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Depositional mechanisms and morphology of debris flow: physical modelling

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Abstract

A comprehensive understanding of the deposition mechanisms and morphology of debris flows is necessary to delineate the extent of a debris flow hazard. However, due to the wide range of debris flow compositions and the complex topography in the field, there remains a deficiency of fundamental understanding on how the effects of grain-size distribution, water content, and channel slope influence the deposition mechanisms and morphology of debris flow. In this study, a series of experimental tests were carried out using a flume with a horizontal outflow plane to discern the effects of particle size, water content, and slope on the deposition morphology and grain size segregation on the deposition fan. Results reveal that the experimental debris flows are under either viscous or collisional flow regimes. Most experimental debris flow fronts lack high pore fluid pressures, emphasizing the formation of deposits via grain-grain and grain-bed friction and collisions; also high excess pore fluid pressure (positive) behind the front head is measured and it is beneficial for the mobility of debris flows. Both the deposit area and runout-width ratio are positively correlated to the Bagnold and Savage numbers and the initial water contents. Furthermore, an increase of fines content reduces the runout distance. However, this feature is not as obvious for high water content flows (w = 28.5% in this study). Moreover, smoother transition topography between the transportation and deposition zone leads to longer runout distances. For debris flows with a high solid fraction (Cs > 0.52 in this study), particle sorting is quite inhibited in the deposit fan.

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Abbreviations

C s :

Volumetric solid fraction

d 50 :

Mean particle size

Fr :

Froude number

h :

Approaching flow depth

g :

Gravitational acceleration

N Bag :

Bagnold number

N Sav :

Savage number

N Fric :

Friction number

p bed :

Pore pressure

σ bed :

Normal stress

v :

Debris flow velocity

w :

Water content

ρ f :

Density of the fluid

ρ s :

Density of the solids

μ :

Interstitial fluid viscosity

μw :

Dynamic viscosity of pure water

υ fines :

Volume fraction of the interstitial fluid occupied by fines

ϕ :

Friction angle between grains

γ˙:

Shear rate

θ :

Channel inclination

δ :

Characteristic size of the sediments

Δu :

Excessive pore fluid pressure

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Funding

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11672318, 41731283), the Youth Innovation Promotion Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the CAS “Light of West China” Program (Grant No. Y6R2220220), the CAS Pioneer Hundred Talents Program, and the Research Grants Council of the Government of Hong Kong SAR, China (Grant T22-603/15-N).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Mountain Hazards and Earth Surface Process/Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Chengdu, China

    Gordon G. D. Zhou, Shuai Li, Dongri Song & Xiaoqing Chen

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Gordon G. D. Zhou, Shuai Li, Dongri Song & Xiaoqing Chen

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HKSAR, Hong Kong, China

    Clarence E. Choi

  4. The HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study, HKSAR, Hong Kong, China

    Clarence E. Choi

  5. HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, Nansha, Guangzhou, China

    Clarence E. Choi

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  1. Gordon G. D. Zhou
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  4. Clarence E. Choi
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Correspondence to Shuai Li.

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Zhou, G.G.D., Li, S., Song, D. et al. Depositional mechanisms and morphology of debris flow: physical modelling. Landslides 16, 315–332 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-018-1095-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-018-1095-9

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