MPM Modelling of Buildings Impacted by Landslides

The paper discusses the topic of dynamic impact of fast-moving flow-like landslides against structures such as masonry walls and buildings. A set of numerical simulations is developed through the Material Point Method (MPM) to investigate the landslide-structure interaction. First, some experimental results available in the literature for masonry walls made of clay bricks and mortar joints are simulated in 2D and 3D conditions appropriately reproducing the overall stiffness, resistance and displacement of the wall in out-of-plane loading, until plastic hinges are formed and complete collapse occurs. In these cases, a known external pressure is applied to the wall. Then, realistic flow-like landslide scenarios are considered for analysing the impact on reinforced concrete buildings with unreinforced masonry infilled walls. Particularly, the impacting mass is modelled as a frictional material composed of a solid skeleton saturated with water. MPM simulations are developed in 2D conditions, focusing the attention on the failure of non-structural elements and damage to the different floors. MPM simulations are varied again over a range of properties to assess the role of key parameters, among impact velocity, volume, and soil properties such as unit weight and internal friction angle. The potential of a unitary approach for simulating the fast propagation of a saturated soil and the stress-strain response of a structural element is discussed.