loading page

Across-Scale Geomechanical Evaluation of Rain Intensity, Slope and Sand Type on Post-Wildfire Mudflow Composition and Onset Mechanisms
  • +2
  • Ingrid Tomac,
  • Jonathon Chavez de Rosas,
  • Melissa Lepe,
  • Wenpei Ma,
  • Mahta Movasat
Ingrid Tomac
University of California San Diego

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Jonathon Chavez de Rosas
University of California San Diego
Author Profile
Melissa Lepe
University of California Irvine
Author Profile
Wenpei Ma
University of California San Diego
Author Profile
Mahta Movasat
University of California San Diego
Author Profile

Abstract

Post-wildfire mudflows have intensified in recent years due to extreme wildfire occurrence, causing significant damage and infrastructure threats. However, despite recent advancements, across-scale geotechnical characterization of mudflow onset and flow behavior remains a challenge. We present a novel experimental and theoretical understanding of the sand type and rain intensity roles on mudflow onset and composition, integrating micromechanics and laboratory experiments. The analysis shows that hydrophobic fine sand, a consequence of wildfires, significantly enhances raindrops’ downhill velocity and splash due to Cassie-Baxter-type surface, as opposed to medium or coarse sand, which affects raindrops as Wenzel surface wettability model. We use micromechanical and single-drop interactions with sand particles to explain erosion on the intermediate scale laboratory tests. Raining experiments on hydrophobic sloped flumes evaluate different slope failure mechanisms in fine, medium, and coarse hydrophobic sand as erosion patterns and seepage induced infinite slope failure in the case of embedded hydrophobic layers. The sand type also affects the spatio-temporal dynamic of erosion onset and distribution of eroded material and overflown rainwater. Surprisingly, we detected a possible equilibrium state where the eroded surface roughness changes affect water overflow and lead to an equilibrium state with very little subsequent erosion under constant rain intensity. On the other hand, erosion gradually increases after the rain starts, reaches a peak, and then subsides very quickly in coarse sand. In contrast, fine sand erosion continues for a longer time but decreases as the surface roughness increases. Furthermore, micromechanical investigation of mixtures of hydrophobic sands, water, and air gives an insight into air entrapment during flow and transport of mudflows. Hydrophobic sand particles attach to air bubbles and form agglomerates, contributing to the mixture heterogeneity and affecting flow and transport properties. Sand particle size, due to gravity, also plays a role in the amount and size of resulting agglomerates. Covering air bubbles with attached sand particles decreases the post-wildfire mudflow density up to 33% in laboratory conditions.