Author(s): Jaime Ivan Ordonez

Linked Author(s): Jaime Iván Ordóñez

Keywords: Torrential Flow; Avalanches; Debris flows;

Abstract: Torrential flow is the highest velocity flow that can occur in a given reach of a natural channel, when slope is higher than a given value, (close to 0.001). Such flows occur in mountain streams, and in streams in the piedmont areas, dominated by alluvial cone depositional geo forms. These flows often result in debris flows and avalanches where sediment concentrations exceed normal hydrologic concentrations, reaching values as high as 65% at the source and in the order of 35% to 50% at piedmont alluvial fans. This article presents some of the basic differences between floods of torrential and non-torrential nature, and explore some of the hydrodynamic characteristics of torrential flow, including limiting velocities and water depths, flow concentration and resulting hydraulic regime, based on simple uniform flow concepts.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/38WC092019-1589

Year: 2019