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Surface slopes, velocity profiles and fluid pressure in coarse-grained debris flows saturated with water and mud

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2014

R. Kaitna ,
W. E. Dietrich  and
L. Hsu
R. Kaitna*
Affiliation:
Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria
W. E. Dietrich
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, CA 94720-4767, USA
L. Hsu
Affiliation:
Lamond-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, NY 10964, USA
*
†Email address for correspondence: roland.kaitna@boku.ac.at
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Abstract

Data on the internal velocity distribution of flowing sediment–fluid mixtures such as debris flows are rare, but necessary for model development and testing. A probe to measure the mean particle velocity at different depths and different locations within experimental debris flows in a 4 m diameter rotating drum was developed. In addition, the flow depth, basal normal stress and basal pore fluid pressure were also measured. Results show that for a given sediment–fluid mixture the velocity profiles collapse to distinct non-dimensional profiles. Macroscopic flow behaviour shows great similarity, with mean surface slopes weakly dependent on the shear rate for water-saturated gravel, but strongly shear-rate-dependent when pores are filled with mud. Poorly sorted material with a high content of fines produced fluid pressures close to normal stress and sidewall friction had a strong effect on the flow pattern. Our results reveal variability in profile characteristics for flows displaying similar macro-dynamics and provide data for model testing.

JFM classification

Geophysical and Geological Flows: Geophysical and Geological Flows Multiphase and Particle-laden Flows: Multiphase and Particle-laden Flows
Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 741 , 25 February 2014 , pp. 377 - 403
Copyright
© 2014 Cambridge University Press 

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