Initiation and motion mechanisms of submarine landslide and its impact on pipelines

当地震触发时，海底滑坡可能发生在海底斜坡上，并以高速长距离移动。当海底滑坡穿越有通信电缆的区域时，电缆会被切断，给社会造成通信不便。为研究海底滑坡的运动机理及其对锚索的影响，研制了海底滑坡模拟装置。研究发现，在海底滑坡运动过程中，滑动体可分为紊流、泥石流和底部水三层，使得滑坡可以以很小的摩擦力运动，以很高的速度到达较远的距离。此外，还测量了电缆尺寸和运动速度对电缆冲击的影响。

When triggered by earthquake, submarine landslide may occur at submarine slope and move for long distance at high velocity. When the submarine landslide travelled crossing an area with communication cables, the cables will be cut and cause communication trouble to the society. A simulating apparatus for submarine landslide was developed for the purpose to study the motion mechanism of submarine landslide and its impact on cables. It is found that during submarine landslide motion, the sliding mass can be divided to three layers, i.e., turbulent flow, debris flow, and water at the bottom, so that the landslide can move with very low friction to reach long distance with high velocity. In addition, the influence of cable size and motion velocity on the impact to cable was also measured.