International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Debris flows and sediment transport in steep catchments

Dieter Rickenmann WSL - Swiss Federal Research Institute, Mountain Hydrology and Torrents, Birmensdorf, Switzerland

Debris flows + sediment transport in torrents

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Sediment transport processes in torrent channels

Sediment transport

Debris flow

Structure of content 1) Introduction 2) Debris flows: hazard and sediment delivery 3) Bedload transport in torrents and mountain rivers 4) Example of floods 2005, Swiss Alps 5) Conclusions

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Fast mass movements: variability of material composition movements:

rock avalanche

Debris flow initiation by landsliding

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Erosion by debris flows: events of 18.7./24.8. 1987, Val Varuna, GR/CH (1520 m a.s.l.) flows: Varuna,
(a) before 1987 (b) after first event (c) after second event

Example application: Val Varuna (canton Grisons, CH), 18.7.1987 Catchment area: 6.5 km2 Altitude: 3453 - 1040 m a.s.l. Mean slope angle (torrent): 40% Mean slope angle (fan): 15% Event volume: 200000 m3 Peak discharge: 600 m3/s

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Flooding due to aggradation (Poschiavino/Val Varuna, CH, 18.7.87) Poschiavino/Val Varuna, debris flow

Debris flow experiments: Zailysky Alatau mountains (Kazakhstan) experiments: Kazakhstan)

Chemolgan test site

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Transition sediment transport - debris flows

Takahashi (1991), equilibrium sediment concentration in debris flows (theory + experiments):

Cs / C* = (s 1) tan / [(tan tan ) / C*]

(Rickenmann 1990), bedload transport experiments:

Qb = 6.8 Qm S 2.1 ==> Cs / C* = 6.8 S 2.1 / (6.8 S 2.1 + 1)

Tognacca (1999), laboratory experiments on debris flows + bedload transport experiments of Smart/Jggi:

Cs / C* = [tanh(9.0 Se 0.85 - 2.4) / 2.3] + 0.43

Cs : volume sediment concentration of the flow C* : maximum packing density of the bed material Se S: energy slope or bedslope (tan sin)

Transition sediment transport - debris flows

Comparison of equations for sediment concentration estimates, with data from Chemolganexperiments Rickenmann (2005)

CS / C* 1

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

1972 1973 1975 1976 Rickenmann (1990) Takahashi (1991) Tognacca (1999)

0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6

S = tan

0.8

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Headwater catchments: interaction of runoff processes, catchments: processes, shallow landslides, sediment transport and debris flows landslides,

Location: channel bed, small to medium gradients (<= 15 ... 30 %)

channel bed, medium to high gradients (>= 15 ... 30 %)

sideslopes

Trigger:

critical discharge (min. shear stress)

critical discharge or runoff blockage (of water and/ or sediment)

soil saturation (reduction of shear strength)

Process:

sediment transport

debris flows

landslide

Structure of content 1) Introduction 2) Debris flows: hazard and sediment delivery 3) Bedload transport in torrents and mountain rivers 4) Example of floods 2005, Swiss Alps 5) Conclusions

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Sediment transport: equation of Meyer-Peter & Mller (1948) transport: MeyerFor gravel bed rivers, based on laboratory experiments with channel slopes S in the range: 0.0002 S 0.023

exponent 2 is more likely for steep slopes

b = 8 (m' c )1.5
later corrections
(e.g. Wong & Parker, 2006)

strong reduction for pronounced bed forms in torrent channels

b = dimensionless sediment transport rate = dimensionless bed shear stress c = critical dimensionless bed shear stress
at initiation of transport m' = losses due to form resistance

b =
=

qb ( s 1) g dm3
hS ( s 1) dm

Sediment transport in steep channels: equations channels:

Basis: laboratory experiments at ETH Zrich of Meyer-Peter & Mller (1948), Smart & Jggi (1983) and Rickenmann (1990).
Here: simplified equations are shown only, for s = 2.68 and (d90/d30)0.2 = 1.05.

Steep channel slopes, 0.03 S 0.20 qb = 5.8 S2 (q - qc) (1)

All channel slopes, 0.0002 S 0.20 b = 2.5 0.5 ( - c) Fr1.1 2.5 0.5 ( - c) Fr qb = 1.5 S1.5 (q - qc)
Remark: (3) is exactly equivalent with (2) only for small sediment concentrations and approximative similarity between qc and c.
qb = transport rate (per m); q = discharge (per m); qc = critical q at initiation of transport; S = channel slope; b= dimensionless transport rate; = dimensionless bed shear stress; Fr = Froude number

(2) (3)

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

No. Stream 1 Erlenbach 2 Melera

Slope, S 0.17 0.17 0.13 0.11 0.11 0.08 0.07 0.067 0.060 0.057 0.055 0.050 0.050 0.010 0.0090 0.0086 0.0080 0.00280 0.00085

EG Qc Qp [km2] [m3/s] [m3/s] 0.7 1.06 5 0.6 0.56 27 7.6 15.8 0.7 3.85 1.38 1.66 6.5 27.2 6.7 (7) 40 554 0.5 0.5 2 0.3 0.28 2 2.4 0.42 0.35 0.3 1.5 2.5 1 60 1 1 0.27 1.8 44 12 8 13 2.6 1.2 12 -1.5 2.2 3

Observation period

Measuring method

1982-93 SRB, Sensors 1936-51 SRB

Comparison of sediment transport in torrents and gravel bed streams

3 Rio Cordon 4 Rappengraben 2 5 Sperbelgraben 6 Pitzbach 7 Bas Arolla 8 Bridge Creek 9 Rappengraben 1 10 Torlesse Stream 11 Schwndlibach 12 Rotenbach 13 Ashiraidani 14 Jordan (Kinneret) 15 Sagehen Creek 16 Oak Creek 17 Turkey Brook 18 Virginio Stream 19 Aare (Brienz) 20 Inn (Tirol)

1987-94 Metall grill, ST 1928-57 1903-54 1994/1995 1986-87 1971 1903-27 1973-77, 1980 ST ST SB SB BLS ST VTS SRB SRB CVC Dep BLS(HS) VTS BLP VTS BLS BLS BLS

8.5 1953-58, 1976-92 17.6 1955-58, 1975-93 6.5 1.68 3.4 16.6 7.5 190 1978 210 1969, 1974, 1975 1982-84 1969-71 1978-80 1983-85, 1988 1936-37 1931-32 1936

0.035 1590

0.00126 9316

100 1436 200 (1400)

Rickenmann (2001)

21 Rhein (Brugg)

Comparison of sediment transport in torrents and gravel bed streams

A = Qb/S Qb m-Qc bzw. GE/Vre/S ) /Q = A S1.5 (Q - Qc

1E+02
Erlen, winter Erlen, summer Rio Cordon Pitzbach Bridge Creek I Bridge Creek II Roaring river, us Roaring river, ds Torlesse Ashiaraidani Jordan Sagehen Oak, winter 69/70 Oak, winter 71 Turkey Virginio Aare Inn (Tirol) MPM SJ RI Rhein (Brugg) Swiss torrents Rappen 1+2, Sperbel

1.5

1.5
Rickenmann (2001)

Rickenmann

1E+01

1E+00

1E-01

Schoklitsch

1E-02

1E-03

h/d90
1 10

1E-04 0.1

Relative flow depth

100

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Form resistance in torrent channels

- Total resistance kst from Rickenmann (1996), based on field data
23.2 - Grain roughness kr according to Wong & Parker (2006): kr = 6 d 90

n S red = S r n
0. 2

nr/ntot = kst/kr(d90) 1
Gl. (A)

d qb = 12.6 90 d 30

(q qc )S 2.0 (s 1)1.6
0.096

(A): nr/ntot = 0.133 Q

0.19

/ (S

0.19

d90

0.47

0.8 0.6

Gl. (B) Palt 2001

(B): nr/ntot = 0.185 S-0.22 (h/d90)0.55

Palt (2001): nr/ntot = 0.1 S-0.36

0.4 0.2 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 S 0.4

Regression for data calculated with eq. (A): nr/ntot = 0.0745 S-0.473 R2 = 0.8434

0.5

0.6

0.7

Rickenmann et al. (2006)

Comparison of sediment transport in torrents and gravel bed streams

A = Qb/[Sred,k1.5( Qm -Qc] bzw. GE/[Vre Sred,k1.5] )
1E+03
Sred = f(J, h/d90), Sk = slope correction Abrahams (2003)

1E+02

1E+01

1E+00

1E-01

Erlen, winter Erlen, summer Rio Cordon Pitzbach Bridge Creek I Bridge Creek II Roaring river, us Roaring river, ds Torlesse Ashiaraidani Jordan Sagehen Oak, winter 69/70 Oak, winter 71 Turkey Virginio Aare Inn (Tirol) MPM SJ RI Rhein (Brugg) Swiss torrents Rappen 1+2, Sperbel

Rickenmann

Schoklitsch

1E-02

h/d90
1E-03 0.1 1 10 100

Rickenmann (2005)

Relative flow depth

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Sediment transport simulation model: SETRAC

SETRAC
= Sediment Transport Model for Alpine Catchments [developed at
BOKU Univ. in Vienna]

Accounting for form flow resistance losses in steep channels Inclusion of fractional transport (multiple grain sizes) and bed level changes Testing of the simulation model for flood events in torrents and mountain rivers
Rickenmann et al. (2006)

Example: Sediment transport in Luetschine

Flood event of 20 to 23 August 2005, Ltschine mountain river, canton Berne, Switzerland

Erosion along a steep river reach (Stalden - Buechholz)

Deposition along a flat river reach (Buechholz Baumgarten)

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Example: Sediment transport in Luetschine

Flood event of 20 to 23 August 2005, Ltschine mountain river, canton Berne, Switzerland

Sept 2005

before 2005

Flow is from right to left on this map

Sediment transport simulation with SETRAC

Flood event of 20 to 23 August 2005, Ltschine mountain river, canton Berne, Switzerland

Flow is from right to left on this diagram

D. Rickenmann, WSL

confluence of

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Structure of content 1) Introduction 2) Debris flows: hazard and sediment delivery 3) Bedload transport in torrents and mountain rivers 4) Example of floods 2005, Swiss Alps 5) Conclusions

Floods 2005: main processes in torrents

not extremely high flows (water flow excluding sediment") in small torrent catchments for some events large landslides were important triggers partly very high channel erosion rates insufficient discharge capacity and blockage of flow cross-sections

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Floods 2005: main processes in mountain rivers

high sediment (bedload) transport importance of lateral erosion and channel migration blockage of flow cross-sections high damage to infrastructure (e.g. traffic routes)

discharge capacity exceeded bedload transport lateral erosion discharge capacity exceeded and bedload ransport discharge capacity exceeded and lateral erosion bedload ransport and lateral erosion

single process

Combination of processes

Example of overload situation

Sediment transporting flood: overloading of retention basin

Buoholzbach (NW), 70'000 m3

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Floods 2005: documentation of channel processes

Mountain rivers Torrents

debris flows
discharge capacity exceeded bedload transport lateral erosion discharge capacity exceeded and bedload ransport discharge capacity exceeded and lateral erosion bedload ransport and lateral erosion

fluvial sediment transport

2005 Events: Observations on transported sediment volumes for - 34 debris flow events - 39 flood events with fluvial bedload transport

Analysis with simple bedload transport equation Integration over duration of flood event (or observation period):
Qb = bedload transport capacity S = channel slope Q = discharge Qcr = threshold discharge at beginning of bedload transport

Qb = 1.5 (Q Qcr ) S 1.5

bedload volume rainfall-volume 20. - 22. 8. 05 ( = 1) runoff volume 20. - 22. 8. 05 ( = 0.41 - 0.86) reduced runoff volume (main rainfall period) (neglecting effect of Qcr )

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Floods 2005: comparison of bedload transport

GF / VwT bedload volume / runoff volume
1
Haldibach Rotlauibach

debris flow fluvial transport 0.1 Riera de les Arenas

Glyssibach

Acherlibach

0.01

GF = 1.95 Vre S1.5

0.001

0.0001 0.1 1

channelS [%] [%] 10 slope

100
Rickenmann et al. (2008)

Structure of content 1) Introduction 2) Debris flows: hazard and sediment delivery 3) Bedload transport in torrents and mountain rivers 4) Example of floods 2005, Swiss Alps 5) Conclusions

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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International Workshop "Erosion, Transport and Deposition of Sediments"

Bern, Switzerland, 28-30 April 2008

Conclusions 1. 2. Debris flows may supply large sediment loads to receiving streams Fluvial sediment transport during floods 2005 is in agreement with simple transport equation but at channel slopes above ~ 5% transport is reduced
(form resistance losses / limited sediment availability)

3.

Sediment volume of debris flows 2005:

- sediment load is affected by channel slope and runoff volume (similar to fluvial b.l.t.) - some very large events due to landslide input

4.

Continuous transition from debris flows to bedload transport

D. Rickenmann, WSL

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