Sediment Concentration in Debris Flow

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Hsu ◽  
L. B. Chiou ◽  
G. F. Lin ◽  
C. H. Chao ◽  
H. Y. Wen ◽  
...  

Abstract. Debris flows pose severe hazards to communities in mountainous areas, often resulting in the loss of life and property. Helping debris-flow-prone communities delineate potential hazard zones provides local authorities with useful information for developing emergency plans and disaster management policies. In 2003, the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau of Taiwan proposed an empirical model to delineate hazard zones for all creeks (1420 in total) with potential of debris flows and utilized the model to help establish a hazard prevention system. However, the model does not fully consider hydrologic and physiographical conditions for a given creek in simulation. The objective of this study is to propose new approaches that can improve hazard zone delineation accuracy and simulate hazard zones in response to different rainfall intensity. In this study, a two-dimensional commercial model FLO-2D, physically based and taking into account the momentum and energy conservation of flow, was used to simulate debris-flow inundated areas. Sensitivity analysis with the model was conducted to determine the main influence parameters which affect debris flow simulation. Results indicate that the roughness coefficient, yield stress and volumetric sediment concentration dominate the computed results. To improve accuracy of the model, the study examined the performance of the rainfall-runoff model of FLO-2D as compared with that of the HSPF (Hydrological Simulation Program Fortran) model, and then the proper values of the significant parameters were evaluated through the calibration process. Results reveal that the HSPF model has a better performance than the FLO-2D model at peak flow and flow recession period, and the volumetric sediment concentration and yield stress can be estimated by the channel slope. The validation of the model for simulating debris-flow hazard zones has been confirmed by a comparison of field evidence from historical debris-flow disaster data. The model can successfully replicate the influence zone of the debris-flow disaster event with an acceptable error and demonstrate a better result than the empirical model adopted by the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau of Taiwan.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Itoh ◽  
Takahiko Nagayama ◽  
Satoru Matsuda ◽  
Takahisa Mizuyama

<p>The monitoring method for direct debris flow measurements using loadcells and so on, that were preliminary developed by WSL in Switzerland (McArdell et al., 2007), was firstly installed in Sakura-jima Island in Japan, where volcanic activity was severe, and many debris flows took place due to deposition of falling ash after eruptions. Debris Flow measurements with Loadcells and Pressure sensors (DFLP) system was installed referring to the method by WSL, and debris flow characteristics such as specific weight and volumetric sediment concentration have been obtained (e.g., Osaka et al., 2014).</p><p> In Japan, as well as in Sakura-jima island, attempts for debris flow monitoring were also carried out at KamiKamihori Creek since 1970s (e.g., Okuda et al., 1980), and there were a lot of debris flow events due to heavy rainfall. KamiKamihori Creek is at western side of Mt. Yake, where volcanic activity was severe at those time. The DFLP system was modified and installed there in November in 2014, because there were a lot of sediment deposition and debris flows took place though volcanic activity has been inactive. Present research could report the following results.  </p><p>(1) Multiple debris floe over five surges were monitored using DFLP system installed in 2014 during 15 minutes in debris flow events on August 29th, 2019. Rainfall intensity for 10 minutes was 12 mm and accumulated depth was 56 mm just before those events. Antecedent time before those events was 4.5 hours.</p><p>(2) The DFLP system measured multiple debris flow surges in events on August 29th, 2019, and sediment concentration was calculated temporary and continuously. Time-averaged sediment concentration and relative mass density are calculated as 0.470 and 1.73, respectively, under flow discharge obtained by images analysis of CCTV video camera. Equilibrium sediment concentration of coarse sediment particles is estimated 0.160 for bed slope of 0.141 (8 degrees) and calculated value using the DFLP system is over than the equilibrium value because of mud phase due to fine sediment particles.</p><p> </p><p>References</p><p>McArdell B.W., Bartelt P., Kowalski J. (2007). Field observations of basal forces and fluid pore pressure in a debris flow, Geophysical Research Letters, Vo. 34, L07406.</p><p>Okuda, S., Suwa, H., Okunishi, K., Yokoyama, K., and Nakano, M. (1980). Observation of the motion of debris flow and its geomorphological effects, Zeitschrift fur Geomorphology, Suppl.-Bd.35, pp. 142–163.</p><p>Osaka T., Utsunomiya R., Tagata S., Itoh T., Mizuyama T. (2014). Debris Flow Monitoring using Load Cells in Sakurajima Island, Proceedings of the Interpraevent 2014 in the Pacific Rim (edited by Fujita, M. et al.), Nov. 25-28, Nara, Japan, 2014, O-14.pdf in DVD.</p>


2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinji Egashira ◽  

The author thinks keys to debris flow studies lie in 1) sediment sorting in debris flow body, 2) phase shifting to or from fluid to solid, 3) difference between sediment concentration and flux sediment concentration, 4) constitutive relations and 5) governing equations employed in numerical simulation. In discussing 3)-5), the author stresses that 1) Eq. (1) predicts the spatial average sediment concentration of the flow body well from debris flow to bed load, and thus it should be prized, 2) researchers must be careful for the difference between sediment concentration and flux sediment concentration and for different flow structures over erodible and rigid beds, and realizes that 3) many problems associated with governing equations such as bed shear stress, erosion and deposition rates and correction parameters for sediment transport still remain to be solved.


10.29007/kd81 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donatella Termini ◽  
Antonio Fichera

Debris flow velocity is an important factor which influences the impact forces and runup. Due to the complexity of the phenomenon, it is difficult to define predictive methodologies. The present work reports some results of an experimental run conducted in order to investigate the velocity and sediment concentration distributions. A modified Bagnold’s approach to calculate the vertical distribution of flow velocity is presented.


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-90
Author(s):  
Shanmugam G

Abstract This review covers 135 years of research on gravity flows since the first reporting of density plumes in the Lake Geneva, Switzerland, by Forel (1885). Six basic types of gravity flows have been identified in subaerial and suaqueous environments. They are: (1) hyperpycnal flows, (2) turbidity currents, (3) debris flows, (4) liquefied/fluidized flows, (5) grain flows, and (6) thermohaline contour currents. The first five types are flows in which the density is caused by sediment in the flow, whereas in the sixth type, the density is caused by variations in temperature and salinity. Although all six types originate initially as downslope gravity flows, only the first five types are truly downslope processes, whereas the sixth type eventually becomes an alongslope process. (1) Hyperpycnal flows are triggered by river floods in which density of incoming river water is greater than the basin water. These flows  are confined to proximity of the shoreline. They transport mud, and they do not transport sand into the deep sea. There are no sedimentological criteria yet to identify hyperpycnites in the ancient sedimentary record.  (2) A turbidity current is a sediment-gravity flow with Newtonian rheology  and turbulent state in which sediment is supported by flow turbulence and from which deposition occurs through suspension settling. Typical turbidity currents can function as truly turbulent suspensions only when their sediment concentration by volume is below 9% or C < 9%. This requirement firmly excludes the existence of 'high-density turbidity currents'. Turbidites are recognized by their distinct normal grading in deep-water deposits.  (3) A debris flow (C: 25-100%) is a sediment-gravity flow with plastic rheology and laminar state from which deposition occurs through freezing en masse. The terms debris flow and mass flow are used interchangeably. General characteristics of muddy and sandy debrites are floating clasts, planar clast fabric, inverse grading, etc.  Most sandy deep-water deposits are sandy debrites and they comprise important petroleum reservoirs worldwide. (4) A liquefied/fluidized low (>25%) is a sediment-gravity flow in which sediment is supported by upward-moving intergranular fluid. They are commonly triggered by seismicity. Water-escape structures, dish and pillar structures, and SSDS are common. (5) A grain flow (C: 50-100%) is a sediment-gravity flow in which grains are supported by dispersive pressure caused by grain collision. These flows are common on the slip face of aeolian dunes. Massive sand and inverse grading are potential identification markers.  (6) Thermohaline contour currents originate in the Antarctic region due to shelf freezing and  the related increase in the density of cold saline (i.e., thermohaline) water. Although they begin their journey as downslope gravity flows, they eventually flow alongslope as contour currents. Hybridites are deposits that result from intersection of downslope gravity flows and alongslope contour currents. Hybridites mimic the "Bouma Sequence" with traction structures (Tb and Tc). Facies models of hyperpycnites, turbidites, and contourites  are obsolete. Of the six types of density flows, hyperpycnal flows and their deposits are the least understood.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hock Kiet Wong ◽  
Ching-Yuan Ma ◽  
Chi-Jyun Ko ◽  
Yih-Chin Tai

&lt;p&gt;The movement of a debris flow is channelized by the mountain topography. It slows down and begins to deposit, forming the so-called debris-flow fan, when the slope is gentle. Since the flow body is composed of solid grains with interstitial fluid, the solid fraction may vary and plays a crucial role in the deposition process. In the present study, an entrainment-deposit law together with the two-phase model for grain-fluid flows (Tai et al., 2019) is proposed for describing the development of a debris flow fan. The model equations are derived in a terrain-following coordinate system, in which the coordinates are in coincidence with the topographic surface and the deposition/erosion is treated as the sub-topography. Numerical validation is performed against flume experiments (Tsunetaka et al., 2019), where the sediment-water mixture is released from a channel and merging into a gentle inclined flat plain via a steady water inflow. In this study, we shall illustrate the impacts of the sediment concentration on the evolution of the debris-flow fan, such as the location, distribution, geometry of debris-flow fan as well as the flow paths.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongfan Zhu ◽  
Hongrui Wang ◽  
Bo Pang ◽  
Jie Dou ◽  
Dingzhi Peng

In this study, the distribution of sediment concentration and the mean sediment concentration in debris flow were investigated using deterministic and probabilistic approaches. Tsallis entropy and Shannon entropy have recently been employed to estimate these parameters. However, other entropy theories, such as the general index entropy and Renyi entropy theories, which are generalizations of the Shannon entropy, have not been used to derive the sediment concentration in debris flow. Furthermore, no comprehensive and rigorous analysis has been conducted to compare the goodness of fit of existing conventional deterministic methods and different entropy-based methods using experimental data collected from the literature. Therefore, this study derived the analytical expressions for the distribution of sediment concentration and the mean sediment concentration in debris flow based on the general index entropy and Renyi entropy theories together with the principle of maximum entropy and tested the validity of existing conventional deterministic methods as well as four different entropy-based expressions for the limited collected observational data. This study shows the potential of using the Tsallis entropy theory together with the principle of maximum entropy to predict sediment concentration in debris flow over an erodible channel bed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document