Influence of bottom resistance on granular flows

Many mountain hazards like snow avalanches, landslides, rock falls, debris flows have the characteristics of granular flow, and therefore the research on the processes of granular flow influenced by different factors is favorable to the human´s acquaintance with the characteristics and regularities of mountain hazards. As a result of the further research, the disaster prevention and mitigation could be ameliorated. In order to study the influence of bottom-surface resistance on granular flow, the numerical simulation calculation aiming at the process of the granular flowing in different condition of bottom resistance is made by use of the theory of SH granular flow and the method of finite volume discretization. The numerical results show that the bottom friction angle which represents bottom-surface resistance condition is the key factor that decide the final place of deposition, that is to say, the bottom friction angle has a great effect on granular flow. When the bottom-surface resistance of local zone is high, granular flow forms an upheaval during the flowing process, and this may be the main cause of the formation of the dragon head in actual disasters. Besides, uneven distribution of bottom-surface resistance may cause waves of mountain disasters during the motion development.