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Summary This paper presents a model which can be used for fast landslides where coupling between solid and pore fluid plays a fundamental role. The proposed model is able to describe debris flows where the difference of velocities between solid grains and fluid is important. The approach is based on the mathematical model proposed by Zienkiewicz and Shiomi, which is similar to those of Pitman and Le and Pudasaini. The novelty of the present work is the numerical technique used, the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). We propose to use a double set of nodes for soil and water phases, the interaction between them being described by a suitable drag law. The paper presents both mathematical and numerical models, describing the main assumptions and their limitations. Then, the model is applied to (1) a simple case where shocks and expansion waves appear, (2) a dam break problem on a horizontal plane with a frictional soil phase, and (3) a debris flow which happened in Hong Kong. The main conclusions that can be drawn from the applications are: Debris flows having 2 phases with important relative mobility present a rich structure of shocks and rarefaction waves, which has to be properly modeled. Otherwise, the model will have numerical damping or dispersion. Dambreak exercises provide interesting information in simple and controlled situations. We can see how both phases move relative to each other. Real debris flows can be simulated with the proposed model, obtaining reasonable results.

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In this work a four-step strategy to derive an analytical solution to the one-dimensional consolidation equation under a general time-dependent loading is presented. The strategy is based on the eigenfunction expansion method. Most existing solutions in the specialised literature are developed for a particular type of loading, whereas the proposed strategy can be easily applied to obtain an accurate response for a general loading. In order to assess the validity of the proposed strategy, it is applied to constant, single ramp, cyclic square and cyclic haversine loading profiles. The results are in agreement with the analytical solution previously obtained by other researchers.

TheBfree finite element approach is applied to the governing equations describing the consolidation process in saturated poroelastic medium with intrinsically incompressible solid and fluid phases. Under this approach, where Voigt notation is avoided, the finite element equilibrium equations and the linearization of the coupled governing equations are fully derived using tensor algebra. In order to assess theBfree approach for the consolidation equations, direct comparison with analytical solution of the response of a homogeneous and isotropic water-saturated poroelastic finite column under harmonic load is presented. The results illustrate the capability of this finite element approach of reproducing accurately the response of quasistatic phenomena in a saturated porous medium.

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