Modeling pyroclastic flows considering a granular friction law and its application to hazard assessments

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24710199
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Natural disaster science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: MAENO Fukashi 東京大学, 地震研究所, 助教 (20444078)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 火砕流 / 火山噴火 / 粉体流 / 堆積物 / 摩擦

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Dense pyroclastic flows were modeled under the shallow layer approximation, where a granular friction model with a dimensionless number related to physical parameters of the flow (friction angles, grain-size, flow velocity and thickness) was employed. When the model was applied to actual examples of pyroclastic flows, the model could successfully reproduce the major characteristics of the deposits such as distribution and shape. This study showed the importance of introducing the granular friction law into numerical models when we analyze formation processes of pyroclastic flow deposits, and assess pyroclastic flow behaviors and resultant hazards.

Free Research Field

火山地質学