Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HERCULES (towards geoHazards rEsilient infRastruCtUre under changing cLimatES)
Período documentado: 2018-03-01 hasta 2020-02-29
WP2: Researchers during their secondments have started to compare the performance of their constitutive models against mutually agreed benchmark tests so that the best models, in terms of simplicity and completeness of the phenomena accounted for, will be identified. Moreover, the WP has exposed researchers from China (ZJU) and Central Asia (NU) to the expertise of world-leading constitutive modellers. On the other hand, the European researchers will benefit from accessing data specific to understudied local soils in different countries.
WP3: The main objectives are: (i) to exchange knowledge on the typical composition of flood defence embankments and earth dams; (ii) to establish a research collaboration concerning predictive modeling of breach development in flood defence embankments and flooding scenarios at the catchment scale; (iii) integrate with WP1 to deliver an enhanced live warning system through integration of forecast system and risk map. A repository for the database (Deliverable 3.1) of case histories of past failures of flood defense embankments and earthen dams are under development. To address the failure mechanism, internal erosion related research works are also under development as part of this WP and also link to WP 2
WP 4: The main objectives are to i) identify benchmark cases and scenarios of typical landslides, avalanches and debris flow size of the volume involved, typical run-out distances, etc; ii) improve the methodologies used in the generation of landslide susceptibility and hazard maps. The topic associated slope stability methods and technology is also under development to feed into the associated failure mechanism models to support more rational risk assessment of mountain and hilly areas prone to landslides. This will enhance our estimate of the destructive power of debris flows and mudflows not just by modelling their propagation after intense rainfall but also with methods and techniques that can be used to reconstruct. A database (Deliverable 4.1) for case histories has been developed and documented. 5 peer-reviewed Q1 research papers are under review or under revision.
WP5: The main objectives are to i) refine current constitutive models of soil behaviour in the light of the experimental data available; ii) investigate the causes of liquefaction; iii) improve the current modelling and monitoring methods for earthquakes. Soil dynamics related research are being carried out through laboratory and field tests to calibrate the proposed model or come up with new constitutive models. All the related work is well under way.
WP6 aims to assess community resilience, understand risk perception, lay knowledge and their potential for integration with expert science in improved local risk communication practice; to characterize communities and their behaviours for geohazards modelljing and to perform the risk assessment. The current progress is focusing on economic and social impact data collection to fully understand the social and economic costs and tailor-made support systems for vulnerable groups. Secondments are taking place towards to achieve the objectives.
WP 7-11: Related to management, training, network. We organised workshops, seminars, summer school etc activities.