Physical analysis of Long-Runout landSLIDEs in tectonically-active regions

Long-runout landslides pose a growing global threat to the safe development of tectonically active regions, but are difficult to prevent technically. Risk mitigation is crucial to avert catastrophic losses from such severe geohazards, but is constrained by an incomplete understanding of physical mechanisms behind long-runout landslides, largely due to the absence of direct physical observations of the long-runout process. To bridge this gap, integrating advanced optical and mechanical sensing techniques into hypergravity centrifuge modelling offers a promising avenue for detailed physical observations. This project aims to achieve three key objectives: (1) Establish a geological conceptual model for long-runout landslides, (2) Develop a high-ratio climatic chamber model under hypergravity centrifuge condition, and (3) Quantify physical mechanisms of the fluidized transition process driving long-runout movement. To accomplish these goals, remote sensing techniques combined with advanced data-processing methods will be employed to enhance data-collection completeness for geological conceptual model. Hypergravity climatic centrifuge modelling will be utilized to elucidate the coupled triggering effect and complicated fluidized transition process of rock mass. A predictive physical model, involving initiation and runout phases of landslides, will incorporate infrastructure resilience perspectives, thus complementing physics-based risk scenarios development. This project will be co-supervised by Prof. Madabhushi at the University of Cambridge and Prof. Jaboyedoff at the University of Lausanne. Our interdisciplinary team, encompassing geodetic, geological and geotechnical engineering, is well-positioned to advance geohazard risk management. This work will enhance the fellow’s career prospects, facilitate knowledge transfer between the fellow and host institutions, and deliver significant scientific and socio-economic impacts for global geohazard reduction.