Wave types and energy conversion of impulse waves generated by landslides into mountain reservoirs

Abstract

Subaerial landslides sliding into shallow water are physically modeled in a three-dimensional wave basin. The generated impulse waves are highly nonlinear, and a large-scale splash zone is formed above the waves. Such impulse wave characteristics are different from those from landslides into deep water that are completely submerged after sliding. The recorded wave profiles included three wave types, namely nonlinear oscillatory wave, nonlinear transition wave and bore-like wave, mainly depending on the relative slide thickness and slide Froude number at impact. Bore-like waves were possible produced only by landslides into shallow water in three-dimensional experiments. The conversion rate of landslide kinetic energy at impact into the wave train energy is 1 to 18%. Energy conversion characteristics are compared with other two- and three-dimensional studies on landslide-generated waves and the results are discussed.