Initiation of underwater granular avalanches: Influence of the initial volume fraction

We experimentally investigate how a layer of granular material fully immersed in a liquid starts to flow when suddenly inclined from a horizontal position. The flow is shown to strongly depend on the initial volume fraction, its initiation being dramatically delayed by a slight initial compaction. A model, which takes into account the dilatant behavior of the granular material and the coupling with the interstitial fluid, captures the main experimental features. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.