Introduction

This set of videos presents about 18 hours of footage documenting the 163 experiments conducted at the USGS debris-flow flume from 1992 to 2017. Owing to improvements in video technology over the years, the quality of footage from recent experiments generally exceeds that from earlier experiments.

Use the list below to access the individual videos, which are mostly grouped by date and subject matter. When a video is selected from the list, multiple video sequences are generally shown in succession, beginning with a far-field overview and proceeding to close-up views and post-experiment documentation.

Interpretations and data from experiments at the USGS debris-flow flume are not provided here but can be found in published reports, many of which are available online at: https://profile.usgs.gov/riverson/

A brief introduction to the flume facility is also available online in USGS Open-File Report 92–483 [http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/ofr/ofr92483].

Flume-Video Credits

The experiments shown here would not have been possible without the long-term participation of flume stalwarts:

Tony Bequette, Roger Denlinger, David George, Jonathan Godt, Julie Griswold, Kevin Hadley, Rick LaHusen, Chris Lockett, Jon Major, Mark Reid, Kelly Swinford, Jim Vallance, Joe Walder

Additional assistance vital to successful experiments was provided by:

Kate Allstadt, Erin Bessette-Kirton, Ben Alonzo, Matteo Berti, Jean-François Benoit, Catherine Berger, Tracy Brennand, Dianne Brien, Emily Cahoon, Sue Cannon, Corina Cerovski-Darrian, Dallas Childers, Sarah Christian, John Costa, Jeff Coe, Jonny Cripps, Amberlee Darold, Jay DeNatale, Hannah Dieterich, Carolyn Dreidger, John Duffy, Maxime Farin, Rowdy La Fevers, Brooke Fiderovich, Greg Fiegel, Cate Fox-Lent, Nico Gray, Marc Gullison, Frances Griswold, Tom Hale, Scott Henderson, Shannon Hayes, Neal Iverson, Chris Johnston, Jason Kean, Jackie Kendrick, Peter Kokelaar, Stephen Lancaster, Tom Lill, Michael Manga, Linda Mark, Larry Mastin, Brian McCardell, Luke McGuire, Ben Mirus, Adam Mosbrucker, Simon Mudd, Ben Pauk, Kate Potter, Francis Rengers, Aaron Rhinehart, Ben Schonfeld, Ron Shreve, Bill Shultz, Joel Smith, Oscar Sorenson, Kurt Spicer, Winston Stokes, Gordon Stratford, Doug Tebo, Anthony Thornton, Dan Turner, Tristan Wellman, Victor Tsai, Christine Williams, Peter Vollmoeller, Carl Zimmerman.

Videos of experiments conducted at the USGS Debris-Flow Flume 1992–2017

Side-by-side comparisons of distinctive flow behaviors observed in experiments in which one key variable was changed

Side_by_Side_01. Debris flows on rigid bed vs. erodible bed. TRT:00:01:39

Side_by_Side_02. Debris flows on wet vs. dry erodible bed. TRT:00:00:42

Side_by_Side_03. Debris flow vs. water flood on rigid bed. TRT:00:00:46

Side_by_Side_04. Water floods on rigid bed vs. erodible bed. TRT:00:00:46

Side_by_Side_05. Debris flows with 6 m3 volume vs. 10 m3 volume. TRT:00:01:39

Side_by_Side_06. Debris flows containing 20 percent loam vs. 2 percent loam. TRT:00:01:25

Side_by_Side_07. Debris flows on rough rigid bed vs. smooth rigid bed. TRT:00:01:28

Side_by_Side_08. Debris flows rounding 4-m vs. 10-m radius curve. TRT:00:01:05

Side_by_Side_09. Debris flows running up against vertical wall vs. 30-degree slope. TRT:00:00:56

Side_by_Side_10. Debris flows impacting rigid wall vs. deformable cable net. TRT:00:00:49

Individual experiments grouped by date and subject matter

1992

04-10-1992 First flume test, flow of moist pea gravel

04-30-1992 First debris flow test, wet sand & gravel

05-21-1992 Debris flow, wet sand & gravel

06-10-1992 Debris flow, wet sand & gravel

07-16-1992 Debris flow, wet sand & gravel

09-22-1992 Dry grain flow of Steilacoom gravel

09-25-1992 Debris flow, wet sand & gravel

1993

04-07-1993 Debris flow against cylindrical obstacle

04-08-1993 Debris flow against planar obstacle

05-06-1993 Debris flow, wet sand & gravel

07-21-1993 Debris-flow superelevation, 10-m curve

07-22-1993 Debris-flow superelevation, 10-m curve

08-10-1993 Dry gravel flow with high-speed film

08-11-1993 Dry gravel flow with high-speed film

09-15-1993 Debris-flow superelevation, 4-m curve

09-16-1993 Debris-flow superelevation, 4-m curve

10-19-1993 Debris flow with channelized runout

10-21-1993 Debris flow with channelized runout

1994

04-19-1994 Debris flow, wet sand & gravel

04-21-1994 Debris flow, wet sand & gravel

05-26-1994 Debris flow, wet sand, gravel & loam

06-21-1994 Debris-flow impact on rigid wall

06-23-1994 Debris-flow impact on rigid wall

07-20-1994 Debris flow with loam, channelized runout

08-30-1994 Clear water dam-break flood

08-31-1994 Debris flow with loam, channelized runout

09-28-1994 Water flood following failed landslide experiment

1995

04-26-1995 Debris flow with channelized runout

06-07-1995 Landslide initiation by surface sprinkling

06-08-1995 Landslide initiation by groundwater feed

07-24-1995 Debris flow, partly channelized runout

07-26-1995 Debris flow runout on existing deposit

09-12-1995 Debris flow, wet Steilacoom gravel

09-13-1995 Debris flow with loam, channelized runout

1996

06-18-1996 Debris-flow impact on cable net

06-20-1996 Debris-flow impact on cable net

06-21-1996 Debris-flow impact on cable net

06-22-1996 Debris-flow impact on cable net

06-23-1996 Debris-flow impact on cable net

06-25-1996 Debris-flow impact on cable net

07-24-1996 Landslide initiation, 50% loam

07-25-1996 Landslide initiation, 50% loam

08-27-1996 Debris flow into ponded water

08-28-1996 Debris flow into ponded water

08-29-1996 Debris flow with loam into ponded water

1997

05-20-1997 Debris-flow runup on adverse 30-deg slope

05-22-1997 Debris-flow runup on adverse 30-deg slope

07-22-1997 Debris flow containing 50% loam

07-24-1997 Debris flow containing 50% loam

08-26-1997 Debris flow containing large rocks

08-28-1997 Debris flow containing large rocks

1998

06-17-1998 Landslide initiation, loose 25% loam

06-18-1998 Landslide initiation, loose 25% loam

06-22-1998 Landslide initiation, dense 25% loam

06-23-1998 Landslide initiation, loose 25% loam

06-25-1998 Landslide initiation, dense 25% loam

08-25-1998 Debris flow over rough bed (slatted fence)

08-27-1998a Debris flow on erodible sandy loam bed

08-27-1998b Water flood on sediment-laden bed

09-01-1998 Debris flow on erodible crushed rock bed

09-02-1998 Water flood on existing debris-flow deposit

1999

06-09-1999 Landslide initiation, loose 25% loam

06-10-1999 Landslide initiation, dense 25% loam

06-15-1999 Landslide initiation, dense 25% loam

06-17-1999a Landslide initiation, dense 25% loam first part

06-17-1999b Landslide initiation, dense 25% loam second part

09-15-1999 Debris flow on channeled erodible bed

09-16-1999 Debris flow with surcharge of logs

09-21-1999 Debris flow on erodible bed with logs

09-22-1999 Water flood over eroded sediment bed

09-23-1999 Debris flow on erodible bed with logs

2000

09-19-2000 First debris flow on rough concrete bed

09-21-2000 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed

09-25-2000 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed

09-26-2000 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed

09-27-2000 Dam-break water flood on rough concrete bed

09-28-2000 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on rough bed

09-29-2000 Dam-break water flood on rough concrete bed

2001

2001_06_19 Dam-break water flood on rough concrete bed

2001_06_20 Dam-break water flood over sediment bed

2001_06_26 Dam-break water flood over sediment bed

2001_06_28 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on rough bed

2001_09_11 Controlled water flood over sediment bed

2001_09_13 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on rough bed

2001_09_18 Controlled water flood over sediment bed

2001_09_20 Dam-break water flood over sediment bed

2002

2002_08_28 Dam-break water flood on rough concrete bed

2002_09_10 Dam-break water flood over sediment bed

2002_09_11 Dam-break water flood over eroded sediment bed

2002_09_12 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on rough bed

2002_09_17 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on rough bed

2002_09_18 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed

2002_09_19 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed

2003

06-17-2003 Debris flow over sediment bed at flume base

06-19-2003 Debris flow over sediment bed at flume base

06-24-2003 Debris flow over sediment bed at flume base

06-25-2003 Debris flow over sediment bed at flume base

2004

2004_09_14 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on rough bed

2004_09_20 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed

2004_09_22 Debris flow over sediment at flume base

2004_09_23 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed

2006 (no files for 2005)

2006_06_07 Dam-break water flood on rough bed

2006_06_08a Debris flow, sand, gravel, & loam on rough bed (6m3)

2006_06_08b Dam-break water flood over debris-flow deposit

2006_09_12 Debris flow, sand, gravel, & loam on rough bed (6m3)

2006_09_14 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3)

2006_09_19 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3)

2006_09_21 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3)

2007

2007_06_12 Dam-break water flood on rough bed

2007_06_14a Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3)

2007_06_14b Dam-break water flood over debris-flow deposit

2007_06_19 Debris flow, sand, gravel, & loam on rough bed (6m3)

2007_06_21 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3)



2008

2008_05_13 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3)

2008_05_15 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3)

2008_08_19 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed

2008_08_21 Debris flow, sand, gravel, & loam on rough bed with runout diversion

2008_08_26 Debris flow, sand & gravel with large rocks on rough bed with runout diversion, total run time (TRT): 00:06:52

2008_08_28 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed with runout diversion

2009

2009_06_02 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3)

2009_06_04 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3)

2009_08_18 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed with particle tracking and runout diversion

2009_08_20 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed with particle tracking and runout diversion

2009_08_25 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed with particle tracking and runout diversion

2009_08_27 Debris flow, sand & gravel on rough bed with particle tracking and runout diversion TRT: 00:06:53

2010

2010_05_25 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3). TRT: 00:09:12

2010_05_27 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on rough bed (6m3). TRT: 00:06:50

DamBreach_Introduction Introduction to dam-breach experiments at foot of flume: TRT: 00:02:05

2010_08_18 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 1-m-high dam. TRT: 00:07:29

2010_08_20 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 1-m-high dam. TRT: 00:07:13

2010_08_24 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 1-m-high dam. TRT: 00:07:22

2010_08_26 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 1-m-high dam. TRT: 00:05:44

2011

2011_08_16 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on rough bed (6m3). TRT: 00:05:32

2011_08_18 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3). TRT: 00:07:35

2011_08_24 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3). TRT: 00:05:28

2011_08_25 Dam-break water flood over debris-flow deposit. TRT: 00:02:11

2012

2012_06_13 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 1-m-high dam. TRT: 00:05:23

2012_06_14 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 0.77-m-high dam. TRT: 00:12:02

2012_06_19 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 0.77-m-high dam. TRT: 00:15:47

2012_06_20 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 0.58-m-high dam. TRT: 00:30:27

2012_06_21 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 0.58-m-high dam. TRT: 00:24:45

2012_08_22 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on erodible bed (6m3). TRT: 00:05:45

2012_08_23 Debris flow, sand, gravel & loam on rough bed (6m3). TRT: 00:04:45

2013

2013_06_05 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 1-m-high dam. TRT: 00:06:39

2013_06_06 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 0.75-m-high dam. TRT: 00:23:31

2013_06_10 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 0.87-m-high dam. TRT: 00:25:37

2013_06_12 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 0.87-m-high dam. TRT: 00:20:21

2013_06_13 Dam-breach experiment at foot of flume: water impounded by 0.66-m-high dam. TRT: 00:54:56

2014

2014_07_31 Landslide initiation, loose 25% loam, surface sprinkling only. TRT: 00:02:08

2015

2015_06_08 Debris flow over bare bed, beach sand (6 m3). TRT: 00:04:47

2015_06_09 Debris flow over bare bed, beach sand/gravel mix (6 m3). TRT: 00:06:01

2015_06_10 Debris flow over bare bed, beach sand/gravel mix (6 m3). TRT: 00:05:42

2015_06_11 Debris flow over bare bed, beach sand (6 m3). TRT: 00:06:42

2016

2016_06_14 Debris flow over bare bed, sand/gravel mix (8 m3). TRT: 00:02:46

2016_06_15 Debris flow over bare bed, sand/gravel mix (8 m3). TRT: 00:06:22

2016_06_16 Debris flow over bare bed, sand/gravel mix with large rocks (8 m3). TRT: 00:06:20

2016_06_21 Debris flow over bare bed, sand/gravel mix with large rocks and smart rock (8 m3). TRT: 00:06:072

2016_06_22 Debris flow over bare bed, sand/gravel mix (10 m3). TRT: 00:05:07

2016_06_23 Debris flow over bare bed, sand/gravel mix (10 m3). TRT: 00:05:42

2017

2017_05_16 Landslide initiation, loose 25% loam, surface sprinkling followed by ground water. TRT: 00:01:10

2017_05_17 Landslide initiation, loose 25% loam, surface sprinkling followed by ground water. TRT: 00:01:16

2017_05_18 Landslide initiation, loose 25% loam, surface sprinkling followed by ground water. TRT: 00:00:49

2017_05_23 Debris flow over bare bed, sand/gravel mix with large rocks (8 m3). TRT:00:03:17

2017_05_24 Debris flow over sediment left on the flume bed from May 23, 2017 experiment, sand/gravel mix with large rocks (8 m3). TRT: 00:03:24

2017_05_25 Debris flow over bare bed, sand/gravel mix with large rocks (10 m3). TRT: 00:02:59

