A laboratory-numerical approach for modelling scale effects in dry granular slides

Granular slides are omnipresent in both natural and industrial contexts. Scale effects are changes in physical behaviour of a phenomenon at different geometric scales, such as between a laboratory experiment and a corresponding larger event observed in nature. These scale effects can be significant and can render models of small size inaccurate by underpredicting key characteristics such as flow velocity or runout distance. Although scale effects are highly relevant to granular slides due to the multiplicity of length and time scales in the flow, they are currently not well understood. A laboratory setup under Froude similarity has been developed, allowing dry granular slides to be investigated at a variety of scales, with a channel width configurable between 0.25 and 1.00 m. Maximum estimated grain Reynolds numbers, which quantify whether the drag force between a particle and the surrounding air act in a turbulent or viscous manner, are found in the range 10²???10³. A discrete element method (DEM) simulation has also been developed, validated against an axisymmetric column collapse and a granular slide experiment of Hutter et al. (Acta Mech 109:127–165, 1995), before being used to model the present laboratory experiments and to examine a granular slide of significantly larger scale. This article discusses the details of this laboratory-numerical approach, with the main aim of examining scale effects related to the grain Reynolds number. Increasing dust formation with increasing scale may also exert influence on laboratory experiments. Overall, significant scale effects have been identified for characteristics such as flow velocity and runout distance in the physical experiments. While the numerical modelling shows good general agreement at the medium scale, it does not capture differences in behaviour seen at the smaller scale, highlighting the importance of physical models in capturing these scale effects.     

兴海县多宗隆哇泥石流形成条件及防治

兴海县多宗隆哇泥石流为典型的沟谷型泥石流,曾造成严重的财产损失。通过对泥石流特征、易发性、运动及力学特征研究分析,得出多宗隆哇为轻度易发泥石流,流速为3．87m／s,流量为292．53m3／s,有巨大的冲击力。根据该流域泥石流的特征和危害,提出了防治措施建议。     

水流拖曳力对斜坡浅层土稳定性的影响分析

为研究强降雨条件下地表径流和裂隙水流的拖曳力作用对斜坡稳定性的影响,建立斜坡地表径流和地下水渗流耦合分析模型。采用Navier-Stokes方程描述地表径流和裂隙水流,Brinkman-extended Darcy方程描述土体和岩石中的渗流,并根据不同介质交界面处流速相等及剪应力连续的边界条件,推求各介质中的流速分布。应用Newton内摩擦定律求得水流对斜坡产生的拖曳力,进而将拖曳力嵌入刚体极限平衡理论对斜坡稳定性进行分析。典型斜坡实例计算结果表明,当未考虑拖曳力效应时,斜坡的安全系数为1.164,考虑水流对斜坡土体产生拖曳力效应时,斜坡的安全系数为1.089,斜坡安全系数降低了6.44%。这表明拖曳力作用对斜坡的稳定性存在不利影响,斜坡土体在近乎临界稳定状态下拖曳力将对斜坡失稳起到决定性作用。最后分别讨论了考虑拖曳力和不考虑拖曳力情况下斜坡的安全系数与径流水深、斜坡倾角、土层厚度之间的关系。分析表明,在其他条件相似的条件下,斜坡越陡,斜坡土体的安全系数下降越明显;斜坡安全系数随着斜坡倾角增加而不断降低,随着土层厚度的增加而不断降低。     

Landslides induced by a low magnitude seismic sequence at continental interiors: a case study of the Santa Rosa Canyon,northeastern Mexico

Landslides caused by a low magnitude earthquake swarm (2.8?≤?M?≤?3.6) in 2012 were documented at the Santa Rosa Canyon in northeastern Mexico. Disrupted landslides from falls and slides, in both rocks and soils, were identified based on fieldwork and high-resolution satellite imagery along stream banks from natural cliffs and along the road cut in the epicentral area. Most of the landslides occurred on slopes greater than 40°, where geological features played a key role in triggering slope instabilities. The maximum distance limit for disrupted slides from the epicentral area was 7 km. The area affected by landslides during the early stage of the seismic sequence (July through August 2012) was 90 km². Landslide identification was limited in some areas by the resolution of the satellite imagery and dense cloud coverage. Both the epicentral distance and the area affected by landslides are above the global bounds reported in literature. The final landslide inventory is the first documented case of earthquake-induced landslides in northeastern Mexico.     

A method for prevent water inrush from karst collapse column: a case study from Sima mine,China

Mining-induced groundwater inrush could result in serious economic losses and casualties. This disaster usually depends on geological structure, such as the karst collapse column (KCC). It could reduce the aquifuge thickness, causing a great risk of water bursting. In order to assess the impact of mining on the KCC, we have developed a complete set of methods, including three-dimensional seismic exploration, connectivity experiment, water injection experiment in two sidewalls, numerical simulation based on Drucker–Prager (D–P) elastoplastic damage theory. This method is used to test the size, type and the damage thickness of the KCC named DX1 in Sima mine, and the results indicate that the type of DX1 is good cementation. In addition, under the influence of the shear stress at the coal wall and the unloading at the goaf, a significant compressive damage zone with a large damage thickness will form at the sidewall of the KCC. As the roof collapses, the backfill is compacted and the maximum damage thickness gradually moves to the other side of the KCC. Eventually, an asymmetric inverted saddle-shaped damage distribution is formed with a maximum compression damage depth of 32.5 m. The results provide a basis for preventing water inrush from KCC.     

长白山天池火山泥石流展布特征及其灾害研究

长白山天池火山是我国最具灾害性喷发危险的活动火山,火山泥石流是最致命的火山灾害之一.本文根据距离火山口远近不同堆积物所展现的不同特征,基于野外实地调查的剖面,系统阐述了长白山天池火山千年大喷发形成的泥石流的物源、堆积方式及分布特征,探讨了火山泥石流的成因和灾害规模.通过对千年前火山爆发的分析,初步预测并划分了火山泥石流灾害的高、低危险区,并利用ERDAS软件对火山爆发造成的天池水下泻灾害（包括下泻的出水口及下泻流量）进行了预测,为本地区的防灾减灾提供科学依据.     

高含沙分层流的试验研究

高含沙水流进入低含沙量河流中时,往往形成比较稳定的分层流.通过水槽试验研究了泥浆流同向分层流的深度比,界面剪力在分层流中的作用,闸门开启引起的双向分层流的速度,以及各种分层流的稳定性.     

Sediment deposition from turbidity currents in simulated aquatic vegetation canopies

A laboratory flume experiment was carried out in which the hydrodynamic and sedimentary behaviour of a turbidity current was measured as it passed through an array of vertical rigid cylinders. The cylinders were intended primarily to simulate aquatic vegetation canopies, but could equally be taken to represent other arrays of obstacles, for example forests or offshore wind turbines. The turbidity currents were generated by mixing naturally sourced, poly‐disperse sediment into a reservoir of water at concentrations from 1·0 to 10·0 g l^?1, which was then released into the experimental section of the flume by removing a lock gate. For each initial sediment concentration, runs with obstacle arrays with solid plant fractions of 1·0% and 2·5%, and control cases with no obstacles, were carried out. The progress of the current along the flume was characterized by the array drag term, C_Dax_c (where C_D is the array drag coefficient, at the frontal area of cylinders per unit volume, and x_c is the position of the leading edge of the current along the flume). The downward depositional flux of sediment out of the current as it proceeded was measured at 13 traps along the flume. Analysis of these deposits divided them into fine (2·2 to 6·2 μm) and coarse (6·2 to 104 μm) fractions. At the beginning of their development, the gravity currents proceeded in an inertia‐dominated regime until C_Dax_c = 5. For C_Dax_c > 5, the current transitioned into a drag‐dominated regime. For both fine and coarse sediment fractions, the rate of sediment deposition tended to decrease gradually with distance from the source in the inertial regime, remained approximately constant at the early drag‐dominated regime, and then rose and peaked at the end of the drag‐dominated stage. This implies that, when passing through arrays of obstacles, the turbidity currents were able to retain sufficient sediment in suspension to maintain their flow until they became significantly influenced by the drag exerted by the obstacles.     

Simplified formulae for designing coastal forest against tsunami run-up: one-dimensional approach

In the present study, laboratory experiments were conducted to validate the applicability of a numerical model based on one-dimensional nonlinear long-wave equations. The model includes drag and inertia resistance of trees to tsunami flow and porosity between trees and a simplified forest in a wave channel. It was confirmed that the water surface elevation and flow velocity by the numerical simulations agree well with the experimental results for various forest conditions of width and tree density. Further, the numerical model was applied to prototype conditions of a coastal forest of Pandanus odoratissimus to investigate the effects of forest conditions (width and tree density) and incident tsunami conditions (period and height) on run-up height and potential tsunami force. The modeling results were represented in curve-fit equations with the aim of providing simplified formulae for designing coastal forest against tsunamis. The run-up height and potential tsunami forces calculated by the curve-fit formulae and the numerical model agreed within ± 10% error.     

泥流型黄土滑坡的特征与成因

黄土地区一些小型沟谷的沟脑和沟岸常发生黄土滑坡, 并沿沟远程滑动数百米至千余米, 有时大量滑体滑出沟口形成大面积的扇状堆积体, 造成严重的灾害损失. 虽然此类滑坡的平面形态与粘性泥流类似, 但其发生除由暴雨直接引发外, 也可能由滞后降水、地震、冻融、灌溉等引发. 泥流型黄土滑坡沿沟道的运动具有明显的相对固定的滑动面和滑动带, 与一般的粘性泥流差异较大, 更具滑坡的特征, 属于一种特殊的黄土滑坡. 暴雨引发的泥流型黄土滑坡的前缘部分滑体可转化为泥流, 形成滑坡-泥流灾害链. 通过对近年来发生的典型泥流型黄土滑坡实例分析, 论述了该类滑坡的特征、成因和灾害属性, 为此类滑坡的研究与防治提供一定的参考.     

The first ascent to the volcano Cotopaxi in Ecuador by Wilhelm Reiss (1838–1908)

The volcano Cotopaxi in South America is 5,897 m high and is one of the highest active volcanoes of the world and the second highest volcano in the Andes after the Chimborazo (6,310 m). In Ecuador, there are more than 20 volcanoes contributing to the spectacular mountain range diving this country between the western and eastern lowlands. There have been more than 50 reports of volcanic activity at Cotopaxi since 1738, among which those from the years 1744, 1768, and 1877 are the largest. During the 1877 eruption, the whole summit glacier collapsed and a huge mudflow spread out for more than 100 km and flooded the city of Latacunga. Five years prior to this catastrophic event, the German geologist Wilhelm Reiss from the University of Heidelberg ascended Cotopaxi for the first time together with his supporter Angel M. Escobar from Columbia.     

降雨诱发浅层黄土泥流的研究进展、存在问题与对策思考

降雨诱发的浅层黄土泥流规模小、流速快、冲击力强、发育范围广、难以防御、致灾频率高,近两年造成了大量人员伤亡,急需开展其形成机制与强度的研究。黄土物质组成与水敏性、坡体形态对降雨入渗—积水的响应、黄土斜坡对降水入渗的力学响应机制、富水黄土粘滞性流动特性是制约浅层黄土泥流形成的四种主要因素,分析这四种因素的对浅层黄土泥流形成的制约作用需解决斜坡降雨入渗的水文过程、非饱和土的力学效应及水土耦合的机制等前沿问题。本文对影响泥流形成的各因素研究的最新进展进行了综述,同时讨论了研究中的核心问题,并提出了相应的对策与方案,认为可从三方面开展研究:(1)定量描述泥流体积扩容特征,建立浅层黄土泥流启动与流动模式;(2)分析泥流与原状黄土物质成分、组成结构差异,开展黄土非饱和增湿力学变形试验,监测0°~60°单面坡与坡肩平缓斜坡的降雨入渗过程,研究坡体形态对雨水汇聚、入渗及基质吸力变化的控制特征,揭示泥流流体运动过程中水土响应机制;(3)对浅层黄土泥流物理力学模型进行解析,讨论泥流流动能量转化特征,建立降雨诱发泥流灾害的强度计算模型,为降雨泥流灾害危险性定量计算提供理论支撑。     

Particle Retention in a Submerged Meadow and Its Variation Near the Leading Edge

The retention of particles within meadows of submerged aquatic vegetation impacts the fate of organic matter, pollen, and larvae. Because flow conditions near the leading edge differ from those over the bulk of the canopy, particle retention is likely to differ as well. In particular, near the leading edge of a wide meadow, flow deceleration generates a vertical updraft, which impacts particle fate. In the fully developed region of the meadow, shear layer vortices at the top of the meadow may also influence particle fate. In this study, the retention of particles was measured along the length of a 10-m model meadow (height h?=?0.1 m) and was connected to the evolving flow field. Two particle sizes, with settling velocity w _s50?=?0.00075?,?0.018 m s^?1, were released at two heights within the model meadow \( \left(\frac{Z_{rel}}{h}=0.31,0.81\right). \) The retention of particles was measured using microscope slides distributed along the flume bed. Retention increased with distance from the leading edge, associated with the decrease in vertical updraft. Retention was also greater for the particles with higher settling velocity. In the fully developed region of the meadow, particle retention was lower for particles influenced by the shear layer vortices at the top of the meadow (\( \frac{Z_{rel}}{h}=0.81 \)).     

中粗砂地层顶管工程泥浆方案研究

在中粗砂地层顶管施工过程中,地表变形过大、顶推力过大是困扰顶管施工多年的技术难题,针对这些问题,提出了适合该地层的顶管泥浆性能指标。通过正交试验验确定了泥浆各组分对泥浆粘度和失水量的影响进而确定了最佳的泥浆配方。最终该配方成功应用于珠海某大型顶管工程中。     

中粗砂地层顶管工程泥浆方案研究

在中粗砂地层顶管施工过程中,地表变形过大、顶推力过大是困扰顶管施工多年的技术难题,针对这些问题,提出了适合该地层的顶管泥浆性能指标。通过正交试验验确定了泥浆各组分对泥浆粘度和失水量的影响进而确定了最佳的泥浆配方。最终该配方成功应用于珠海某大型顶管工程中。     

Experimental Study of Dry Granular Flow and Impact Behavior Against a Rigid Retaining Wall

Shallow slope failure in mountainous regions is a common and emergent hazard in terms of its damage to important traffic routes and local communities. The impact of dry granular flows consisting of rock fragments and other particles resulting from shallow slope failures on retaining structures has yet to be systematically researched and is not covered by current design codes. As a preliminary study of the impact caused by dry granular flows, a series of dry granular impact experiments were carried out for one model of a retaining wall. It was indirectly verified that the total normal force exerted on a retaining wall consists of a drag force (F _d), a gravitational and frictional force (F _gf), and a passive earth force (F _p), and that the calculation of F _d can be based on the empirical formula defined in NF EN Eurocode 1990 (Eurocode structuraux. Base de calcul des structures, AFNOR La plaine Saint Denis, 2003). It was also indirectly verified that, for flow with Froude number from 6 to 11, the drag coefficient (C _d) can be estimated using the previously proposed empirical parameters.     

Large wood transport modelling by a coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian approach

The paper discusses a model which predicts the trajectory of floating rigid bodies and may be applied to compute the motion of woody “debris” mobilized during floods. The model couples a Discrete Element (DE) Lagrangian approach for the calculation of motion of rigid bodies with the Eulerian solution of the shallow water equations (SWE), in order to simulate the transport of a cylinder in a two-dimensional stream. It differs from existing models since it is based on a dynamic approach, adapting the Basset–Boussinesq–Oseen equation. In a first step, forces are computed from flow and log velocities; then, the equations of dynamics are solved to model the planar roto-translation of the body. Model results and physical reliability are clearly affected by the values of the drag and side coefficients, especially since logs, modelled as cylinders, are able to change their orientation towards the flow. Experimental studies to evaluate drag and side coefficients can be found in the literature for a submerged cylinder, with various orientations. To extend such results to the case of a floating log, the authors performed a series of laboratory tests on partially submerged cylinders, implementing the outcomes in the proposed DE-SWE model. The coupled model is validated against existing laboratory data concerning spheres and wooden cylinder transport.     

Field investigation of deformation characteristics and stress mobilisation of a soil slope

Stress mobilisation and deformation of a slope are important for engineers to carry out reliable design of retaining systems. However, most case histories reported mainly on the response of pore water pressure (PWP), whereas knowledge about the stress deformation characteristics of slope is limited. In this study, a saprolitic soil slope was instrumented to monitor not only the responses of PWP but also horizontal stress and horizontal displacement. To assist in the interpretation of field data, a series of laboratory tests was conducted to characterise volume change behaviour of the soil taken from the site, under the effects of both net stress and suction. During a rainstorm event when positive PWP built up, a remarkably large displacement of 20 mm was recorded between 5.5- and 6-m depths, and the top 5 m of the slope exhibited translational downslope movement. This caused an increase in Bishop’s effective horizontal stress by 350 %, which reached a peak value close to 40 % of a Bishop’s effective passive stress. During the subsequent dry season when suction was recovered, an upslope rebound of 10 mm was recorded. Comparison of field and laboratory data reveals that the rebound was attributed to suction-induced soil shrinkage. This rebound led to a decrease in the Bishop’s effective horizontal stress previously built up during the storm event.     

Long-distance lava correlation in the Paraná volcanic province along the Serra Geral cuesta, southeastern Brazil

The capability of determining the flow-by-flow stratigraphy and the long-distance correlation of lava flows in large continental volcanic provinces leads to a considerable advance in the understanding of processes related to generation and evolution of the lavas. The Paraná volcanic province is exposed along the Serra Geral cuesta of southern Brazil in a steeply inclined, 1,000-m-high section starting 40-m above sea level. Each of the 10–20 pahoehoe flows and rhyodacite flow units has a unique chemical composition. Integrated with field stratigraphy and gamma-spectrometric measurements, this leads to the establishment of the correct stratigraphic sequence in each of three different vertical sections. The number of flows integrating the three serras is 26 (“serra” is a mountain range in Portuguese). Each serra has basaltic andesites at the base, whereas rhyodacites are intercalated with basaltic andesites at the top. Three basaltic andesite flows and one rhyodacite flow unit are correlated between Serra Umbu and Serra Boa Vista (10 km). In the Serra Faxinal, a thick (170 m) sill at the base correlates with flow 13F, whereas a dike-sill in the Graxaim quarry (24 km distance) correlates with flow 3F. One basaltic andesite and two rhyodacite flow units correlate between Serra Faxinal and Serra Umbu (50 km). The results are most significant for the understanding of large tracts of continental volcanic provinces with use of common geochemical and gamma-spectrometric techniques.