Scale Model for Mass Flows Down an Inclined Plane in a Geotechnical Centrifuge

Natural mass flows are among the most dangerous geo-hazards in mountain regions. These mass flows are studied in experimental models in a wide range of model dimensions and flow configurations. However, the scale of the experiments required to bring the flowing material to a stress level close to those of field processes demands larger models. Centrifuge modelling is an attractive alternative to simulate mass flows under controlled boundary conditions while increasing the gravity-driven processes in a small scale model. This paper presented a centrifuge model developed for the simulation of dry and wet granular flows down an inclined plane. The scale model allowed measuring flow height, basal load, flow velocity, and discharge load under an augmented acceleration field. The scale model enabled studying mass flows with reduced dimensions, accounting for the stress-dependent behavior of the solid and fluid phase.