The 3D structure of the Super-Sauze earthflow: A first stage towards modelling its behaviour

In the "Terres-Noires" of the Barcelonnette basin, France, the Super-Saute earthflow is being studied to understand the mechanisms of triggering, slid ding and flowing and to propose a predicting dynamic behaviour model. This paper describes the main results of an on-site geotechnical investigation c arried out in 1996, which allowed us to establish precisely the internal 3- D structure of the moving mass (position and shape of the paleotopography, functioning of two flow units from the surface to the depth and spatial sub division of the flow into. compartments using contrasts of velocity, by mor phological aspects, or mechanical and hydrodynamical characteristics of the material). Moreover, studies of old aerial photographs identified the impo rtance of the buried topography on the dynamic evolution of the flow. (C) 2 000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.