Numerical modelling of cantilever failure and effect of slump blocks on meander migration

This study proposes a new numerical model to study cantilever failures and the effect of slump blocks on meander migration in cohesive river banks. Previous models have incorporated the effect of slump blocks using different methodologies but most of them used an indirect approach (such as increasing the critical shear stresses or introducing armouring factors) which does not allow to evaluate the effect of slump blocks directly. The new numerical model introduces an explicit representation of slump blocks and it was obtained by coupling two models available on the literature. The model was able to represent the mechanisms of cantilever failure with slump blocks and their effect in meander migration in a hypothetical small scale channel.