Abstract
On the April 9 of 2000, a gigantic rapid rock slide-debris avalanche occurred in Bomi, Tibet. Some 280–300 × 106 m3 of material travelled 10 km within 10 min and dammed the Yigong River, forming a 2.9 × 109 m³ barrier lake. Wind tunnel testing was undertaken to determine the aerodynamic parameters involved, from the initial rock slide-fall to its point of impact. The paper reports the numerical analyses undertaken and discusses the significance of the air-cushion effect. It is concluded that Yigong rapid rock slide-debris avalanche “flew” in the air for about 12.9 s from its detachment from the source to its collision with the floor of the Zamunong gully at 3,317 m asl. The velocity of the avalanche mass at the point of detachment was some 81.8 m/s and the collision velocity approximately 117 m/s.
Résumé
Le 9 avril 2000, une énorme et rapide avalanche rocheuse a eu lieu à Bomi, au Tibet. Environ 280 à 300 millions de m3 ont parcouru 10 km en 10mn et barré la rivière Yigong, formant un lac de barrage de 2,9 milliards de m3. Des essais en soufflerie ont été réalisés afin de déterminer les paramètres aérodynamiques impliqués, depuis la zone de départ du glissement rocheux jusqu’à la zone d’arrivée des dépôts. L’article présente les analyses numériques réalisées et discute de l’importance de l’effet de coussin d’air. On conclut que le glissement rocheux—avalanche de roche de Yigong a « volé » dans l’air pendant environ 12,9 s depuis son départ de la zone source à son point d’impact avec le terrain de la gorge de Zamunong à la cote 3,317 m asl. La vitesse de la masse avalancheuse au point de départ de la zone source était d’environ 81,8 m/s et la vitesse au point d’impact approximativement 117 m/s.
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Yin, Y., Xing, A. Aerodynamic modeling of the Yigong gigantic rock slide-debris avalanche, Tibet, China. Bull Eng Geol Environ 71, 149–160 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-011-0348-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-011-0348-9