SLUSHFLOW DISASTERS IN JAPAN AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS

ABSTRACT: Slushtlow or slush avalanches are described as the rapid mass movements of water-saturated snow that most commonly occur during the early part ot snowmelt season. In Japan slush avalanches are a major natural hazard on the eastern slope ot Mt. Fuji. In spite ot recent warmer and less snow winter years some slushtlow disasters occurred not only at Mt. Fuji but also in some small rivers at Tohoku and Hokuriku. districts. These slushtlow disasters were reported. To study characteristics ot slushtlow, the measurements ot impact force · and viscosityot slush were carried out. OUr experiments have shown that the slush behaves as "pseudoplastic " ot non-Newtonian fluid with coagulational structures. 1