Item: Granular flow on a chute: avalanche simulations on a rough inclined plane
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Title: Granular flow on a chute: avalanche simulations on a rough inclined plane
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2018, Innsbruck, Austria
Authors:
- Giovanna Caramuta [ University of Padova, Dept. TeSAF, Legnaro (PD), Italy ]
- Ingrid Reiweger [ BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Civil Engineering and Natural Hazards, Vienna, Austria ]
Date: 2018-10-07
Abstract: Although lots of scientific investigations have been already conducted in order to understand the physical laws that govern snow avalanche flow, the dynamic of snow avalanches is still not well understood. We are especially interested in studying avalanches flow behaviour and runout features. We decided to reproduce avalanches under controlled laboratory conditions by means of a laboratory chute. As snow in motion is considered a granular matter, we used glass beads (ballotini) to reproduce snow crystals. Our setup was formed by a inclined rough chute 190 cm long and 17 cm wide, ballotini were stored in a hopper at the upper end of the chute whereas at the bottom of the chute there was a deposition area where we measured runout characteristics. In order to avoid basal slip, roughness was created all along the running surface. Flow features were measured by means of four laser sensors installed above the running surface and by a load cell. We varied channel slope, ballotini size and volume discharged in order to assess which parameter mostly influences the flow. We present measurement results of flow velocity, flow height, flow density and runout shape and characteristics as well as backwave length. The latter is a wave that moves backwards from the tip of the runout to the end of the chute. Additionally, we present the results that we achieved by performing the α-β model with the data obtained during laboratory tests in order to validate our experiments.
Object ID: ISSW2018_P01.17.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: Snow avalanche dynamics, ballotini, inclined chute, runout, velocity, roughness.
Page Number(s): 98-102
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