Fabio Vittorio De Blasio

Large subaqueous rock avalanches are characterized by horizontal run-outs approximately ten times longer than the fall height. It is shown that this mobility is somehow puzzling, as it corresponds to a decrease of the effective friction coefficient by a factor 10–50 compared to bare rock. Two dynamical models are so introduced to explain the observed mobility. In the first model, the fast-moving fragmented rock avalanche is subjected to a lift force that makes it hydroplane, avoiding contact with the sea floor. In a second model the fragmented material ingests water, transforming into a non-Newtonian fluid that progressively reduces its shear strength. Both models give peak velocity of 65–70 m/s, which implies a high potential for tsunami generation.

The rheology of debris flows is difficult to characterize owing to the varied composition and to the uneven distribution of the components that may range from clay to large boulders, in addition to water. Few studies have addressed debris flow rheology from observational, experimental, and theoretical viewpoints in conjunction. We present a coupled rheological‐numerical model to characterize the debris flows in which cohesive and frictional materials are both present. As a first step, we consider small‐scale artificial debris flows in a flume with variable percentages of clay versus sand, and measure separately the rheological properties of sand–clay mixtures. A comparison with the predictions of a modified version of the numerical model BING shows a reasonable agreement between measurements and simulations.As application to a field case, we analyse a recent debris flow that occurred in Fjærland (Western Norway) for which much information is now available. The event was caused by a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) originating from the failure of a moraine ridge. In a previous contribution (Breien et al., Landslides, 2008, 5: 271–280) we focused on the hydrological and geomorphological aspects. In particular we documented the marked erosion and reported the change in sediment transport during the event. In contrast to the laboratory debris flows, the presence of large boulders and the higher normal pressure inside the natural debris flow requires the introduction of a novel rheological model that distinguishes between mud‐to–clast supported material. We present simulations with a modified BING model with the new cohesive‐frictional rheology. To account for the severe erosion operated by the debris flow on the colluvial deposits of Fjærland, we also suggest a simple model for erosion and bulking along the slope path. Numerical simulations suggest that a self‐sustaining mechanism could partly explain the extreme growth of debris flows running on a soft terrain.

Many areas at the foot of steep overhangs are subject to periodic rock falls which form abundant stone accumulations, called taluses. Taluses are relatively common formations that may occur at rather different scales from a few metres to thousands of metres in length. Numerous field surveys have provided quantitative information on the characteristics of a talus deposit. However, most studies have concentrated on the geometrical characteristics of taluses formed by regular blocks. In the article the authors draw attention to a rarer kind of talus slopes, the ones mostly formed by flat stones as building blocks. One case study in Norway is examined as an example typifying the properties of flat-blocks taluses. From comparisons of the geometrical characteristics and grain size distribution with taluses of the same rock type formed by regular blocks, remarkable differences are found, especially concerning the slope angle and the size distribution of blocks as a function of the distance from the headwall. To understand the formation dynamics of flat-block taluses, the authors also carried out some simple experiments with flat blocks falling onto an experimental board.

We investigated a small‐scale laboratory model of a talus slope evolution. Five different size classes of basaltic rock were selected and marked with different colours. Homogenized mixtures of grains of different sizes were dropped from a fixed height onto a tilted experimental board covered with a loose granular layer. This was conducted in a series of regular sequences, and the resulting distribution on the board was studied after each sequence. At the beginning of the experiment, the grains developed a longitudinal gradation similar to natural talus slopes, where small grains settle at the top while the large ones roll down to the distal part. However, after a transient period dominated by single‐particle dynamics on the inert granular medium, the evolution proved to be more variable than expected. Due to the continuous shower of falling grains, the shear stress at the bottom of the upper granular layer increased. This resulted initially in a slow creep down slope that finally collapsed in large avalanches homogenizing the material. The slides occurred at the boundary between a weaker layer created by migration of small grains through the interstices, and marked by a vertical transition between small and large grains. We compare the experimental findings with observations from natural talus slopes, and suggest that similar experiments may be helpful in understanding the evolution of taluses. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.