Numerical Modeling of Mudflows

Abstract

To predict mudflow dynamics a numerical model based on shallow-water equations is developed. Previous work has shown that mudflow behavior can be well represented by a Herschel-Bulkley model. In a laminar regime, generally observed in practice, a wall friction force expression has been theoretically deduced for steady uniform flows. For unsteady flows the wall friction force is assumed to be equal to the resistance of a steady uniform flow with the same depth and mean velocity. The numerical model parameters, directly deduced from Herschel-Bulkley model, are determined independently by rheological measurements. Because of the lack of precise field data, experimental results obtained on a physical model are used in order to validate the numerical model. The main features of the experimental transient flows carried out in a laboratory flume are, for some identified conditions, in fairly good agreement with numerical model predictions, without any additional parameter fitting.