Experimental study on the rheological behaviour of debris flow material in the Campania region

Abstract

The rheological behaviour of the natural material collected in the source area of three debris flows occurring in the mountainsides of the North-western Campania region (southern Italy) has been investigated. The tests have been carried out at different solid volumetric concentration C v with a standard rheometer equipped with two geometric configurations to avoid disturbing effects. All materials behave like a Non-Newtonian fluid with a threshold shear stress τ y (yield stress) that increases with solid volumetric concentration. The experimental data have been fitted with standard model generally used for fluids. A simple relation between C v and τ y has been obtained. © 2009 WIT Press.