The estimation of debris-flow behavior is a key topic in hazard assessment in mountainous areas. Empirical and semi-empirical relationships for the computation of flow velocity, discharge, and runout extent provide a useful approach because they are simple to use, objective, and reproducible. This study was aimed at testing the applicability of these relationships to granular debris flows occurring both on talus slopes and in channels in the upper Valtellina (Central Alps, northern Italy). As part of the study, we calibrated the relationship between volume and depositional area, A = kV(d), using different datasets from the debris-flow literature. We observed that the empirical coefficient, k, changes in value mainly as a function of the characteristics of the material involved in the phenomena. This has been supported by the analysis of a dataset for the rapid mudflows of the 1998 Sarno, southern Italy, event, which showed an intermediate behaviour.

Crosta, G., Cucchiaro, S., Frattini, P. (2003). Validation of semi-empirical relationships for the definition of debris-flow behavior in granular materials. In DEBRIS-FLOW HAZARDS MITIGATION: MECHANICS, PREDICTION, AND ASSESSMENT, VOLS 1 AND 2 (pp.821-831). ROTTERDAM : MILLPRESS SCIENCE PUBLISHERS.

Validation of semi-empirical relationships for the definition of debris-flow behavior in granular materials

CROSTA, GIOVANNI;FRATTINI, PAOLO
2003

Abstract

The estimation of debris-flow behavior is a key topic in hazard assessment in mountainous areas. Empirical and semi-empirical relationships for the computation of flow velocity, discharge, and runout extent provide a useful approach because they are simple to use, objective, and reproducible. This study was aimed at testing the applicability of these relationships to granular debris flows occurring both on talus slopes and in channels in the upper Valtellina (Central Alps, northern Italy). As part of the study, we calibrated the relationship between volume and depositional area, A = kV(d), using different datasets from the debris-flow literature. We observed that the empirical coefficient, k, changes in value mainly as a function of the characteristics of the material involved in the phenomena. This has been supported by the analysis of a dataset for the rapid mudflows of the 1998 Sarno, southern Italy, event, which showed an intermediate behaviour.
paper
empirical relationships; debris flow; hazard; scale-invariance; Central Alps
English
3rd International Conference on Debris-Flow Hazards Mitigation
2003
Rickenmann, D; Chen, C
DEBRIS-FLOW HAZARDS MITIGATION: MECHANICS, PREDICTION, AND ASSESSMENT, VOLS 1 AND 2
90-77017-78-X
2003
821
831
none
Crosta, G., Cucchiaro, S., Frattini, P. (2003). Validation of semi-empirical relationships for the definition of debris-flow behavior in granular materials. In DEBRIS-FLOW HAZARDS MITIGATION: MECHANICS, PREDICTION, AND ASSESSMENT, VOLS 1 AND 2 (pp.821-831). ROTTERDAM : MILLPRESS SCIENCE PUBLISHERS.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/38123
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