Experimental study on characteristics of trapping and regulating sediment with an open-type check dam in debris flow hazard mitigation

Beam dams are a highly effective and commonly used open-type check dam in debris-flow hazard mitigation. In this study, dimensional analysis was used to obtain empirical equations for quantitatively determining the sediment-trapping and flow-regulating characteristics of a beam dam. To determine the coefficients of the empirical equations, flume experiments were conducted to simulate the trapping and regulating processes. The flow pattern, trapping, and regulating characteristics were investigated when debris flows passed through a beam dam. Debris-flow bulk density and peak discharge, and sediment-trapping ratios, were measured directly and indirectly. The results showed that three blocking actions occurred, and that blockage-breaking considerably influenced the trapping and regulating performance of the beam dam. The relative opening size and the sediment concentration were the two main factors affecting the performance of the beam dam. The ratio of trapping sediment decreased with relative opening, and increased with sediment concentration as well as reducing ratio of bulk density and reducing ratio of peak discharge. The sediment concentration and relative opening were the leading factors influencing the trapping and regulating sediment of a beam dam, followed by flume gradient. The results showed that the calculated values obtained using empirical equations were in good agreement with the values derived from the experiments, and that the deviation was acceptable. Finally, taking Zechawa Gully as an example, using the empirical equations we designed the opening size of a beam dam aimed to trap sediment and regulate peak discharge of debris flow in the main gully.     

Experimental study on large wood filtration performance by herringbone water-sediment separation structure

A herringbone water-sediment separation structure(hereinafter referred to as "herringbone structure") has been shown to be effective in separating coarse inorganic debris; however, less is known regarding the large wood(LW) filtration effect in this structure. This paper presents preliminary research on the wood filtration effect of the herringbone structure based on physical model tests.The results show that the herringbone structure exhibited effective performance in large wood size segregation, with a 100% component filtration rate for LW that diameter(D) larger than ribbed beam opening width(a). The total filtration rate also exceeded 80% when the Fraud number(Fr) is larger than 2.64 and increased with the increase of Fr. After exceeding Frmax, total filtration rate would be decreased due to overflow. Beside flow condition,structure parameters influence significantly on LW filtration rate. We attempt to explain the filtration process via particle contact trajectory and particle movement trajectory. The inclined angle of ribbed beam(γ) contributed the most variation to the filtration rate via influencing the coincidence with particle contact trajectory and particle movement trajectory. The high sensitivity coefficient of ribbed beam(θ) under relatively low Fr conditions implies remarkable influences on LW filtration effects by causing clogging problem. The ribbed beam opening width(a) together with LW diameter(D) influenced the size segregation performance.     

A multi-source data fusion modeling method for debris flow prevention engineering

The Digital Elevation Model(DEM) data of debris flow prevention engineering are the boundary of a debris flow prevention simulation, which provides accurate and reliable DEM data and is a key consideration in debris flow prevention simulations. Thus, this paper proposes a multi-source data fusion method. First, we constructed 3D models of debris flow prevention using virtual reality technology according to the relevant specifications. The 3D spatial data generated by 3D modeling were converted into DEM data for debris flow prevention engineering. Then, the accuracy and applicability of the DEM data were verified by the error analysis testing and fusion testing of the debris flow prevention simulation. Finally, we propose the Levels of Detail algorithm based on the quadtree structure to realize the visualization of a large-scale disaster prevention scene. The test results reveal that the data fusion method controlled the error rate of the DEM data of the debris flow prevention engineering within an allowable range and generated 3D volume data(obj format) to compensate for the deficiency of the DEM data whereby the 3D internal entity space is not expressed. Additionally, the levels of detailed method can dispatch the data of a large-scale debris flow hazard scene in real time to ensure a realistic 3D visualization. In summary, the proposed methods can be applied to the planning of debris flow prevention engineering and to the simulation of the debris flow prevention process.     

Characteristics of viscous debris flow in a drainage channel with an energy dissipation structure

A new type of drainage channel with an energy dissipation structure has been proposed based on previous engineering experiences and practical requirements for hazard mitigation in earthquakeaffected areas. Experimental studies were performed to determine the characteristics of viscous debris flow in a drainage channel of this type with a slope of 15%. The velocity and depth of the viscous debris flow were measured, processed, and subsequently used to characterize the viscous debris flow in the drainage channel. Observations of this experiment showed that the surface of the viscous debris flow in a smooth drainage channel was smoother than that of a similar debris flow passing through the energy dissipation section in a channel of the new type studied here. However, the flow patterns in the two types of channels were similar at other points. These experimental results show that the depth of the viscous debris flow downstream of the energy dissipation structure increased gradually with the length of the energy dissipation structure. In addition, in the smooth channel, the viscous debris-flow velocity downstream of the energy dissipation structure decreased gradually with the length of the energy dissipation structure. Furthermore, the viscous debris-flow depth and velocity were slightly affected by variations in the width of the energy dissipation structure when the channel slope was 15%. Finally, the energy dissipation ratio increased gradually as the length and width of the energy dissipation structure increased; the maximum energy dissipation ratio observed was 62.9% (where B = 0.6 m and L/w = 6.0).     

Influence of fine sediment on the fluidity of debris flows

Debris flows include a great diversity of grain sizes with inherent features such as inverse grading, particle size segregation, and liquefaction of fine sediment. The liquefaction of fine sediment affects the fluidity of debris flows, although the behavior and influence of fine sediment in debris flows have not been examined sufficiently. This study used flume tests to detect the effect of fine sediment on the fluidity of laboratory debris flows consisting of particles with various diameters. From the experiments, the greatest sediment concentration and flow depth were observed in the debris flows mixed with fine sediment indicating increased flow resistance. The experimental friction coefficient was then compared with the theoretical friction coefficient derived by substituting the experimental values into the constitutive equations for debris flow. The theoretical friction coefficient was obtained from two models with different fine-sediment treatments: assuming that all of the fine sediments were solid particles or that the particles consisted of a fluid phase involving pore water liquefaction. From the comparison of the friction coefficients, a fully liquefaction state was detected for the fine particle mixture. When the mixing ratio and particle size of the fine sediment were different, some other cases were considered to be in a partially liquefied transition state. These results imply that the liquefaction of fine sediment in debris flows was induced not only by the geometric conditions such as particle sizes, but also by the flow conditions.     

Application of shallow high-resolution transient electromagnetic method( TEM) in geological investigation of debris flow

In the investigation of debris flow, the detection of the source area of the post-disaster debris flow is an important basis for evaluating the distribution of the debris flow accumulation layer and the subsequent control. In this paper, a shallow high-resolution TEM is used to detect the debris flow source area in Dashigou village, Yongji County, Jilin Province. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the depth range of debris flow damage. The detection results show that there is an obvious low resistance zone at about 10 m depth along the survey line, which is in good agreement with the drilling data and the high density electrical detection. It is proved that the depth is the maximum impact depth of the debris flow. The practical engineering proves that the method has high resolution in shallow layer detection, high efficiency and convenience in field acquisition. The maximum detection depth range of this method is 30--40 m, which meets the requirements of high efficiency and accurate detection for regional debris flow source area, and has high practical application value.     

Erosion and transport mechanisms of mine waste along gullies

Mine waste debris flows continue to occur in China, and the disaster prevention and mitigation of these flows faces severe challenges since the mechanisms determining erosion and transport of mine waste along gullies are not yet fully understood. The erosion and delivery process of mine waste heaps was reproduced through flume experiments with the method based on field survey data of the Daxicha mine waste debris flow gully in the Xiaoqinling gold mining area. The results showed that the erosion and movement of mine wastes could be divided into three modes: minimal sediment movement, sediment sorting and delivery, and a large amount of sediment transfer. Moreover, there was an obvious amplification effect on peak discharge along with the formation and failure of temporary landslide dams during the erosion process. The correlation between the coefficient of peak discharge amplification and three dimensionless influencing factors, flume gradient, dimensionless volume, and dimensionless particle size, were comprehensively analyzed. An empirical formula for the coefficient of peak discharge amplification was proposed and verified based on 16 sets of experimental data. These preliminary results can provide a scientific reference for future research on disaster prevention and mitigation of mine waste debris flows.     

Potential sediment sources identification of debris flows in the Jiangjia Gully,China

It is of great significance for gully prevention and management to identify the potential sediment source of debris flow. Debris flow in a gully always originates from tributaries that have different gravity potential energies and sediment condition. In this study, tributaries of the Jiangjia Gully(JJG) in Yunnan province, China, are taken as the study area to determine the possible sediment sources of debris flow. It was found that tributaries with a high evolution index(EI, the integral of the hypsometric curve) always had high gravity potential energy, which favors the occurrence of landslide activity. Furthermore, the relationship between sediment distribution, gravity potential energy, and EI is compared, respectively. The results showed that the EI had a greater influence on the occurrence of landslides, and sediments were concentrated in tributaries with EI between 0.5 and 0.6. Accordingly, tributaries with EI 0.5 were identified as the sediment sources of debris flow. In addition, the shape of a tributary was related to EI and can reflect the condition of water and sediment storage.     

Debris flows introduced in landslide deposits under rainfall conditions: The case of Wenjiagou gully

Debris flows often occur in landslide deposits during heavy rainstorms. Debris flows are initiated by surface water runoff and unsaturated seepage under rainfall conditions. A physical model based on an infinitely long, uniform and void-rich sediment layer was applied to analyze the triggering of debris-flow introduced in landslide deposits. To determine the initiation condition for rainfall-induced debris flows, we conducted a surface water runoff and saturated-unsaturated seepage numerical program to model rainfall infiltration and runoff on a slope. This program was combined with physical modeling and stability analysis to make certain the initiation condition for rainfall-introduced debris flows. Taking the landslide deposits at Wenjiagou gully as an example, the initiation conditions for debris flow were computed. The results show that increase height of surface-water runoff and the decrease of saturated sediment shear strength of are the main reasons for triggering debris-flows under heavy rainfall conditions. The debris-flow triggering is affected by the depth of surface-water runoff, the slope saturation and shear strength of the sediment.     

Characteristics, causes and mitigation of catastrophic debris flow hazard on 21 July 2011 at the Longda Watershed of Songpan County, China

Debris flow is a common natural hazard in the mountain areas of Western China due to favorable natural conditions,and also exacerbated by mountainous exploitation activities.This paper concentrated on the characteristics,causes and mitigation of a catastrophic mine debris flow hazard at Longda Watershed in Songpan County,Sichuan Province,on 21 July 2011.This debris flow deposited in the front of the No.1 dam,silted the drainage channel for flood and then rushed into tailing sediment reservoir in the main channel and made the No.2 dam breached.The outburst debris flow blocked Fu River,formed dammed lake and generated outburst flood,which delivered heavy metals into the lower reaches of Fu River,polluted the drink water source of the population of over 1 million.The debris flow was characterized with a density of 1.87~2.15 t/m 3 and a clay content of less than 1.63%.The peak velocity and flux at Longda Gully was over 10.0~10.9 m/s and 429.0~446.0 m 3 /s,respectively,and the flux was about 700 m 3 /s in main channel,equaling to the flux of the probability of 1%.About 330,000m 3 solid materials was transported by debris flow and deposited in the drainage tunnel(120,000~130,000 m 3),the front of No.1 dam(100,000 m 3) and the mouth of the watershed(100,000~110,000 m 3),respectively.When the peak flux and magnitude of debris flow was more than 462 m 3 /s and 7,423 m 3,respectively,it would block Fu River and produce a hazard chain which was composed of debris flow,dammed lake and outburst flood.Furthermore,the 21 July large-scale debris flow was triggered by rainstorm with an intensity of 21.2 mm/0.5 h and the solid materials of debris flow were provided by landslides,slope deposits,mining wastes and tailing sediments.The property losses were mainly originated from the silting of the drainage tunnel for flash flood but not for debris flow and the irrational location of tailing sediment reservoir.Therefore,the mitigation measures for mine debris flows were presented:(1) The disastrous debris flow watershed should be identified in planning period and prohibited from being taken as the site of mining factories;(2) The mining facilities are constructed at the safe areas or watersheds;(3) Scoria plots,concentrator factory and tailing sediment reservoir are constructed in safe areas where the protection measures be easily made against debris flows;(4) The appropriate system and plan of debris flow mitigation including monitoring,remote monitoring and early-warning and emergency plan is established;(5) The stability of waste dump and tailing sediment reservoir are monitored continuously to prevent mining debris flows.     

GIS-based numerical modelling of debris flow motion across three-dimensional terrain

The objective of this study is to incorporate a numerical model with GIS to simulate the movement, erosion and deposition of debris flow across the three dimensional complex terrain. In light of the importance of erosion and deposition processes during debris flow movement, no entrainment assumption is unreasonable. The numerical model considering these processes is used for simulating debris flow. Raster grid networks of a digital elevation model in GIS provide a uniform grid system to describe complex topography. As the raster grid can be used as the finite difference mesh, the numerical model is solved numerically using the Leap-frog finite difference method. Finally, the simulation results can be displayed by GIS easily and used to debris flow evaluation. To illustrate this approach, the proposed methodology is applied to the Yohutagawa debris flow that occurred on 20th October 2010, in Amami- Oshima area, Japan. The simulation results that reproduced the movement, erosion and deposition are in good agreement with the field investigation. The effectiveness of the dam in this real-case is also verified by this approach. Comparison with the results were simulated by other models, shows that the present coupled model is more rational and effective.     

Two-dimensional numerical model for debris flows in the Jiangjia Gully, Yunnan Province

Debris flows are recurrent natural hazards in many mountainous regions.This paper presents a numerical study on the propagation of debris flows in natural erodible open channels,in which the bed erosion and sedimentation processes are important.Based on the Bingham fluid theory,a mathematical model of the two-dimensional non-constant debris flow is developed.The governing equations include the continuity and momentum conservation equations of debris flow,the sediment convection-diffusion equation,the bed erosion-deposition equation and the bed-sediment size gradation adjustment equation.The yield stress and shear stress components are included to describe the dynamic rheological properties.The upwind control-volume Finite Volume Method (FVM) is applied to discretize the convection terms.The improved SIMPLE algorithm with velocity-free-surface coupled correction is developed to solve the equations on non-orthogonal,quadrilateral grids.The model is applied to simulate a debris flow event in Jiangjia Gully,Yunnan Province and to predict the flow pattern and bed erosion-deposition processes.The results show the effectiveness of the proposed numercial model in debris flow simulation and potential hazard analysis.     

Types and Causes of Debris Flow Damage to Drainage Channels in the Wenchuan Earthquake Area

Debris flows are among the most common geological disasters in China,and have been particularly frequent in Sichuan Province since the Wenchuan earthquake on 12 May 2008.The construction of debris flow drainage channels is a countermeasure used to distribute debris flow fans,and these channels play a critical role in the mitigation and prevention of damage resulting from debris flows.Under field conditions,the useful life of drainage channels can be greatly shortened as a result of strong abrasions to the drainage structure caused by the debris flow.Field investigations have shown that the types of damage to drainage channels include（a） erosion caused by hyper-concentrated silt flow,（b） impact fractures and foundation scour at the groundsills of the drainage channel,（c） destruction of the drainage channel outlet,and（d） destruction of the drainage channel caused by debris flow abrasion.In addition,based on the destruction of the drainage channel during the debris flow drainage process,a new type of drainage channel with energy dissipation components was proposed and applied in a steep,narrow gully for debris flow mitigation.Moreover,design and engineering repair recommendations for drainage channels are provided as a reference for repairing the damage to the channel.The results can provide an important reference for the effective repair and optimal design of drainage channels.     

The catastrophe forecast of the annual sidement transport by debris flow in Jiangjia Gully,Yunnan Province,China

On the basis of the observational data on the annual sediment transport by debris flow in recent 8 years, appling the catastrophe forecast method of Grey System Theory, this study has established the catastrophe model of the annual sediment transport by debris flow in Jiangjia Gully. It has forecasted the next potential catastrophic year in which the annual sediment transport will be over the catastrophic. threshold 2 million m3. Furthermore, it has introduced the "equal dimension-new information model", which makes the forecast be done continuously.     

Volume estimation of small scale debris flows based on observations of topographic changes using airborne LiDAR DEMs

This paper describes a geographic information system(GIS)-based method for observing changes in topography caused by the initiation, transport, and deposition of debris flows using highresolution light detection and ranging(LiDAR) digital elevation models(DEMs) obtained before and after the debris flow events. The paper also describes a method for estimating the volume of debris flows using the differences between the LiDAR DEMs. The relative and absolute positioning accuracies of the LiDAR DEMs were evaluated using a real-time precise global navigation satellite system(GNSS) positioning method. In addition, longitudinal and cross-sectional profiles of the study area were constructed to determine the topographic changes caused by the debris flows. The volume of the debris flows was estimated based on the difference between the LiDAR DEMs. The accuracies of the relative and absolute positioning of the two LiDAR DEMs were determined to be ±10 cm and ±11 cm RMSE, respectively, which demonstrates the efficiency of the method for determining topographic changes at an scale equivalent to that of field investigations. Based on the topographic changes, the volume of the debris flows in the study area was estimated to be 3747 m3, which is comparable with the volume estimated based on the data from field investigations.     

Comparison of the entrainment rate of debris flows in distinctive triggering conditions

Debris flows can be extremely destructive because they can increase in magnitude via progressive entrainment. In this paper, a total of 18 landslide-type debris flows and 268 channelized debris flows in Wenchuan earthquake and Taiwan region, as well as other regions were collected to analyze the entrainment rate of debris flows in each triggering condition. Results show that there is a power relationship between volume of initial triggered mass and final deposited debris for landslide type debris flow. The debris flows during 2008 and 2013 in Wenchuan earthquake-region have smaller entrainment rate than that from 2001 t0 2009 in Taiwan. The entrainment rate of debris flow events from 2001 to 2009 in Taiwan shows a decaying tendency as elapsed time. Comparison of the entrainment rate in the two earthquake-hit regions with other regions proves that entrainment rate has a close relation with major sediment availability and secondary rainstorm conditions.     

An empirical formula for suspended sediment delivery ratio of main river after confluence of debris flow

In order to calculate the suspended sediment discharge of the flood debris flows into the main river,a small scale flume test was designed to simulate the process of confluence of Jiangjia Ravine and Xiangjiang River in Yunnan province,China.By test observation and data analysis,suspended sediment discharge of Debris flow after its entry into the main river was found to have a close relation with the bulk density,the confluence angle of the Debris flow and the main river,the ratio between per unit width discharge of Debris flow and main river.Based on the measured and simulated results,and statistical analysis,an empirical formula was proposed for the suspended SDR(Sediment Delivery Ratio) of the main river after the confluence of Debris flow.Compared with the observed results of Debris flow in 2009,the error between the data calculated by the empirical formula and the monitored data is only about 10%.     

琼东南盆地陵水凹陷北部梅山组砂质碎屑流沉积特征及油气地质意义

通过岩心描述以及粒度、薄片资料的综合分析，结合区域古地貌特征、地震相研究成果，详细论述了琼东南盆地陵水凹陷北部梅山组砂质碎屑流砂岩沉积构造特征及识别标志，并在此基础上建立了研究区砂质碎屑流沉积模式。研究区梅山组砂质碎屑流砂岩主要为厚层块状构造粉砂岩-极细砂岩以及具有丰富同生变形构造的粉砂质泥岩、泥岩与粉砂岩互层2种岩性组合，成因为陆架坡折之上的三角洲前缘、前三角洲沉积物发生整体性"冻结"滑动、滑塌再沉积所形成，其平面分布主要受陆架坡折所控制，大致呈平行于陆架坡折带分布的舌形形态。结合区域油气成藏要素研究认为研究区砂质碎屑流砂岩可通过沟源断层沟通深部烃源岩，形成下生上储型岩性油气藏，为琼东南盆地大中型油气藏勘探突破的重点领域。      

Simulation of two-phase debris flow scouring bridge pier

Debris flows are typical two-phase flows, which commonly accompany erosion in mountainous areas, and may destroy bridge engineering by scouring. In this study, a physically-based two-phase model is applied for the simulation of debris flow scouring of bridge pier. In this model, the shear stress of debris flow on an erodible bed is considered to be a function of the solid shear stress, fluid shear stress, and volume fraction; accordingly, the erosion is incorporated into the two-phase model. Using a highaccuracy computational scheme based on the finite volume method, the model is employed for simulating a dynamic debris flow over an erodible bed. The numerical results are consistent with the experimental data, and verify the feasibility of the two-phase model. Moreover, a simple numerical test is performed to exhibit the fundamental behaviour of debris flow scouring of bridge pier, which shows that the degree of erosion on each side of the pier is higher compared to other areas. The scouring depth is influenced by the variations of solid volume fraction and velocity of debris flow and pier width.     

Hybrid simulation of the initiation and runout characteristics of a catastrophic debris flow

On 13 August 2010, a catastrophic debris flow with a volume of 1.17 million m³ occurred in Xiaojiagou Ravine near Yingxiu town of Wenchuan county in Sichuan Province, China. The main source material was the landslide deposits retained in the ravine during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. This paper describes a two-dimensional hybrid numerical method that simulates the entire process of the debris flow from initiation to transportation and finally to deposition. The study area is discretized into a grid of square zones. A two dimensional finite difference method is then applied to simulate the rainfall-runoff and debris flow runout processes. The analysis is divided into three steps; namely, rainfall-runoff simulation, mixing water and solid materials, and debris flow runout simulation. The rainfall-runoff simulation is firstly conducted to obtain the cumulative runoff near the location of main source material and at the outlet of the first branch. The water and solid materials are then mixed to create an inflow hydrograph for the debris flow runout simulation. The occurrence time and volume of the debris flow can be estimated in this step. Finally the runout process of the debris flow is simulated. When the yield stress is high, it controls the deposition zone. When the yield stress is medium or low, both yield stress and viscosity influence the deposition zone. The flow velocity is largely influenced by the viscosity. The estimated yield stress by the equation, τ _y = ρghsin θ, and the estimated viscosity by the equation established by Bisantino et al. (2010) provide good estimates of the area of the debris flow fan and the distribution of deposition depth.