Constant-settling runout in a triangular valley ($R=[7\mathrm{Fr}\sqrt{g_0^{\prime }}(W/\lambda {)}^{3/4}/(4w_s){]}^{4/7}$)

For a dilute well-mixed particle current of conserved bulk volume $W$, triangular section $\lambda h^2$, constant particle settling speed $w_s$ and initial reduced gravity $g_0^{\prime }$, put $s=\sqrt{\varphi /{\varphi }_0}$. The balances give $\dot{X}=Bs{X}^{-1/4}$ and $\dot{\varphi }=-2w_s\varphi /h$, where $B=\mathrm{Fr}\sqrt{g_0^{\prime }}(W/\lambda {)}^{1/4}$. Eliminating time gives $s=1-(X/R{)}^{7/4}$ and the displayed limiting runout. It is approached at infinite time. Early spreading has the inertial $t^{4/5}$ exponent, while settling limits the eventual reach.

Under the same box-model assumptions, $M_0={\rho }_p{\varphi }_{0}W$ is initial particle mass and $m_d$ is final deposited mass per downstream length. Integrate the vertical particle deposition flux across the instantaneous triangular-valley width $2\lambda h$ from arrival of the front at $x$ until settling is complete. This gives the displayed profile on $0\le x\le R$ and zero beyond the runout. Its integral is $M_0$, verifying particle mass conservation. Areal deposit density also depends on the lateral coordinate because the wetted valley width changes as the current thins.

// Target: geophysics.bigb