Effect of variations in the polar and azimuthal angles of coarse particles on the structure of drainage channels in thickened beds

The 3D reconstruction and quantitative characterization of drainage channels and coarse tailings particles in a bed were conducted in this study.The influence of variations in the azimuthal angle(θ)and polar angle(φ)of coarse particles on drainage channel structure was analyzed,and the drainage mechanism of the bed was studied.Results showed that water discharge in the bed reduced the size of pores and throat channels,increasing slurry concentration.The throat channel structure was a key component of the drainage process.Theφandθof particles changed predominantly along the length direction.The changes inφhad a cumulative plugging effect on the drainage channel and increased the difficulty of water discharge.The rake and rod formed a shear ring in the tailings bed with shear,and theθdistribution of particles changed from disorderly to orderly during the rotation process.The drainage channel was squeezed during the shearing process with the change inθ,which broke the channel structure,encouraged water discharge in the bed,and facilitated a further increase in slurry concentration.The findings of this work are expected to offer theoretical guidance for preparing high-concentration underflow in the tailings thickening process.

Types and Causes of Debris Flow Damage to Drainage Channels in the Wenchuan Earthquake Area

Debris flows are among the most common geological disasters in China,and have been particularly frequent in Sichuan Province since the Wenchuan earthquake on 12 May 2008.The construction of debris flow drainage channels is a countermeasure used to distribute debris flow fans,and these channels play a critical role in the mitigation and prevention of damage resulting from debris flows.Under field conditions,the useful life of drainage channels can be greatly shortened as a result of strong abrasions to the drainage structure caused by the debris flow.Field investigations have shown that the types of damage to drainage channels include(a) erosion caused by hyper-concentrated silt flow,(b) impact fractures and foundation scour at the groundsills of the drainage channel,(c) destruction of the drainage channel outlet,and(d) destruction of the drainage channel caused by debris flow abrasion.In addition,based on the destruction of the drainage channel during the debris flow drainage process,a new type of drainage channel with energy dissipation components was proposed and applied in a steep,narrow gully for debris flow mitigation.Moreover,design and engineering repair recommendations for drainage channels are provided as a reference for repairing the damage to the channel.The results can provide an important reference for the effective repair and optimal design of drainage channels.

Characteristics of viscous debris flow in a drainage channel with an energy dissipation structure

A new type of drainage channel with an energy dissipation structure has been proposed based on previous engineering experiences and practical requirements for hazard mitigation in earthquakeaffected areas.Experimental studies were performed to determine the characteristics of viscous debris flow in a drainage channel of this type with a slope of 15%.The velocity and depth of the viscous debris flow were measured,processed,and subsequently used to characterize the viscous debris flow in the drainage channel.Observations of this experiment showed that the surface of the viscous debris flow in a smooth drainage channel was smoother than that of a similar debris flow passing through the energy dissipation section in a channel of the new type studied here.However,the flow patterns in the two types of channels were similar at other points.These experimental results show that the depth of the viscous debris flow downstream of the energy dissipation structure increased gradually with the length of the energy dissipation structure.In addition,in the smooth channel,the viscous debris-flow velocity downstream of the energy dissipation structure decreased gradually with the length of the energy dissipation structure.Furthermore,theviscous debris-flow depth and velocity were slightly affected by variations in the width of the energy dissipation structure when the channel slope was 15%.Finally,the energy dissipation ratio increased gradually as the length and width of the energy dissipation structure increased;the maximum energy dissipation ratio observed was 62.9%(where B = 0.6m and L/w = 6.0).

Characteristics of a Drainage Channel with Staggered Indented Sills for Controlling Debris Flows

The characteristics of a new type of drainage channel with staggered indented sills for controlling debris flows were studied. The intermediate fluid in the non-viscous debris flow exhibited a helical movement, whereas the fluid near the sidewall had a stop-start movement pattern; the viscous debris flow exhibited a stable structure between the indented sills. The experimental results indicate that the mean velocity of the debris flow increased with increasing channel gradients, and the debris flow velocity was slightly affected by the angle of the sills. The average velocity of the non-viscous debris flow increased in the range of(0.5–1.5) interval between the indented sills, whereas the average velocity of the viscous debris flow increased initially and then decreased in the range of(0.75–1.25) interval between the indented sills. The depth of the non-viscous debris flow tended to gradually increase as the channel gradients increased, whereas the depth of the viscous debris flow gradually decreased as the channel gradients increased. When the discharge of the debris flow was constant, the angle and the interval between the indented sills had a slight effect on the depth of the viscous debris flow, whereas the depth of the non-viscous debris flow exhibited a different trend, as the sill angles and intervals were varied.

Experimental study on the energy dissipation characteristics of debris flow deceleration baffles

Debris flow can cause serious damages to roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructures.Arranging several rows of deceleration baffles in the significant influence on the mobility and deposition characteristic of debris flow. The deposit amount first increased then decreased when the flow density rises,flow path can reduce the flow velocity and ensure better protection of life and property. In debris flow prevention projects, deceleration baffles can effectively reduce the erosion of the debris flow and prolong the running time of the drainage channel.This study investigated the degree to which a 6 m long flume and three rows of deceleration baffles reduce the debris flow velocity and affect the energy dissipation characteristics. The influential variables include channel slope, debris flow density, and spacing between baffle rows. The experimental results demonstrated that the typical flow pattern was a sudden increase in flow depth and vertical proliferation when debris flow flows through the baffles. Strong turbulence between debris flow and baffles can contribute to energy dissipation and decrease the kinematic velocity considerably. The results showed that the reduction ratio of velocity increased with the increase in debris flow density,channel slope and spacing between rows. Tests phenomena also indicated that debris flow density hasand the deposit amount of debris flow density of 1500kg/m^3 reached the maximum when the experimental flume slope is 12°.

Farmers＇ Coping Mechanisms for Common Bean Production under Water-Logged Soil Conditions in Uganda-Rwanda Boarder Region

Common bean （Phaseolus vulgaris L.） is a staple food and income crop in eastern Africa, especially within the Uganda-Rwanda boarder region where it constitutes a major component of food security. Unfortunately, bush beans are severely affected by frequent water-logging which persists over a considerable period of the year. In spite of this, farmers have continued to cultivate bush bean though with miserable yields. The study aimed to identify farmers＇ indigenous coping mechanisms to the climatic predicament, as a foundation for nurturing and subsequently designing appropriate management strategies for improved bean production in the region. A household survey was conducted in Kisoro district, in a location representative of the ecological conditions of Uganda-Rwanda region. 96 respondents were selected randomly at village level from a list of 500 households provided by the extension workers. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Findings showed that farmers possess vital coping mechanisms including construction of ridges, fertiliser application and chemical control of pests and diseases to expedite plant growth, and construction of drainage channels. It is clear that farmers＇ indigenous coping mechanisms need further nurturing and refining to improve their performance in dealing with water-logging crisis in the region.