Kinematics of sand avalanches using particle-image velocimetry

The avalanching of granular material at slope angles between the angle of r epose and the angle of maximum stability, such as on a sandpile or on the l ee (slip) face of a sand dune, typically produces droplet-shaped hows that consist of a well-defined head at the front. me have performed the first ex periments on granular materials using the particle-image velocimetry (PIV) technique, in which we have studied avalanching hows of sand far different surface properties. Our results suggest that the presence of a deformable b ed (layer of loose or erodible particles) an the surface is a necessary con dition for the occurrence of these flues. We measured for the first time th e surface velocity field in avalanches propagating at angles between the an gle of repose and the maximum angle of stability, and observed a transition in the how behavior with downstream distance, from a surface-like how to a compressing flow that has the characteristics of a shock wave propagating through the deformable bed, Measurements for sand avalanches seem to indica te that the features of this transition depend on the inclination angle of the surface in the small range between these two critical angles, The resul ts suggest that grainflow laminae and scoria cone flanks, for example, are formed by hows that in their upper part propagate as a surface flow, and in their Lower part propagate as a shock wave near the surface of the debris pile.