Experimental analysis of the impact process of saturated mixtures on dams

Aim of this work is to experimentally analyze the impact process of saturated granular flows on dams characterised by different shapes. Small-scale model tests were carried out at the University of Pavia in a steep chute equipped with a deposit plane. The average impact force on the dams was measured with a load cell, while two laser level transducers were used to measure flow depth. High speed video-recordings allowed for a qualitative analysis of the surges front composition, of flow overtopping on dams and deposit evolution in time. The geometry of the cross-sections of similar dams appear to strongly influence their effectiveness in retaining material upstream and reducing deposit extension.