Abstract
High-frequency seismic waves are generated by inter-particle collisions
during granular flows travel downslope. However, the accurate estimation
of particle impact rates over granular layers remains a challenging
issue. Here, controlled laboratory experiments were performed to
investigate basal dynamic pressures triggered by the impact of particles
on an instrumented plate mounted on an inclined chute bed. For a similar
set-up, the discrete element method was utilized to determine
granular-flow characteristics and the rate of inter-particle collisions.
From a thermodynamic perspective, we present a novel model for
calculating the impact rate over the granular-flow depth. Our estimates
agree with the simulated results and previous laboratory measurements of
acoustic power, suggesting that the impact rate follows a Gaussian
distribution across the flow depth and the exponential attenuation
factor of radiated acoustic power may correlate with thermodynamic
parameters of granular material. These findings may help better
understand the source of the high-frequency granular-flow signals.