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Formation conditions of outburst debris flow triggered by overtopped natural dam failure

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Abstract

Natural dams formed by landslides may produce disastrous debris flows after dam outburst. However, studies on the critical conditions required for the formation of outburst debris flow resulting from natural dam failure are still at an early stage. In this paper, we present the results of a series of laboratory tests that assessed three different materials, five different flume bed slope angles (2°, 7°, 9°, 10°, and 13°), two in-flow rates, and four types of dam geometric shapes. The results showed that the unit weight of downstream fluid increased with increasing bed channel slope. Additionally, a critical flume bed angle was found for debris flow formation. Furthermore, the combination of lake volume and flume bed angle was found to influence the formation of debris flow. A nonlinear trend was observed between the unit weights of debris flow and the uniformity coefficients of solid material. Based on the theory of stream power, a critical condition for debris flow formation from natural dam failure was established. Based on two case studies, the results indicate that the condition that was established for debris flow formation following natural dam failure agrees well with reality.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Projects of International Cooperation and Exchanges NSFC (No.41520104002) and Bureau of International Cooperation and The Chinese Academy of Sciences project (No.131551KYSB20130003). The authors thank Dr. Shuangqing Liang for his kind assistance with the flume experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Mountain Hazards and Surface Process, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610044, China

    Jiang Xiangang, Cui Peng, Chen Huayong & Guo Yayong

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049, China

    Jiang Xiangang & Guo Yayong

  3. College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, DuJiangyan, Chengdu, 611830, China

    Jiang Xiangang

  4. CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chengdu, China

    Cui Peng

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  1. Jiang Xiangang
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  2. Cui Peng
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  3. Chen Huayong
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  4. Guo Yayong
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Correspondence to Cui Peng.

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Xiangang, J., Peng, C., Huayong, C. et al. Formation conditions of outburst debris flow triggered by overtopped natural dam failure. Landslides 14, 821–831 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-016-0751-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-016-0751-1

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