A physical analogue material to simulate sturzstroms

Abstract

A physical analogue material is presented as a synthetic rock for use in centrifuge experiments on sturzstroms. Sturzstroms are rock slides of very large volume, which display intense fragmentation of blocks of rock owing to inter-particle collisions. Although the stresses within the centrifugal experimental set`-up are significantly enhanced owing to acceleration forces, compared with 1g laboratory experiments, the original rock of a sturzstrom event is still too strong and does not display fragmentation in the centrifuge. An analogue material has been developed to exhibit similar mechanical properties as well as reduced strength. A literature review on the development of analogue materials is included together with the recipe of the newly developed synthetic soft rock, based on Quartz sand bonded with Portland cement. A comprehensive mechanical characterisation of this material is given.