Stratovolcanoes in active margins are steep topographic edifices, the slope of which is close to the critical slope for failure. Consequently, large catastrophic collapses of their flanks have been documented in many stratovolcanoes worldwide.
Sector collapse can be triggered by intruding magma in the edifice prior to eruption, such as at Mt Saint Helens (USA, 1980). Volcano sector collapse triggers gigantic mass movements of large run-out distances, representing significant volcanic hazard. However, the mechanisms controlling to volcano sector collapse are still unclear.
For example, the exact criterion for the onset of sector collapse is not known. In this project, we propose to explore the mechanical parameters that lead to volcano sector collapse, using the engineering numerical software Optum G2.
Learning outcomes: (1) use of commercial numerical software, (2) mechanical stability of rock formations, (3) team work.