Title: Dam break wave of thixotropic fluid

Description: At the end of a dam break wave experiments down a 15 degree slope, the arrested bentonite suspension was quasi-uniformly distributed along the rough plate, but for the leading edge [1,2,3]. At the leading edge, the front curvature developed rapidly after dam break. Since the sidewalls were very smooth, sidewall friction did not play a preponderant role. It is hypothesized that the front curvature might be caused by interactions between sidewall and bottom boundary layers [1]. Yet, the marked curvature of surge front over such short distances is not fully understood.
The thixotropic fluid was a bentonite suspension (15% in mass) pre-sheared vigorously at a constant shear rate of 500 Hz for 20 s and then rested for 1 minute prior to the dam removal.

Credits: Hubert Chanson

References: [1] CHANSON, H., JARNY, S., and COUSSOT, P. (2006). "Dam Break Wave of Thixotropic Fluid." Journal of Hydraulic Engrg., ASCE, Vol. 132, No. 3, pp. 280-293 (ISSN 0733-9429). {http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:78856}
[2] CHANSON, H. JARNY, S., TOCQUER, L., and COUSSOT, P. (2004). "An Experimental Study of Sudden Release of Bentonite Suspensions down an Inclined Chute." Proc. 15th Australasian Fluid Mech. Conf., AFMC, Sydney, Australia, M. BEHNIA, W. LIN & G.D. McBAIN Ed., Paper AFMC00252, 4 pages (CD-ROM) (ISBN 1-864-87695-6). {http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:9429}
[3] CHANSON, H., COUSSOT, P., JARNY, S., and TOQUER, L. (2004). "A Study of Dam Break Wave of Thixotropic Fluid: Bentonite Surges down an Inclined Plane." Report No. CH54/04, Dept. of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, June, 90 pages (ISBN 1864997710). {http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view.php?pid=UQ:9437}

Web Page: http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:78856

Contributed By: Hubert Chanson