RHEOLOGY OF

HYPERCONCENTRATED FLOWS

Pierre Y. Julien
Colorado State University
Engineering Research Center

1
 Objective

Provide guidelines on the rheology of

hyperconcentrated flows
Rheology of Hyperconcentrated
Sediment Flows
Total shear stress :
= y + v + t + d
Yield stress
Viscous stress
Turbulent stress
Dispersive stress
Quadratic rheological equation
(OBrien and Julien, 1985)

du du 2
= y + dy + dy

Yield
stress

y = c + mc
Yield Stress Measurements

Julien (2010)
Quadratic rheological equation
(OBrien and Julien, 1985)

du du 2
= y + dy + dy

Yield Viscous
stress stress

y = c + mc
Viscosity Measurements

Julien (2010)
Example of rheometer measurements

Cv = 0.38
y = 13 Pa
= 0.022 Pa.s

Quadratic rheological equation
(OBrien and Julien, 1985)

du du 2
= y + dy + dy

Yield Viscous Turbulent Dispersive

stress stress stress stress

2 2 2
y = c + mc = m lm + ais ds
 Dimensionless rheological model
(Julien and Lan, 1991)

= 1 + (1 + d*)aiDv*
2
- y mlm s 2 d2s du
*
= d* = D*v =

du ais 2d2s dy
dy

Low * High d* High Dv*

Viscous Turbulent Dispersive

Flow Flow Flow
Dimensionless rheological model
 Dispersive - Turbulent

Dispersive < > Turbulent

Julien and Paris, ASCE-JHE (2010)

 Flow Classification
Dominant stress - Flow Type

Viscous Mudflow
Dv* < 30

Turbulent Mud Flood

Dv* > 400 and d*>1

Dispersive Debris Flow

Dv* > 400 and d*<1
 Mudflow
High viscosity and
yield stress
High
concentration of
silts and clays
45% < Cv < 55%
Low velocity
Low Froude
Number
No abrasion
Large flow depths
High pressure
Mud Flow, from OBrien
Mudflow

Mud Flow, from OBrien

 Mud Flood

Turbulent
Non-cohesive
particles
Cv as high as 40%
High velocity
High Froude
Number
Abrasive
Mud Flood, from OBrien
Mud Flood

Mud Flood, Nojiri River in Japan

Debris Flow
Dispersive
Large clastic
particles
Non cohesive
Low viscosity
High velocity
Destructive impact
force

Debris Flow in Japan from Takahashi

Debris Flow

San Julian, Venezuela in 1999

San Julian, Venezuela in 1999
 Conclusions
The rheology of hyperconcentrated flows is very
important to determine the type of flow.

Mudflows exhibit high yield and viscous stresses

Mud floods are predominantly turbulent

Debris flows have dominant dispersive stress

THANK YOU!