Debris flow monitoring in China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojun Guo
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Western China ◽  
Flow Density ◽  
Flow Depth ◽  
Jinsha River ◽  
Flow Monitoring ◽  
Jiangjia Gully ◽  
Set Up

<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Debris flow monitoring provides valuable data for scitienfic research and early warning, however, it is of difficulty to sucessfully achive because of the great damage of debris flows and the high cost. This report introduces monitoring systems in two debris flow watersheds in western China, the Jiangjia gully (JJG) in Yunnan Province and the Ergou valley in Sichuan Province. JJG is loacted in the dry-hot valley of Jinsha River, and the derbis flows are frequent due to the semi-arid climate, deep-cut topography and highly weathered slope surface. A long-term mornitoring work has been conducted in JJG and more than 500 debris flows events has been recorded since 1965. The monitoring system consists of 10 rainfall gauges and a measuring section, with instruments to measure the flow depth and velocity; and flow density is measured through sampling the fresh debris flow body. Ergou lies in the Wenchuan earthquake affected area and the monitoring began in 2013 to investigate the characteristics and development tendency of post-earthquake debris flows. Three stations were set up in the mainstream and tributaries, with instruments to measure the flow depth, velocity, and density. Over 10 debris flow events were recorded up to date.</p><p>Based on the monitoring output, the rainfall spatial distribution and thresholds for debris flows are proposed. The debris flow dynamics characteristics are analyzed, and the relations between the parameters, e.g. density, velocity, discharge and grain compositions are presented. The debris flow formation modes and the mechanisms in different regions are discriminated and simulation methods are suggested. It is anticipated that the monitoring results will promote understanding of debris flow characteristics in the western China.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Debris flow, monitoring, rainfall, discharge, formation. </p>

Investigating infrasound sources within Illgraben debris-flows

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giacomo Belli ◽  
Emanuele Marchetti ◽  
Fabian Walter ◽  
Brian McArdell ◽  
Małgorzata Chmiel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Maximum Flow ◽  
Dynamic Processes ◽  
Flow Density ◽  
Small Aperture ◽  
Flow Monitoring

<p>Debris flows are episodic gravitational currents, consisting of mixtures of water and debris in varying proportions. They occur in steep mountain torrents with volumes commonly exceeding thousands of m<sup>3</sup>. Given their unpredictability and their capability to transport large boulders, debris flows rank among the most dangerous natural hazards in mountain environments. Nevertheless, moderate flow velocities (typically < 10 m/s) make early warning in principle possible if the flows are detected early upon formation.</p><p>Infrasound studies of debris flows increased significantly in the last decade, focusing mostly on event detectability and application for early-warning. The use of infrasound arrays and the combined use of collocated seismic and infrasound sensors have turned out to be efficient systems for reliable detection of debris flows in near-real time.</p><p>Despite these advances, open questions remain about the possibility to infer debris-flow source characteristics and event magnitude from recorded infrasonic signals. This requires theoretical and/or empirical source models describing elastic energy radiation in the atmosphere, in the form of infrasound, and relating it with fluid dynamic processes within a debris flow. Infrasound radiated by debris-flows is believed to be generated by standing waves that develop at the free surface of the flow, but details of the involved dynamic processes are not fully understood.</p><p>Here, we present the analysis of infrasonic signals recorded with a small aperture array during the 2017-2020 debris-flow seasons in the Illgraben catchment (Switzerland, Canton Valais), including more than 20 events of variable sizes. In order to better understand infrasound source mechanisms and to investigate the fluid dynamics processes involved in the infrasonic energy generation, debris-flow infrasound signals are quantitatively compared with independent hydraulic information of the flow (velocity, maximum flow depth and flow density). Finally, we discuss the use of extrapolated empirical relationships between infrasound signal features and flow characteristics for debris-flow monitoring and risk management.</p><p> </p>

The Effects of Particle Segregation on Debris Flow Fluidity Over a Rigid Bed

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-149
Author(s):  
Norifumi Hotta ◽  
Tomoyuki Iwata ◽  
Takuro Suzuki ◽  
Yuichi Sakai
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Debris Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Particle Diameter ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Video Camera ◽  
Front Velocity ◽  
Flow Depth ◽  
Particle Segregation

ABSTRACT It is essential to consider the fluidity of a debris flow front when calculating its impact. Here we flume-tested mono-granular and bi-granular debris flows and compared the results to those of numerical simulations. We used sand particles with diameters of 0.29 and 0.14 cm at two mixing ratios of 1:1 and 3:7. Particle segregation was recorded with a high-speed video camera. We evaluated the fronts of debris flows at 0.5-second intervals. Then we numerically simulated one-dimensional debris flows under the same conditions and used the mean particle diameter when simulating mixed-diameter flows. For the mono-granular debris flows, the experimental and simulated results showed good agreement in terms of flow depth, front velocity, and flux. However, for the bi-granular debris flows, the simulated flow depth was less, and both the front velocity and flux were greater than those found experimentally. These differences may be attributable to the fact that the dominant shear stress was caused by the concentration of smaller sediment particles in the lower flow layers; such inverse gradations were detected in the debris flow bodies. Under these conditions, most shear stress is supported by smaller particles in the lower layers; the debris flow characteristics become similar to those of mono-granular flows, in contrast to the numerical simulation, which incorporated particle segregation with gradually decreasing mean diameter from the front to the flow body. Consequently, the calculated front velocities were underestimated; particle segregation at the front of the bi-granular debris flows did not affect fluidity either initially or over time.

scholarly journals Acoustic module of the Acquabona (Italy) debris flow monitoring system

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Galgaro ◽  
P. R. Tecca ◽  
R. Genevois ◽  
A. M. Deganutti
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Regression Line ◽  
Front Velocity ◽  
Peak Discharge ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Flow Depth ◽  
Ground Vibrations ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Flow Monitoring

Abstract. Monitoring of debris flows aimed to the assessment of their physical parameters is very important both for theoretical and practical purposes. Peak discharge and total volume of debris flows are crucial for designing effective countermeasures in many populated mountain areas where losses of lives and property damage could be avoided. This study quantifies the relationship between flow depth, acoustic amplitude of debris flow induced ground vibrations and front velocity in the experimental catchment of Acquabona, Eastern Dolomites, Italy. The analysis of data brought about the results described in the following. Debris flow depth and amplitude of the flow-induced ground vibrations show a good positive correlation. Estimation of both mean front velocity and peak discharge can be simply obtained monitoring the ground vibrations, through geophones installed close to the flow channel; the total volume of debris flow can be so directly estimated from the integral of the ground vibrations using a regression line. The application of acoustic technique to debris flow monitoring seems to be of the outmost relevance in risk reduction policies and in the correct management of the territory. Moreover this estimation is possible in other catchments producing debris flows of similar characteristics by means of their acoustic characterisation through quick and simple field tests (Standard Penetration Tests and seismic refraction surveys).

Granular effect on debris flow rheology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taiqiang Yang
Keyword(s):  
Shear Rate ◽  
Debris Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Shear Thinning ◽  
Dynamical Equations ◽  
Real Rate ◽  
The Real ◽  
Jiangjia Gully ◽  
Material Sources ◽  
Surge Phenomena

<p>Debris flow is characterized by the multi-disperse grain composition and intergranular collision and friction, but the granular effects on rheology are often reduced to the volumetric concentration of solid (C<sub>v</sub>), almost ignoring the specific grain size distribution (GSD). In this study, small debris flows occurring in a tributary of Jiangjia Gully were taken as the material sources for rheology experiments. From the real flows we selected slurries with different C<sub>v</sub> and maximum grain sizes (D<sub>m</sub>) for rheological tests under shearing rate up to 40 (s<sup>-</sup><sup>1</sup>), which is usually the real rate for debris flows in natural conditions. The results indicate that the flows follow the Herschel-Bulkley (HB) rheology, with randomly changing consistency coefficient and relatively constant exponent of 0.45 on average. Only at high shear rate will the flow exhibit Bingham behavior. The HB rheology also reveals shear thinning behavior in surge phenomena observed in the field. Shear-thinning behavior is revealed by the viscosity-shear rate relationship: η<sub>a</sub>=pγ<sup>q</sup>, with the exponent (thinning index) dependent on shear rate. This greatly concerns the surge phenomena observed in field. Moreover, both the yield stress and the effective viscosity are found to be perfectly related to the scaling GSD parameters in power-law and exponential form, with nearly constant exponents independent of the shear rate(Figure 1). The rheology properties can be calculated from their relationships to GSD parameters (μ, D<sub>c</sub>), which in turn can be used to infer the HB rheology for the concerned flows and then build the dynamical equations(Figure 2). This implies the presence of some interlock between the fine and coarse grains. Finally the rheology model (general in HB form) can be completely determined by the GSD parameters. This study has for the first time proposed quantitative formulas for rheology incorporating GSD parameters, which is helpful for more accurate dynamic analysis of debris flow.</p>

scholarly journals The Model for Dilution Process of Landslide Triggered Debris Flow —A Case of Guanba River in Tibet Southeastern Plateau

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Li ◽  
Ningsheng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Water Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Evaluation Model ◽  
Flow Density ◽  
Flow Section ◽  
Average Depth ◽  
Flow Discharge ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Density Evaluation

Understanding and modeling the downstream dilution process of a landslide triggered debris flow is the foundation for recognizing the boundary condition and dilution mechanism of this type of debris flow, and this serves as the theoretical basis for the categorized control of viscous debris flows, diluted debris flows, hyperconcentration flows and flash floods in a drainage basin. In this study, taking as an example a typical debris flow that occurred in the Guanba River on Tibet’s southeastern plateau on July 6th, 1998, empirical models are used to calculate the density, water flow discharge, debris flow discharge, average depth of loose materials and channel gradient at 11 cross-sections upstream to downstream in the debris flow. On this basis, the dilution characteristics and debris flow dilution process are analyzed in this study. According to the correlation between the debris flow density and the water-soil ratio and channel gradient, we have established the density evaluation model for the debris flow dilution process, which can predict the dilution process of a landslide triggered debris flow. The study results include the following four aspects: (1) The key factors in the dilution process of landslide triggered debris flows are the water flow discharge, average depth of loose materials and channel gradient. (2) The debris flow dilution characteristics in the Guanba River in 1998 include the occurrence of the debris flow dilution process after a significant increase in the water-soil ratio; an increase in the proportion of fine particles after dilution of the debris flow; and the size distribution of grain is “narrowed.” (3) In accordance with the density and dilution characteristics, the debris flow dilution process in the Guanba River can be divided into the upstream viscous debris flow section, midstream and downstream transitional debris flow section and downstream diluted debris flow section. (4) The density evaluation model for the debris flow dilution process is expressed by the Lorentz equation, and this model can reflect the debris flow dilution process such that the debris flow density will decrease gradually with an increase in the water-soil ratio and decrease in channel gradient. The density evaluation model for the debris flow dilution process has been verified by three debris flow cases, which include Gaoqiao Gully, Haizi Valley, and Aizi Valley

Deciphering the seismic and normal-force fluctuation signatures of debris flows: an experimental assessment of the effects of flow composition and dynamics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tjalling de Haas ◽  
Amanda Aaberg ◽  
Fabian Walter ◽  
Zhen Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Large Particle ◽  
Normal Force ◽  
Flow Volume ◽  
Flow Depth ◽  
Water Fraction ◽  
Force Fluctuations ◽  
Seismic Vibrations

<p>Debris flows are gravity-driven mass movements that are common natural hazards in mountain regions worldwide. Previous work has shown that measurements of ground vibrations are capable of detecting the timing, speed, and location of landslides and debris flows. A remaining question is whether or not additional flow properties, such as grain-size distribution, flow depth, and impact stress can be inferred reliably from seismic data. Here, we experimentally explore the relation of seismic vibrations and normal-force fluctuations with debris-flow composition and dynamics. We show that seismic vibrations and normal-force fluctuations induced by debris flows are strongly correlated, and that both are strongly affected by debris-flow composition. We find that the effects of the large-particle distribution on seismic vibrations and normal-force fluctuations are substantially more pronounced than the effects of water fraction, clay fraction, and flow volume, especially when normalized by flow depth. We further show that for flows with similar coarse-particle distributions seismic vibrations and normal-force fluctuations can be reasonably-well related to flow depth, even if total flow volume, water fraction, and the size distribution of fines varies. Our experimental results shed light on how changes in large-particle, clay, and water fractions affect the seismic and force-fluctuation signatures of debris flows, and provide important guidelines for their interpretation.</p>

Flume investigation of cylindrical baffles for dissipation of debris flow energy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chan-Young Yune ◽  
Beom-Jun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Energy Dissipation ◽  
Debris Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Design Guideline ◽  
Flow Energy

<p>A debris flow with a high speed along valleys has been reported to cause serious damages to urban area or infrastructure. To prevent debris flow disaster, countermeasures for flow-impeding structures are installed on the flow path of debris flows. Recently, an installation of cylindrical baffles which are open-type countermeasures has increased because of a low construction cost, filtering out rocks, and an increased hydraulic continuity. However, a comprehensive design guideline for specification and arrangement on cylindrical baffles has not yet been suggested. Moreover, the design of baffle installation is mainly based on empirical approaches as the influence of baffle array on debris mobility is not well understood. In this study, to investigate the effect of cylindrical baffles on the flow characteristics of debris flow, a series of small-scale flume tests were performed according to the varying baffle height and row numbers of installed baffles. High-speed cameras and digital camera to record the flow interaction with baffles were installed at the top and side of the channel. To reproduce the viscosity of debris flows caused by fine-grained soil in the flume, glycerin was mixed with debris materials (sand and gravel). After the test, the velocity and energy dissipation according to various baffle arrays were estimated. Test results showed that the installation of baffles reduced the frontal velocity of debris flows. Furthermore, taller baffles also increased the effect of the energy dissipation in debris flows, but additional rows of the baffle did not have a major effect on the energy dissipation. Thus, increasing the height of baffle led to an increased efficiency of energy dissipation of debris flows.</p>

scholarly journals Relationship between the accumulation of sediment storage and debris-flow characteristics in a debris-flow initiation zone, Ohya landslide body, Japan

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 1923-1938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumitoshi Imaizumi ◽  
Yuichi S. Hayakawa ◽  
Norifumi Hotta ◽  
Haruka Tsunetaka ◽  
Okihiro Ohsaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Physical Analysis ◽  
Saturated Flow ◽  
Initiation Zone ◽  
Landslide Body ◽  
Steep Terrain

Abstract. Debris flows usually occur in steep mountain channels and can be extremely hazardous as a result of their destructive power, long travel distance, and high velocity. However, their characteristics in the initiation zones, which could possibly be affected by temporal changes in the accumulation conditions of the storage (i.e., channel gradient and volume of storage) associated with sediment supply from hillslopes and the evacuation of sediment by debris flows, are poorly understood. Thus, we studied the relationship between the flow characteristics and the accumulation conditions of the storage in an initiation zone of debris flow at the Ohya landslide body in Japan using a variety of methods, including a physical analysis, a periodical terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) survey, and field monitoring. Our study clarified that both partly and fully saturated debris flows are important hydrogeomorphic processes in the initiation zones of debris flow because of the steep terrain. The predominant type of flow varied temporally and was affected by the volume of storage and rainfall patterns. Fully saturated flow dominated when the total volume of storage was  <  10 000 m3, while partly saturated flow dominated when the total volume of the storage was  >  15 000 m3. Debris flows form channel topography which reflects the predominant flow types during debris-flow events. Partly saturated debris flow tended to form steeper channel sections (22.2–37.3°), while fully saturated debris flow tended to form gentler channel sections ( <  22.2°). Such relationship between the flow type and the channel gradient could be explained by a simple analysis of the static force at the bottom of the sediment mass.

scholarly journals Debris-Flow Monitoring for the Set-Up of a Warning and Alarm System -Experiences from the Pyrenees-

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 107-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel HÜRLIMANN ◽  
Clàudia ABANCÓ ◽  
Jose MOYA ◽  
Marc BERENGUER ◽  
Ignasi VILAJOSANA
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Alarm System ◽  
Flow Monitoring ◽  
Set Up

scholarly journals Spatial Distribution Features of Debris Flows at Active Fault Zone Along Ya-Lu Highway, China

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 563-571
Author(s):  
Dingying Yang ◽  
Zheng Han ◽  
Yange Li
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Debris Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Active Fault ◽  
Active Faults ◽  
Western China ◽  
Polar Coordinate System ◽  
Vertical Distance ◽  
Distribution Features ◽  
In Situ Investigation

Introduction: Active faults and accompanied tectonic activities are a key triggering factor for debris flows in mountainous region. In this paper, the spatial distribution of 19 debris flows along Ya-Lu highway in western China was analyzed. Method: We collected basic data of these 19 debris-flow gullies in the in-situ investigation work, and documented key parameters including watershed area, the averaged slope gradient, gully type, debris-flow magnitude, and developing stage of the gully. Based on the DTM data from SRTM database, the overall spatial distribution features of these debris flows are analyzed. Result and Conclusion: We used a polar coordinate system to illustrate the relationship between debris flow magnitude and the direct distance to the active fault. In this system, the spatial distribution of these debris flows is represented by the vertical distance to the fault and the angle between gullies to the fault. It is revealed that the debris-flow magnitude has a close positive relationship with the vertical distance to the active fault, that generally debris-flow magnitude increases as closing to the active fault.

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