Field physical model tests on the mechanism of river blocking by debris flow in the middle reaches of the Dadu River, Southwest China.

Debris flow is a typical natural disaster in the middle reaches of the Dadu River, Southwest China. Field physical model tests were conducted to reveal the mechanism of river blocking by debris flow in the middle reaches of the Dadu River. The dynamic processes of riHver blocking by debris flows were revealed, and based on which three typical river-blocking modes of debris flow are observed, i.e. thrust-type river blocking, mixed-flow-type river blocking and progressive river blocking. The test results showed that the material composition of debris flows plays an important role in the river-blocking mode, only the tests that adopted the mixed soil and gravel exhibited the thrust-type river blocking mode. The material composition has a controlling effect on the thrust-type river-blocking model. Mixed-flow-type river-blocking mode appears most often in the tests with an intersection angle of 60°, because the small intersection angle is conducive to the mixing of the debris flow and the water in the main channel. The debris flows composed of sand tend to block the river with mixed-flow-type river-blocking mode, accounting for 50% of the occurrences in the model tests. The high flow rate and discharge in the main channel and the low flow rate and discharge in the branch channel are the key factors controlling the progressive river-blocking mode. The test results in this study can support the debris flow disaster prevention and mitigation in this area.