorms being the main triggering factor. These masses were prone to forming dam-break debris flows after blocking the channel. ② The evolution process of dam-break debris flows was divided into four stages: collapse-slide mass instability-channel blockage-landslide dam formation and breach-discharge amplification causing disaster. The catastrophic process involved the coupling of rapid conversion of gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy and the overall fluid impact pressure. ③ The simulation results showed that the main gully dam-break debris flow had a runout distance of 1 342.06 m, a deposition area of 1.38 km², and a maximum deposition thickness of 21.64 m, slightly blocking the Bailong River. The branch gully dam-break debris flow was relatively smaller in scale, with a deposition area of 1.03 km² and a maximum deposition thickness of 15.37 m, causing no blockage to the Bailong River. The cascading dam-break debris flow was the largest in scale, with a runout distance of 1 365.64 m, a deposition area of 1.92 km², and a maximum deposition thickness of 28.2 m, severely blocking the Bailong River and forming a barrier lake, which was highly likely to trigger an outburst flood and posed a serious threat to downstream residential areas. Conclusions ① Ganjia gully possesses unfavorable conditions, including steep terrain, abundant source materials, concentrated rainfall, and frequent seismic activity, making it a high-incidence area for dam-break debris flows. ② Dam-break debris flows generally undergo the blockage—impoundment—outburst stages, and their destructive power is significantly higher than that of general rainstorm-induced debris flows. ③ Different dam-break modes vary in scale, deposition range, and hazard severity, among which the cascading dam-break presents the greatest risk.
文献参数: 张宁, 常鸣, 李宏杰, 等.白龙江流域溃决型泥石流灾变过程[J].水土保持通报,2026,46(1):403-413. Citation:Zhang Ning, Chang Ming, Li Hongjie, et al. Catastrophic processes of dam-break debris flows in Bailong River basin [J]. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation,2026,46(1):403-413.
式中:Kf 为稳定系数;为第i块的剩余下滑力传递至i+1块时的传递系数(j=i); Li 为第i条块滑面长度(m); Wi 为第i条块的重量(kN); Ci 为第i条块内聚力(kPa);为第i条块内摩擦角(°); 为第i条块滑面倾角(°); 为第i条块地下水线与滑面的夹角(°); A为地震加速度(重力加速度g)。
WangGaofeng, BiYuanhong, LiHao, et al. Developmental and distribution characteristics and formation mechanisms of large-scale landslide disaster chains in Bailong River basin [J]. Earth Science, 2025,50(10):3885-3904.
GuoChangbao, RenSanshao, LiXue, et al. Development characteristics and reactivation mechanism of the jiangdingya ancient landslide in the Nanyu Town, Zhouqu County, Gansu Province [J]. Geoscience, 2019,33(1):206-217.
LiHongjie, ChangMing, TangLiangliang, et al. Potential chain disaster evolution process of debris flow blockage and dam failure floods in the Bailong River basin [J]. Bulletin of Geological Science and Technology, 2024,43(6):196-211.
ZhouChao. Failure of the landslide dams and blocking coefficient on cascade outburst debris flow in the highly seismic region [D]. Chengdu, Sichuan: Chengdu University of Technology, 2022.
ZhangLiqiang. Experimental and numerical simulation of the scale amplification effect of continuous weir failure on debris flow [D]. Chengdu, Sichuan: Chengdu University of Technology, 2022.
[11]
TangC, RengersN, van AschT W J, et al. Triggering conditions and depositional characteristics of a disastrous debris flow event in Zhouqu City, Gansu Province, northwestern China [J]. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 2011,11(11):2903-2912.
ChengZelin, XuHua, WenYuncheng, et al. Study on the response of the grain-size distribution structure to overtopping breach of landslide dam [J/OL]. Yangtze River, 2025:1-9.(2025-02-05).
[14]
毕远.堰塞体级联溃坝洪水演进机理研究[D].重庆:重庆交通大学,2024.
[15]
BiYuan. Study on flood evolution mechanism of cascade dam failure [D]. Chongqing: Chongqing Jiaotong University, 2024.
[16]
ZhouG G D, ZhouMingjun, ShresthaM S, et al. Experimental investigation on the longitudinal evolution of landslide dam breaching and outburst floods [J]. Geomorphology, 2019,334:29-43.
[17]
FanX, TangC X, van WestenC J, et al. Simulating dam-breach flood scenarios of the Tangjiashan landslide dam induced by the Wenchuan earthquake [J]. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 2012,12(10):3031-3044.
XuQiang, ZhengGuang, LiWeile, et al. Study on successive landslide damming events of Jinsha River in Baige village on Octorber 11 and November 3, 2018 [J]. Journal of Engineering Geology, 2018,26(6):1534-1551.
[20]
ZhaoTianlong, ChenShengshui, FuChangjing, et al. Centrifugal model tests and numerical simulations for barrier dam break due to overtopping [J]. Journal of Mountain Science, 2019,16(3):630-640.
WuXianfu, LiuJiang, LiTiantao, et al. Chains genesis analysis and prevention measures of potential hazards in Longwu Dongshan gully of Qinghai Province [J]. Science Technology and Engineering, 2024,24(34):14878-14888.
WangX, HuGuisheng, YangZhiquan, et al. Characteristics of intermediate frequency debris flow and analysis of the hazard of blockage in Hada gully, Weixi County of Yunnan Province [J]. The Chinese Journal of Geological Hazard and Control, 2023,34(2):42-52.
[25]
CuiP, ZhouG G D, ZhuX H, et al. Scale amplification of natural debris flows caused by cascading landslide dam failures [J]. Geomorphology, 2013,182:173-189.
[26]
ZhouG G D, CuiPeng, ZhuXinghua, et al. A preliminary study of the failure mechanisms of cascading landslide dams [J]. International Journal of Sediment Research, 2015,30(3):223-234.
[27]
ChangMing, DouXiangyang, LuoChaopeng, et al. Multi-scenario simulations for quantitative assessment of debris flow chain hazards in southwestern China [J]. Catena, 2025,253:108900.
[28]
OuyangChaojun, WangZhongwen, AnHuicong, et al. An example of a hazard and risk assessment for debris flows: A case study of Niwan Gully, Wudu, China [J]. Engineering Geology, 2019,263:105351.
LiLinze, ChangMing, LiHongjie, et al. Prediction of the catastrophe process of the debris flow in Luojing Gully after the “9·5” Luding earthquake [J]. China Earthquake Engineering Journal, 2023,45(5):1116-1124.
ZhouKangchi, ChangMing, ZhangNing, et al. Prediction of post-fire debris flow source storage and dynamic processes in the slope erosion of Tuwogou, Yajiang County [J]. Journal of Catastrophology, 2025,40(2):198-204.
YinDaolong, ChangMing, ChenMing, et al. Analysis of the erosion-sedimentation characteristics and dynamic evolution process of mountain flood debris flows in Xiaogou, Hanyuan, Sichuan [J/OL]. Geomatics and Information Science of Wuhan University, 2025:1-11.(2025-06-12).
ZhongXiumei, ChenWenkai, HouJingrui, et al. Study on the development characteristics of geological disasters triggered by Wenchuan earthquake in Wudu District and Wenxian County [J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2011,33(S1):356-360.
MengXingmin, ChenGuan, GuoPeng, et al. Research of landslides and debris flows in Bailong River basin: Progress and prospect [J]. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 2013,33(4):1-15.
ZhangMaosheng, LiZhiheng, WangGenlong, et al. The geological hazard characteristics and exploration ideas of the Bailong River basin [J]. Northwestern Geology, 2011,44(3):1-9.
ZhouChao, ChangMing, XuLu, et al. Failure modes and dynamic characteristics of the landslide dams in strong earthquake area [J]. Earth Science, 2023(8):3115-3126.
YinYueping, LiBin, ZhangTiantian, et al. The February 7 of 2021 glacier-rock avalanche and the outburst flooding disaster chain in Chamoli, India [J]. The Chinese Journal of Geological Hazard and Control, 2021,32(3):1-8.
FangQunsheng, TangChuan, ChengXiao, et al. An calculation method for predicting landslides volumes of the debris flows in the Wenchuan earthquake area [J]. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 2015,46(11):1298-1304.
[47]
谢任之.溃坝坝址流量计算[J].水利水运科学研究,1982(1):43-58.
[48]
XieRenzhi. Computation for the discharge from the site of dam-break [J]. Hydro-Science and Engineering, 1982(1):43-58.