Centrifuge study on the runout distance of submarine debris flows

In this paper, a series of mini-drum centrifuge experiments on motion of submarine debris flow, which are able to correctly reproduce the self-weight stresses and gravity-dependent processes, are presented. These tests were performed using artificial submarine clay with high water content, from 93 to 149%. The extremely low shear strength made the debris material behave as idealistic lubricating material when it was deposited, resulting in a linear relationship between water content and runout distance of strongly coherent debris flow. On the other hand, the dilation of the flow body and hydroplaning was observed for weakly coherent debris flow, which further increased the mobility of flow body. A densimetric Froude number Fr-d was used to indicate the threshold of hydroplaning, which occurs if the Fr-d is greater than 0.2. Finally, two simple analytical models based on prototype debris flow under 1 g condition was used to validate the experiment results, which further prove the effects of soft marine clay on the high mobility of submarine debris flow. On the other hand, when the water content exceeded 120%, the experiment results deviated from the analytical solution due to the effects of hydroplaning.