Hazards on Dujiangyan-Wenchuan Highways Induced by Catastrophic Debris Flows on July 10 2013 and Prevention

Abstract:

After the Wenchuan Earthquake on May 12 2008, the highways from Dujiangyan to Wenchuan, a crucial passage from Chengdu to Sichuan Western Plateau and Gansu province, are always seriously endangered by landslides, debris flows and their following hazards. Hundreds of debris flows from watersheds, gullies and slopes on July 10 2013 produced fatal hazards and destruction on the Highway G213 and the Express Highway from Yingxiu to Wenchuan. The debris flows are characterized by numerous-occurrence, large flux (645~2238m³/s) and large magnitude (5~126×10⁴m³) as well as the hazard chain process which is composed of debris flow, dammed lake and outburst flood. The highways were seriously destructed and blocked in 16 sites, which were induced by 6 collapsed bridges, 3 submerged bridges, 3 buried tunnel entrances, 1 site collapsed highway base and 7 sites buried highway base or bridges, and the traffic was completely interrupted. Based on analyzing the destruction modes of highways, it was found that the large-scale and potential debris flows and the irrational location of some sections, vulnerable protection measures and low resistant capability of highways against debris flows were responsible for huge highway destructions. Considering the active debris flows in the future at least 5~10 years, it was strongly suggested that potential debris flow identification, integrated management of disastrous watershed, dangerous road line altering, increasing and strengthening protection constructions at dangerous section and improving highway reconstruction standard should be carried out for highway protection and traffic security.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 501-504)
• Pages: 2463-2472
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.501-504.2463
• Online since: January 2014
• Authors: Yong Gang Ge*, Qiang Zou, Jian Qiang Zhang, Xiao Jun Guo
• Keywords: Cause, Debris Flow, Hazards, Highway Destruction, Prevention

References

[1] Cui P, Chen X. Q, Zhu YY, et al. The Wenchuan Earthquake (May 12, 2008), Sichuan Province, China, and resulting geohazards, Nat Hazard 56 (2011), pp.19-36.

DOI: 10.1007/s11069-009-9392-1

[2] Cui P., Zhuang J. Q., Chen X.C., et al. Characteristics and countermeasures of debris flow in Wenchuan area after the Earthquake, Journal of Sichuan University (Engineering Science Edition) 42(5) (2010), pp.10-19.

[3] You Y., Liu J.F., Chen X.C., et al. Debris Flow and Its Characteristics of Subao River in Beichuan County after 5. 12 Wenchuan Earthquake, Journal of Mountain Science 28(3) (2010), pp.358-366.

[4] Tang C., Zhu J., Li W.L., et al. Rainfall-triggered debris flows following the Wenchuan Earthquake, Bull Eng Geol Environ 68(2009), pp.187-194.

DOI: 10.1007/s10064-009-0201-6

[5] Xu Q., Zhang S., Li W. L., et al. The 13 August 2010 catastrophic debris flows after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, China. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 12, 2012, p.201–216.

DOI: 10.5194/nhess-12-201-2012

[6] Tang C. Zhu J., Ding J. Catastrophic debris flows triggered by a 14 August 2010 rainfall at the epicenter of the Wenchuan earthquake. Lanslides, 8(4) (2011), pp.485-497.

DOI: 10.1007/s10346-011-0269-5

[7] Ge Y. G., Song G.H., Guo C.X., et al., Characteristics and causes of 8. 18 debris flow hazards at the Longmenshan Town, Pengzhou, Sichuan. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 43(Supp. 2) (2012), pp.147-154.

[8] Cui P., Xiang L.Z., Zou Qiang. Risk assessment of highways affected by debris flows inWenchuan Earthquake Area. J. Mt. Sci. 10(2) (2013), p.173–189.

DOI: 10.1007/s11629-013-2575-y

[9] Guo X.J., Cui P., Xiang L.Z., et al., Research on the Debris Flow Hazards in Gaojia Gully and Shenxi Gully in 2011. Journal of Catastrophology 27(3) (2012), p.81~85.