Impulse Product Parameter in Landslide Generated Impulse Waves

Abstract

Subaerial landslide generated impulse waves were investigated in a prismatic wave channel based on Froude similitude and granular slide material. The tests included the following seven governing parameters: still water depth, slide impact velocity, slide thickness, bulk slide volume, bulk slide density, slide impact angle, and grain diameter. All governing parameters, except for the grain diameter with a negligible effect, are included in the impulse product parameter P allowing for a simple application. Empirical equations based on 211 experiments for all relevant wave features in practice including the maximum wave height, the maximum wave amplitude with its location and period in the slide impact zone, and both the wave height and amplitude decay and the period increase in the wave propagation zone are a simple function of P. The presented equations were validated with 223 runs resulting in improved goodness of fit. The limitations of the herein derived empirical equations are also highlighted. The wave height and amplitude equations based on a wave channel (2D) agree well with the 1958 Lituya Bay case.