Sediment Concentration Distribution of Debris Flow

Abstract

A theoretical model to simulate the sediment concentration distribution for debris flow with a high concentration is presented by means of the maximum entropy principle, which is a new approach. The result shows that a theoretical relationship is developed to simulate the sediment concentration distribution as a function of the entropy parameter, which can be determined from the equilibrium sediment concentration of debris flow. By comparison with two existing relations, the proposed equation is found to give significantly better agreement with experimental data obtained by Tsubaki et al. than others. To determine the entropy parameter, a semiempirical analysis on the equilibrium sediment concentration of debris flow is also developed. The analysis is achieved by modifying the equilibrium sediment concentration equation proposed earlier by the writers. The modified equation proposed in this study can be applicable to both the forefront concentration and the average global concentration of debris flow. Compared with other researchers’ studies, the modified equilibrium sediment concentration equation is found to be in excellent conformity with theirs when taking 0.04 as the empirical coefficient.