EXPERIMENTS ON THE FLOW BEHAVIOUR OF GRANULAR MATERIALS AT HIGH VELOCITY IN AN OPEN CHANNEL

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 (stuerzstroms). 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 stuerzstroms therefore requires a different explanation. See also TRIS No. 394633. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00168505
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Civil Engineers

  One Great George Street, Westminster
  London,   United Kingdom  SW1P 3AA
• Authors:
  • HUNGR, O
  • MORGENSTERN, N R
• Publication Date: 1984-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 405-413
• Serial:
  • GEOTECHNIQUE
  • Volume: 34
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Thomas Telford Limited
  • ISSN: 0016-8505

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Avalanches; Density; Flow; Friction; Granular materials; Homogeneity; Open channels; Rocks; Sand; Shear strength; Shear stress; Soil mechanics; Soils; Speed; Stresses; Test procedures; Velocity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Shearing
• ITRD Terms: 2530: Avalanche; 5908: Density; 5452: Friction; 4107: Granular; 5916: Homogeneity; 4105: Sand; 5531: Shear; 5408: Speed; 5575: Stress (in material); 6288: Test method
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I43: Rock Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00394632
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1985 12:00AM