A numerical model of submarine debris flow with graphical user interface

A 1-D numerical model of the downslope spreading of a finite-source subaqueous debris Row is presented. The model incorporates the Bingham, Herschel-Bulkley, and bilinear theologies of viscoplastic fluids. Any of these theologies can be selected by the user. The layer-integrated conservation equations of mass and momentum balance are solved in a Lagrangian framework using an explicit finite difference scheme. The flow is assumed to remain laminar throughout the computation. Starting from an initial parabolic shape, the debris mass is allowed to collapse and propagate on a given topography. The code is written in the visual basic programming language and has a graphical user interface. The required input parameters can be specified interactively, and the propagation of the debris Bow can be viewed as the solution proceeds. The user interface for the software is described in detail. Simulated results from different theological models are compared. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.