The first detailed quantitative observations of the two-dimensional collapse of a granular column along a horizontal channel are presented for a variety of materials. Together with the complementary study for the axisymmetric situation, we conclude that for granular collapses the generally accepted approaches, that are highly dependent on frictional parameters, do not describe the main flow phenomena. The motion divides in two main flow regimes at $a\sim 1.8$, where the aspect ratio $a=h_i∕d_i$ and $h_i$ and $d_i$ are the initial height and width of the column. We describe the details of collapse by emphasizing the sequential occurrence of a main spreading followed by a final avalanching phase. For the low $a$ regime, $a<1.8$, we derive descriptions of the final geometry by direct physical arguments. For the large $a$ regime, $a>1.8$, we determine that nearly all details of the collapse, including the position of the flow front as a function of time, the emplacement time, the self-similar final profiles, and especially their maximum vertical and horizontal extension, are established during the spreading phase and can be expressed in terms of the initial geometrical parameters but are independent of basal and internal friction parameters.

• Received 23 December 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.72.041301