the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
| 05 May 2022
An experimental perspective on the effects of initial structures on rock avalanches’ propagation and sedimentary characteristics
Zhao Duan
Qing Zhang
Zhen-Yan Li
Lin Yuan
Kai Wang
Yang Liu
Abstract. Deposit morphologies and sedimentary characteristics are direct threads for investigating rock avalanches. However, these two characteristics and mobility become ambiguous because of the initial discontinuity sets. Therefore, experiments were conducted with different initial configurations of blocks (the long axis of the blocks perpendicularly placed to the strike of the inclined plate EP, parallel to the strike of the inclined plate LV, perpendicular to the inclined plate LP, randomly R and without the blocks NB as a control experiment) and different slope angles in this study. The experimental materials comprised both block and granular materials to simulate large blocks and matrixes, respectively, in natural rock avalanches. The results revealed that the mobility of the mass flows was enhanced at LV, LP and R configurations, whereas it was restricted at the EP configuration. The mobility decreased with the increase in slope angles at LV configurations. Strand protrusion of the blocks made the elevation of the deposits at LV configuration larger than that at EP, LP, and R configurations. An alternate deflection of the blocks for the bending moment that was created during the lateral spread of the mass flows was responsible for creating zigzag structures. Varying degrees of deflection of the blocks demonstrated different levels of collision and friction in the interior of the mass flows; the most intensive collision was observed at EP. In the mass deposits, the blocks’ orientation was affected by their initial configurations and the motion process of the mass flows. This research would provide more ideas for investigating rock avalanches’ surface morphologies and sedimentary characteristics.
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Notice on discussion status
The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.
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Preprint
(8173 KB)
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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.
- Preprint
(8173 KB) - Metadata XML
- BibTeX
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- Final revised paper
Journal article(s) based on this preprint
Zhao Duan et al.
Interactive discussion
Status: closed
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CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-268', Xiao Yu, 09 May 2022
This is an interesting study. Just as the initial rock mass structure controls the expansion and accumulation characteristics of the rock after collapse, considering the accumulation form of the large rock collapse is of great significance to the prevention and control of rock collapse disasters. It should be noted that the rock mass will be broken and disintegrated during the long-distance migration, which may be a long-term behavior after the landslide failure. It is worth exploring whether the large boulders are the products of the damaged source and whether the unbroken large boulders show the characteristics consistent with the manuscripts after a long enough propagation distance. Future research can consider the impact of rock mass fragmentation on the migration and accumulation of large blocks, and how the accumulation of large rocks may imply the dynamic characteristics of disasters.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-268-CC1 -
AC1: 'Reply on CC1', Yanbin Wu, 31 May 2022
Dear Xiao Yu,
Thank you very much for your helpful comments.
Certainly, just as you said “the rock mass will be broken and disintegrated during the long-distance migration”. There are avalanche events with rock mass disintegrated by discontinuous sets. Such as the Jiweishan rock avalanche in Chongqing, China, and Frank Slide in southwest Alberta, Canada.
The orientation of large boulders in accumulation area may differ from that one in source area because factors including terrain and mass materials can also influence the orientation of large boulders. However, our experiments showed a similar orientation of large blocks before releasing and after releasing. It is noted that the sliding mass exhibits well-preserved initial discontinuous structures in the EI Magnifica rock avalanche (Magnarini et al. 2021). This is similar with our study.
Thank you very much, the studies on rock mass fragmentation have been conducted in-depth (Lin, et al. 2020 and 2021; Bowman and Take, 2015), which is meaningful. We will pay attention to how the accumulation of large rocks may imply the dynamic characteristics of disasters in further studies.
References:
Magnarini, G., Mitchell, T. M., Goren, L., Grindrod, P. M., and Browning, J.: Implications of longitudinal ridges for the mechanics of ice-free long runout landslides, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 574, 117177, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117177, 2021.
Lin, Q., Cheng, Q., Li, K., Xie, Y., and Wang, Y.: Contributions of Rock Mass Structure to the Emplacement of Fragmenting Rockfalls and Rockslides: Insights From Laboratory Experiments, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 125, e2019JB019296, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB019296, 2020.
Lin, Q., Wang, Y., Xie, Y., Cheng, Q., and Deng, K.: Multiscale effects caused by the fracturing and fragmentation of rock blocks in rock mass movement: Implications for rock avalanche propagation, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 2021, 1-25, 10.5194/nhess-2021-127, 2021.
Bowman, E. T. and Take, W. A.: The runout of chalk cliff collapses in England and France—case studies and physical model experiments, Landslides, 12, 225-239, 10.1007/s10346-014-0472-2, 2015.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-268-AC1
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AC1: 'Reply on CC1', Yanbin Wu, 31 May 2022
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RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-268', Anonymous Referee #1, 19 May 2022
The initial discontinuous sets play an important role for the happening of rock avalanches. The authors performed a series of mass flows with different initial configurations and with materials containing blocks and fine particles. This is an interesting experiment, in which the runout of these mass flows at different configurations showed both inhibiting and intensifying effects. However, there are still some points confused me, please clarify.
Figure 2, the caption is “experimental apparatus”, but what is mean the right part of the figures? Please clarify and provide more details.
L 110, how were the blocks produced? It should be specific and others can repeat the procedure.
In addition, I noticed that the sand the authors used to produce the blocks is with different colors. Does the attributes of the sand or sand blocks affect by the difference in colors? Besides that, is the particle size of the sand with different colors same?
What is the intention the different color blocks were used to simulate the large blocks in field? Is the intention to study the sequence of sliding mass during motion? Because I noted the blocks with different colors was placed in a same layer (Figure 6).
The results showed that the blocks contained relatively well the initial structures. Are avalanche events in field with a same phenomenon?
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-268-RC1 -
AC1: 'Reply on CC1', Yanbin Wu, 31 May 2022
Dear Xiao Yu,
Thank you very much for your helpful comments.
Certainly, just as you said “the rock mass will be broken and disintegrated during the long-distance migration”. There are avalanche events with rock mass disintegrated by discontinuous sets. Such as the Jiweishan rock avalanche in Chongqing, China, and Frank Slide in southwest Alberta, Canada.
The orientation of large boulders in accumulation area may differ from that one in source area because factors including terrain and mass materials can also influence the orientation of large boulders. However, our experiments showed a similar orientation of large blocks before releasing and after releasing. It is noted that the sliding mass exhibits well-preserved initial discontinuous structures in the EI Magnifica rock avalanche (Magnarini et al. 2021). This is similar with our study.
Thank you very much, the studies on rock mass fragmentation have been conducted in-depth (Lin, et al. 2020 and 2021; Bowman and Take, 2015), which is meaningful. We will pay attention to how the accumulation of large rocks may imply the dynamic characteristics of disasters in further studies.
References:
Magnarini, G., Mitchell, T. M., Goren, L., Grindrod, P. M., and Browning, J.: Implications of longitudinal ridges for the mechanics of ice-free long runout landslides, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 574, 117177, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117177, 2021.
Lin, Q., Cheng, Q., Li, K., Xie, Y., and Wang, Y.: Contributions of Rock Mass Structure to the Emplacement of Fragmenting Rockfalls and Rockslides: Insights From Laboratory Experiments, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 125, e2019JB019296, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB019296, 2020.
Lin, Q., Wang, Y., Xie, Y., Cheng, Q., and Deng, K.: Multiscale effects caused by the fracturing and fragmentation of rock blocks in rock mass movement: Implications for rock avalanche propagation, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 2021, 1-25, 10.5194/nhess-2021-127, 2021.
Bowman, E. T. and Take, W. A.: The runout of chalk cliff collapses in England and France—case studies and physical model experiments, Landslides, 12, 225-239, 10.1007/s10346-014-0472-2, 2015.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-268-AC1 - AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Yanbin Wu, 24 Jul 2022
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AC1: 'Reply on CC1', Yanbin Wu, 31 May 2022
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RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-268', Luigi Guerriero, 10 Jun 2022
Dear Editor, dear Authors:
This manuscript entitled “An experimental perspective on the effects of initial structures on rock avalanches’ propagation and sedimentary characteristics” presents results from a rock avalanche runout experiment, in terms of propagation characteristics and deposit morphology, to identify potential controlling action of geologic setting of the source volume (i.e. rock fragmentation due to discontinuities) and slope angle. The topic fits the scope of the journal and might be of interest for the scientific community, however, in my opinion, the manuscript, in its actual form, is not ready for publication in an international journal as Solid Earth. My major concern is related to the novelty that the paper brings to the scientific community, since the authors refers their interpretations to similar experiments already conducted. In addition, the significance of the experiment is limited by i) the lack of a specific geologic contextualization (i.e. it is not clear to me if the results of the experiment are of general interest or refer to a specific geologic predisposing condition), ii) an oversimplification of the analysis that use blocks of a single dimension and shape (i.e. in natural rock avalanches block shape and dimension can be extremely variable in relation to the local geologic setting and their interaction during motion is consistently related to their variable form and shape), iii) the lack of a robust interpretation of the results based on results from real rock avalanches field analyses (i.e. the authors substantially interpreted the results on the basis of the results of further experiments). Finally, the significance of the paper and the novelty bring to the knowledge of the topic do not emerge from the text. To facilitate the process of addressing the indicated limitations, I attached an annotated manuscript with specific comments.
Best regards,
Luigi Guerriero.
- AC3: 'Reply on RC2', Yanbin Wu, 24 Jul 2022
Interactive discussion
Status: closed
-
CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-268', Xiao Yu, 09 May 2022
This is an interesting study. Just as the initial rock mass structure controls the expansion and accumulation characteristics of the rock after collapse, considering the accumulation form of the large rock collapse is of great significance to the prevention and control of rock collapse disasters. It should be noted that the rock mass will be broken and disintegrated during the long-distance migration, which may be a long-term behavior after the landslide failure. It is worth exploring whether the large boulders are the products of the damaged source and whether the unbroken large boulders show the characteristics consistent with the manuscripts after a long enough propagation distance. Future research can consider the impact of rock mass fragmentation on the migration and accumulation of large blocks, and how the accumulation of large rocks may imply the dynamic characteristics of disasters.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-268-CC1 -
AC1: 'Reply on CC1', Yanbin Wu, 31 May 2022
Dear Xiao Yu,
Thank you very much for your helpful comments.
Certainly, just as you said “the rock mass will be broken and disintegrated during the long-distance migration”. There are avalanche events with rock mass disintegrated by discontinuous sets. Such as the Jiweishan rock avalanche in Chongqing, China, and Frank Slide in southwest Alberta, Canada.
The orientation of large boulders in accumulation area may differ from that one in source area because factors including terrain and mass materials can also influence the orientation of large boulders. However, our experiments showed a similar orientation of large blocks before releasing and after releasing. It is noted that the sliding mass exhibits well-preserved initial discontinuous structures in the EI Magnifica rock avalanche (Magnarini et al. 2021). This is similar with our study.
Thank you very much, the studies on rock mass fragmentation have been conducted in-depth (Lin, et al. 2020 and 2021; Bowman and Take, 2015), which is meaningful. We will pay attention to how the accumulation of large rocks may imply the dynamic characteristics of disasters in further studies.
References:
Magnarini, G., Mitchell, T. M., Goren, L., Grindrod, P. M., and Browning, J.: Implications of longitudinal ridges for the mechanics of ice-free long runout landslides, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 574, 117177, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117177, 2021.
Lin, Q., Cheng, Q., Li, K., Xie, Y., and Wang, Y.: Contributions of Rock Mass Structure to the Emplacement of Fragmenting Rockfalls and Rockslides: Insights From Laboratory Experiments, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 125, e2019JB019296, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB019296, 2020.
Lin, Q., Wang, Y., Xie, Y., Cheng, Q., and Deng, K.: Multiscale effects caused by the fracturing and fragmentation of rock blocks in rock mass movement: Implications for rock avalanche propagation, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 2021, 1-25, 10.5194/nhess-2021-127, 2021.
Bowman, E. T. and Take, W. A.: The runout of chalk cliff collapses in England and France—case studies and physical model experiments, Landslides, 12, 225-239, 10.1007/s10346-014-0472-2, 2015.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-268-AC1
-
AC1: 'Reply on CC1', Yanbin Wu, 31 May 2022
-
RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-268', Anonymous Referee #1, 19 May 2022
The initial discontinuous sets play an important role for the happening of rock avalanches. The authors performed a series of mass flows with different initial configurations and with materials containing blocks and fine particles. This is an interesting experiment, in which the runout of these mass flows at different configurations showed both inhibiting and intensifying effects. However, there are still some points confused me, please clarify.
Figure 2, the caption is “experimental apparatus”, but what is mean the right part of the figures? Please clarify and provide more details.
L 110, how were the blocks produced? It should be specific and others can repeat the procedure.
In addition, I noticed that the sand the authors used to produce the blocks is with different colors. Does the attributes of the sand or sand blocks affect by the difference in colors? Besides that, is the particle size of the sand with different colors same?
What is the intention the different color blocks were used to simulate the large blocks in field? Is the intention to study the sequence of sliding mass during motion? Because I noted the blocks with different colors was placed in a same layer (Figure 6).
The results showed that the blocks contained relatively well the initial structures. Are avalanche events in field with a same phenomenon?
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-268-RC1 -
AC1: 'Reply on CC1', Yanbin Wu, 31 May 2022
Dear Xiao Yu,
Thank you very much for your helpful comments.
Certainly, just as you said “the rock mass will be broken and disintegrated during the long-distance migration”. There are avalanche events with rock mass disintegrated by discontinuous sets. Such as the Jiweishan rock avalanche in Chongqing, China, and Frank Slide in southwest Alberta, Canada.
The orientation of large boulders in accumulation area may differ from that one in source area because factors including terrain and mass materials can also influence the orientation of large boulders. However, our experiments showed a similar orientation of large blocks before releasing and after releasing. It is noted that the sliding mass exhibits well-preserved initial discontinuous structures in the EI Magnifica rock avalanche (Magnarini et al. 2021). This is similar with our study.
Thank you very much, the studies on rock mass fragmentation have been conducted in-depth (Lin, et al. 2020 and 2021; Bowman and Take, 2015), which is meaningful. We will pay attention to how the accumulation of large rocks may imply the dynamic characteristics of disasters in further studies.
References:
Magnarini, G., Mitchell, T. M., Goren, L., Grindrod, P. M., and Browning, J.: Implications of longitudinal ridges for the mechanics of ice-free long runout landslides, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 574, 117177, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117177, 2021.
Lin, Q., Cheng, Q., Li, K., Xie, Y., and Wang, Y.: Contributions of Rock Mass Structure to the Emplacement of Fragmenting Rockfalls and Rockslides: Insights From Laboratory Experiments, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 125, e2019JB019296, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB019296, 2020.
Lin, Q., Wang, Y., Xie, Y., Cheng, Q., and Deng, K.: Multiscale effects caused by the fracturing and fragmentation of rock blocks in rock mass movement: Implications for rock avalanche propagation, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 2021, 1-25, 10.5194/nhess-2021-127, 2021.
Bowman, E. T. and Take, W. A.: The runout of chalk cliff collapses in England and France—case studies and physical model experiments, Landslides, 12, 225-239, 10.1007/s10346-014-0472-2, 2015.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-268-AC1 - AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Yanbin Wu, 24 Jul 2022
-
AC1: 'Reply on CC1', Yanbin Wu, 31 May 2022
-
RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-268', Luigi Guerriero, 10 Jun 2022
Dear Editor, dear Authors:
This manuscript entitled “An experimental perspective on the effects of initial structures on rock avalanches’ propagation and sedimentary characteristics” presents results from a rock avalanche runout experiment, in terms of propagation characteristics and deposit morphology, to identify potential controlling action of geologic setting of the source volume (i.e. rock fragmentation due to discontinuities) and slope angle. The topic fits the scope of the journal and might be of interest for the scientific community, however, in my opinion, the manuscript, in its actual form, is not ready for publication in an international journal as Solid Earth. My major concern is related to the novelty that the paper brings to the scientific community, since the authors refers their interpretations to similar experiments already conducted. In addition, the significance of the experiment is limited by i) the lack of a specific geologic contextualization (i.e. it is not clear to me if the results of the experiment are of general interest or refer to a specific geologic predisposing condition), ii) an oversimplification of the analysis that use blocks of a single dimension and shape (i.e. in natural rock avalanches block shape and dimension can be extremely variable in relation to the local geologic setting and their interaction during motion is consistently related to their variable form and shape), iii) the lack of a robust interpretation of the results based on results from real rock avalanches field analyses (i.e. the authors substantially interpreted the results on the basis of the results of further experiments). Finally, the significance of the paper and the novelty bring to the knowledge of the topic do not emerge from the text. To facilitate the process of addressing the indicated limitations, I attached an annotated manuscript with specific comments.
Best regards,
Luigi Guerriero.
- AC3: 'Reply on RC2', Yanbin Wu, 24 Jul 2022
Peer review completion
Journal article(s) based on this preprint
Zhao Duan et al.
Zhao Duan et al.
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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.
- Preprint
(8173 KB) - Metadata XML