Experiments on the flow behaviour of granular materials at high velocity in an open channel

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Morgenstern, N. R.
  • Hungr, O.

• A series of laboratory flume experiments has been conducted to investigate the flow behaviour of dry sand at high velocities. The first incentive for this experimental programme was an attempt to explain the high mobility of apparently dry masses of rapidly moving broken rock during rock avalanches (stürzstroms). Test velocities of over 5 m/s and most other parameters of the tests were found to be dimensionally similar to those for a typical rock avalanche. Yet, the conclusion was negative: even the most rapid of the experiments indicated flow behaviour which is in conformity with the constant volume uniform Coulomb friction relationship as applicable to slow shearing. This conclusion was confirmed independently both by direct measurements of base friction and mean density of the flows and by detailed observations of flow uniformity, acceleration and velocity profiles. The surprising mobility of stürzstroms therefore requires a different explanation.

• Date created

  1984

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Open channels
  • Granular materials
  • Flow behaviour

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3TB0Z245

• License

  © 1984 Thomas Telford. The original author(s) and source must be cited. Permission is granted by ICE Publishing to print one copy for personal use. Any other use of these PDF files is subject to reprint fees.