Three dimensional modelling of lava flow using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics

The paper describes the use of the grid-free Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method to investigate lava flow from volcanic eruptions using real three dimensional topography in the form of Digital Terrain Models (DTM). Heat transfer resulting from conduction and radiation and solidification of the lava modelled via a variable viscosity are coupled to the fluid flow solution. Simulations show that the run-out distance and the nature of the lava flow are affected significantly by the lava viscosity and that this is dependent on the scale of the volcanic eruption, with solidification effects strongest on the smallest scale. SPH appears to be a highly effective technique for predicting lava flow with very good representations of the fluid free surface, close interaction with the complex topography, easy inclusion of the thermal and solidification effects leading to very plausible flow predictions. The pile-up of the lava at the front as it solidifies and the subsequent deceleration of the flow are easily modelled by SPH.