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Landslide generated impulse waves were investigated in a two-dimensional physical laboratory model based on the generalized Froude similarity. Digital particle image velocimetry (PIV) was applied to the landslide impact and wave generation. Areas of interest up to 0.8 m by 0.8 m were investigated. The challenges posed to the measurement system in an extremely unsteady threephase flow consisting of granular matter, air, and water were considered. The complex flow phenomena in the first stage of impulse wave initiation are: high-speed granular slide impact, slide deformation and penetration into the fluid, flow separation, hydrodynamic impact crater formation, and wave generation. During this first stage the three phases are separated along sharp interfaces changing significantly within time and space. Digital masking techniques are applied to distinguish between phases thereafter allowing phase separated image processing. PIV provided instantaneous velocity vector fields in a large area of interest and gave insight into the kinematics of the wave generation process. Differential estimates such as vorticity, divergence, elongational, and shear strain were extracted from the velocity vector fields. The fundamental assumption of irrotational flow in the Laplace equation was confirmed experimentally for these non-linear waves. Applicability of PIV at large scale as well as to flows with large velocity gradients is highlighted.

Hydraulic scale modelling involves scale effects. The limiting criteria for scale models of subaerial landslide generated impulse waves including solid, air, and water are discussed both based on a literature review and based on detailed two-dimensional experimentation. Seven scale series based on the Froude similitude were conducted involving the intermediate-water wave spectrum. Scale effects were primarily attributed to the impact crater formation, the air entrainment and detrainment, and the turbulent boundary layer as a function of surface tension and fluid viscosity. These effects reduce the relative wave amplitude and the wave attenuation as compared with reference experiments. Wave amplitude attenuation was found to be more than 70 times larger than predicted with the standard wave theory. Limitations for plane impulse wave generation on the basis of the present research are given by which scale effects can be avoided.

Plunge pool scour involves a significant risk with trajectory spillways because of structural undermining at a dam foot or destabilization of adjacent valley slopes. An experimental program towards the understanding of plane plunge pool scour of a completely disintegrated rock surface was conducted, in which the following items received attention: jet shape, jet velocity, jet air content, tailwater elevation, granulometry, upstream flow to the scour hole, and the end scour profile in terms of the basic scour features. These effects were experimentally investigated based on a systematic variation of the governing scour parameters. The results of this paper allow answering questions that have so far not been addressed. Design equations were proposed to sketch the main tendency of the data sets. The significant effect of the densimetric particle Froude number was substantiated. This research may be used to estimate the prominent scour features for nearly two-dimensional jet arrangements involving a pre-aerated high-speed flow.