Simulation of Snow-Avalanche Flow in Run-Out Zones

Abstract

The authors of this paper have previously, in 1987, outlined the development of a set of constitutive equations representing the behaviour of avalanching snow, and the resulting equations for fully developed steady shear flow. The present paper considers the development of non-steady two-dimensional shear flow together with the use of a finite-difference programme to calculate snow-avalanche velocities and flow heights in the run-out zone. The numerical results thus obtained are compared with full-scale experimental data. These comparisons indicate that front velocity and run-out distance are simulated well by the model, and that the predicted snow deposits are fairly well in agreement with those actually observed.

An approach to the physics and the modeling of submarine flowslides

“…The numerical results of the model are compared with full-scale experimental data on snow avalanches reported by Norem et al (1989). These comparisons indicate that the model simulates the front velocity and the run-out distance well.…”

“…The description of the shape of the moving mass is possible only in two-dimensional models. Such models have been proposed by Jeyapalan, Duncan, and Seed (1983), Trunk, Dent, and Lang (1986), Savage and Hutter (1989), and Norem, Irgens, and Schieldrop (1989) for different kinds of granular flow. A three-dimensional model was presented by Sassa (1988 Coulomb Friction Approach.…”

“…A general set of constitutive equations to describe the behavior of granular flow was presented by Norem et al (1987Norem et al ( , 1989 and Irgens (1988). The model assumes that granular materials may be treated as a continuum where viscoplastic behavior is predominant.…”

Wet snow avalanche deposits in the french alps: structure and sedimentology

“…By contrast, wet snow avalanches sensu stricto start on steep slopes with a very high frequency in favourable zones (several in the same site during a spring) and give birth to sheet-like debris accumulation on screes (Luckman 1988;Ackoyd 1986;Bell et al 1990). Several numerical models have been proposed for this snow avalanche type (Voellmy 1955;Mellor 1978;Hutter et al 1989;Norem et al 1989;Salm 1993).…”

Avalanching granular flows down curved and twisted channels: Theoretical and experimental results

“…Although there are other models that consider the problem of avalanche motion over curved slopes ͑e.g., Gray et al, 3 Denlinger and Iverson, 4,5 Kerswell, 6 Ancey, 7 Pitman et al, 8,9 Maeno and Nishimura, 26 Norem et al, 27,28 Savage and Nohguchi, 29 Savage and Hutter, 30 Iverson et al, 31 see also the Same report edited by Harbitz, 32 Bouchut and Westdickenberg, 33 and Tai and Kuo 34 ͒, the model equations considered in this paper are the first to explicitly include curvature and torsion effects in a systematic manner ͑see Pudasaini et al͒. 16,17,35 This makes the extended model amenable to realistic granular flow motions down arbitrary guiding topographies or transportation of granular masses in general channels in industrial process engineering.…”