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Surge impact behavior of granular flows: effects of water content

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Abstract

Understanding the fundamental dynamics of interaction between multi-phase geophysical flows and engineering structures is crucial for mitigating geophysical hazards. Specifically, liquid phase between particles induces matric suction which could play a significant part in regulating flow dynamics and warrants further consideration. In this study, flume model tests were conducted to investigate the effects of water content (0–30%) on the impact behavior of granular flows. The particle image velocimetry technique was adopted to visualize the impact kinematics and the impact force was measured through a model barrier system. Results revealed that, besides geometric effects (kinetic sieving), mechanical effects (shearing and collision) are also vital for the mechanism of reverse segregation. At higher water contents, 20 and 30% in this study, discrete-surge impact, rather than a progressive impact process, was observed. The discrete surges induce impulses on the barrier. The discrete surges result from self-organization of unsaturated granular flows to overcome the enhanced shear strength induced by matric suction. Finally, a dimensionless index, namely the suction number, is used to quantify the effect of suction on the dynamic behavior of granular flows. Even for large-scale geophysical flows, if the content of fine particles is high, effect of suction should not be neglected.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study for their support.

Funding

The authors acknowledge the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 11672318), the Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (grant no. QYZDB-SSW-DQC010), the research grant T22-603/15-N provided by the Research Grants Council of the Government of Hong Kong SAR, China, and the International Partnership Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant no. 131551KYSB20160002). Moreover, the financial support from Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS and CAS Pioneer Hundred Talents Program are also greatly appreciated.

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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

    G. G. D. Zhou & D. Song

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bei**g, China

    G. G. D. Zhou & D. Song

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    C. E. Choi

  4. The HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    C. E. Choi

  5. Research Institute for Geological and Hydrological Hazard Prevention, National Research Council of Italy, Padova, Italy

    A. Pasuto

  6. State Key Laboratory for Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Bei**g, China

    Q. C. Sun

  7. Kunming Dongchuan Debris Flow Prevention and Control Institute, Kunming, China

    D. F. Dai

Authors
  1. G. G. D. Zhou
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  2. D. Song
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  3. C. E. Choi
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  4. A. Pasuto
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  5. Q. C. Sun
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  6. D. F. Dai
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Correspondence to D. Song.

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Zhou, G.G.D., Song, D., Choi, C.E. et al. Surge impact behavior of granular flows: effects of water content. Landslides 15, 695–709 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-017-0908-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-017-0908-6

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