Vibration signal characteristics of debris flow initiation and motion experiments by considering clay content

Abstract

Micro accelerometers are crucial tools for monitoring and providing early warning of geological disasters. This study focuses on the potential debris flow in Wangjiayuan, Fang County, Hubei Province, aiming to explore the relationship between clay content and debris flow motion characteristics. Physical model experiments were designed with varying clay content to simulate debris flow motion, and micro accelerometers were employed to monitor and record vibration acceleration changes during debris flow initiation and motion. Frequency spectra were generated using Fourier transform to analyze the motion characteristics in the frequency domain. The results showed that the predominant period of debris flow initiation ranged from 15 Hz to 29 Hz, while the period during motion in the middle section of the flow area ranged from 36 Hz to 54 Hz. Higher clay particle content was associated with a decrease in both the frequency range and mean of the predominant period, as well as a reduction in the Fourier amplitude extremum. These findings provide a foundation for monitoring and predicting debris flows, and the vibration signal characteristics of debris flow initiation and motion can be used to infer the clay content, offering insights into early warning systems for such geological hazards.