Thesis
Evaluating the capability of FLO-2D and HEC-RAS-MDF to model the St. Sophia debris flow of Dec. 2003 at the St. Sophia Church Camp in Southern California
University of Iowa
Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
Spring 2023
DOI: 10.25820/etd.007294
Abstract
FLO-2D and HEC-RAS-MDF are applied to the St. Sophia debris flow event of December 2003. The FLO-2D model when applied to the location of the Church Camp results in an estimated flow depth of 16-18 m and a flow velocity of 16-18 m/s. The HEC-RAS-MDF model produced depths in the 3.0-5.0 m range and a velocity of 3.6 m/s. In this instance the HEC-RAS-MDF model provides results that are more in keeping with the field-based assessment of flow depths and velocities based on field mapping and reports regarding observed velocities. The depths and velocities that FLO-2D estimates are clearly excessive and likely due in part to the density values associated with the St. Sophia debris flow exceeding the operational and design capacity of the FLO-2D model, despite efforts to adjust for the higher flow densities. Efforts to further refine both models are ongoing.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Evaluating the capability of FLO-2D and HEC-RAS-MDF to model the St. Sophia debris flow of Dec. 2003 at the St. Sophia Church Camp in Southern California
- Creators
- Alice Hinzmann
- Contributors
- Frank Weirich (Advisor)Jeffrey Dorale (Committee Member)Benjamin Swanson (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Geoscience
- Date degree season
- Spring 2023
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.007294
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- ix, 47 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2023 Alice Hinzmann
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 01/12/2023
- Date approved
- 06/30/2023
- Description illustrations
- illustrations (some color)
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 36-37).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
A debris flow—a mass movement event generally classified between a flood and a landslide—that occurred at the St. Sophia Church Camp in the San Bernardino Mountains in California was modeled using FLO-2D and HEC-RAS-MDF, which are two commonly-used debris flow models. The results of the models were then compared with field-based event data to determine which model is more accurate. With FLO-2D, the depth of the flow was estimated at 16-18 meters and the velocity was estimated at 16-18 m/s. With HEC-RAS-MDF, the depth was estimated at 3-5 meters and the velocity was estimated at 3.6 m/s. HEC-RAS-MDF provides closer results to the real-life flow than FLO-2D does. There are multiple reasons why FLO-2D is less accurate, including that the debris flow is too dense for the model to handle. However, both models could be further improved and efforts to do so are ongoing.
- Academic Unit
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984424792602771
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