Comparative analysis of <i>μ</i>(<i>I</i>) and Voellmy-type grain flow rheologies in geophysical mass flows: insights from theoretical and real case studies

Zhuang, Yu; McArdell, Brian W.; Bartelt, Perry

doi:10.5194/nhess-25-1901-2025

Articles | Volume 25, issue 6

https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-1901-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-1901-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 25, issue 6

Research article

|

06 Jun 2025

Research article |

| 06 Jun 2025

Comparative analysis of μ(I) and Voellmy-type grain flow rheologies in geophysical mass flows: insights from theoretical and real case studies

Yu Zhuang, Brian W. McArdell, and Perry Bartelt

Viewed

Total article views: 2,503 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)

HTML	PDF	XML	Total	BibTeX	EndNote
1,490	554	459	2,503	113	156

HTML: 1,490
PDF: 554
XML: 459
Total: 2,503
BibTeX: 113
EndNote: 156

Views and downloads (calculated since 29 Jul 2024)

Month	HTML	PDF	XML	Total
Jul 2024	66	26	3	95
Aug 2024	90	26	4	120
Sep 2024	65	22	131	218
Oct 2024	21	3	94	118
Nov 2024	23	2	47	72
Dec 2024	10	4	50	64
Jan 2025	21	7	42	70
Feb 2025	15	3	1	19
Mar 2025	11	12	1	24
Apr 2025	16	10	0	26
May 2025	16	3	2	21
Jun 2025	172	50	7	229
Jul 2025	80	19	11	110
Aug 2025	79	18	1	98
Sep 2025	168	30	2	200
Oct 2025	60	39	1	100
Nov 2025	73	55	5	133
Dec 2025	120	56	12	188
Jan 2026	111	45	18	174
Feb 2026	59	22	9	90
Mar 2026	107	38	9	154
Apr 2026	82	57	7	146
May 2026	25	7	2	34

Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 29 Jul 2024)

Month	HTML	PDF	XML	Total
Jul 2024	66	26	3	95
Aug 2024	90	26	4	120
Sep 2024	65	22	131	218
Oct 2024	21	3	94	118
Nov 2024	23	2	47	72
Dec 2024	10	4	50	64
Jan 2025	21	7	42	70
Feb 2025	15	3	1	19
Mar 2025	11	12	1	24
Apr 2025	16	10	0	26
May 2025	16	3	2	21
Jun 2025	172	50	7	229
Jul 2025	80	19	11	110
Aug 2025	79	18	1	98
Sep 2025	168	30	2	200
Oct 2025	60	39	1	100
Nov 2025	73	55	5	133
Dec 2025	120	56	12	188
Jan 2026	111	45	18	174
Feb 2026	59	22	9	90
Mar 2026	107	38	9	154
Apr 2026	82	57	7	146
May 2026	25	7	2	34

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 2,503 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 2,370 with geography defined and 133 with unknown origin.

Country	#	Views	%

1

1

Cited

Saved (final revised paper)

Latest update: 20 May 2026

Short summary

The experimentally based μ(I) rheology, widely used for gravitational mass flows, is reinterpreted as a Voellmy-type relationship to highlight its link to grain flow theory. Through block modeling and case studies, we establish its equivalence to μ(R) rheology. μ(I) models shear thinning but fails to capture acceleration and deceleration processes and deposit structure. Incorporating fluctuation energy in μ(R) improves accuracy, refining mass flow modeling and revealing practical challenges.