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An experimental study of particle-driven gravity currents on steep slopes with entrainment of particles
1Cemagref, u.r. etna, 2 rue de la papeterie, BP 76, F-38402 Saint Martin d’Hères, France
2Legi, 1025 rue de la Piscine, BP 53, F-38041 Grenoble Cedex, France
Abstract. Results of laboratory experiments are presented in which a finite suspension of sawdust particles was released instantaneously into a rectangular channel immersed in a water tank. Two kinds of gravity currents were studied: currents with or without entrainment of particles from the bed. Experiments were repeated for two slopes: 30° and 45°. We observed that the velocity of the front was significantly in-creased as particle entrainment occurred. In addition, our experiments showed that the front kept a quasi-constant velocity for both runs. This might suggest that the flow regime corresponded to the "slumping regime" or "adjustment phase" described earlier by Huppert and Simpson (1980).
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Citation: Rastello, M., Ancey, C., Ousset, F., Magnard, R., and Hopfinger, E. J.: An experimental study of particle-driven gravity currents on steep slopes with entrainment of particles, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 2, 181-185, 2002. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager
