Numerical modelling of waves in snow avalanches over an erodible bed: Effect of slope angle and erodible thickness
METADATA ONLY
Loading...
Author / Producer
Date
2025-08
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
METADATA ONLY
Data
Rights / License
Abstract
Waves in snow avalanches may have disaster-causing effects. Although the study on avalanche waves has received increasing attention, there still lacks quantitative characterization of wave behaviors under well-controlled conditions, leading to unclear mechanisms of avalanche waves. In this study, the dynamics of avalanche waves is thoroughly investigated with consideration of an erodible bed, by using a hybrid Eulerian-Lagrangian numerical approach called the material point method. The effect of slope angle and erodible thickness on wave behavior is quantitatively analyzed, in terms of amplitude, length, and velocity of waves. The results show the occurrence of both frontal waves and tail waves in an avalanche, while the frontal waves are explored in more detail as they can lead to large destructive power with high velocity and height. It is found that the evolution of the amplitude and wavelength of the frontal waves with the slope angle and erodible thickness can be explained with different components of kinetic energy. The merging of waves and the induced increase of wave velocity are clearly captured. Interestingly, the growth of wave velocity is more obvious with smaller slope angle and erodible thickness. Furthermore, the Froude number of the avalanches is investigated, while the dominant effect of flow velocity and height at different cases is revealed. The outcomes from this study shed light on the behavior and underlying mechanisms of waves occurred in granular flows such as snow avalanches.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
355
Pages / Article No.
108230
Publisher
Elsevier
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Avalanche waves; Erodible bed; Wave behavior; Material point method
Organisational unit
09795 - Gaume, Johan / Gaume, Johan