Considerations on scaling behavior in avalanche flow: Implementation in a simple mass block model
Peer reviewed, Journal article
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Date
2020Metadata
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- NGI articles [969]
Original version
Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2020, 180 (103165), . 10.1016/j.coldregions.2020.103165Abstract
Observations of runout distances combined with velocity measurements suggest that “major” dry-mixed avalanches show a scale invariance to the total drop height HSC. This is in accordance to the proposed upper-limit envelope of the maximum velocity by McClung and Schaerer (2006). The observations are also supported by a simple scaling analysis using a simple mass block model on cycloidal and parabolic tracks (Gauer, 2018b), concluding Umax~ gHSC/2 . In this supplementary paper, a simple mass block model is presented that includes basic observations of major dry-mixed avalanches, such as mass entrainment and deposition, and that reflects this scale invariance. Almost all model parameters can principally be observed in the field. Model results are compared with a series of avalanche observations of runout and velocity and match well, considering that the model is a first order approximation.