An experimental study of the dynamics of subaqueous sediment gravity flows

摘要

This paper examines the flow potential of subaqueous sediment gravity flows through a set of flume tests. The emphasis of the experiments was placed on clarifying the internal structure of fluidized sediment gravity flows in terms of a PIV technique. It was found that in the course of fluidized gravity flow, solidification initially occurred at the base of the flowing fluidized sediment and then propagated upwards to the flow surface, terminating the flowage. In fact, the progressive solidification in the fluidized sediment flow enabled a grain-supported framework to be reestablished, with no or little settling of particles. This performance was contrasting with the performance of suspension-dominant flows in which settling of particles was an essential facet leading to deposition.