Numerical investigation of the effect of rolling friction on landslides by DEM

This study aims to analyse the effect of the rolling friction between soil particles on landslides by using the discrete element method (DEM). The landslide profile obtained numerically was compared with that from the experiment under similar conditions to validate the models used in the work. Five slope models with different values of coefficient of rolling friction were simulated by DEM to observe the landslide profile after the landslides. The results show that the increase in the coefficient of the rolling friction can change the shape of the accumulation area after the landslides and contribute to the increase of the landslide angle and the volume of soil particles remaining in the model. The main reasons for the influence are that the rolling friction can hinder the relative rotational motion between soil particles, and then resist the relative movements of the particles in contact during the landslides.