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A particle suspension contains two particle species with separate particle volume fractions. In an independent-settling model, each species obeys its own flux conservation equation, while a shared stationary deposit can couple the jump conditions through its maximum total packing fraction. Such independence is an imposed model; general hindered settling need not decouple species.

When two species share the same local settling velocity, their total particle volume fraction supports a nonlinear kinematic wave, while their relative composition is transported as a contact-like wave at the common particle speed.

A dilute particle suspension can supply both excess mass density and heat. To first order its equation of state is $\rho /{\rho }_0=1+\gamma \varphi -\theta$, where $\varphi$ is the particle volume fraction and $\theta$ is fractional thermal expansion. Particle deposition flux reduces $\varphi$, while particle heating increases $\theta$. The competition can reverse the reduced gravity and create unstable density stratification.

For hindered settling with normalized particle volume fraction $s$, upward coordinate and downward isolated settling velocity magnitude $V_0$, the scalar conservation law has conservation law flux $f(s)=-V_{0}s(1-s{)}^{\alpha }$. For $\alpha >0$, its convexity changes at $s=2/(\alpha +1)$ when this lies in the physical interval. This change distinguishes spreading rarefaction waves from compressing characteristic curves; a flux with an inflection can produce both a shock wave and a rarefaction wave in one transition. At $\alpha =0$ the flux is linear and the profile simply translates.

For downward settling velocity magnitude $W_s$ and near-bed particle volume fraction ${\varphi }_b$, a horizontal absorbing bed receives particle volume per area per time $J_s=W_s{\varphi }_b$. A bed inclined at angle $\vartheta$ to the horizontal receives $W_s{\varphi }_b\cos \vartheta$ per unit actual area, in the absence of resuspension or additional normal fluid motion.

For a continuous size distribution, let $c_0(w)dw$ be initial particle volume fraction in a settling-speed interval. The settling exposure for a particle size distribution givesThe spectrum continually shifts toward slower-settling particles. The deposit becomes progressively finer outward, with a smooth range of depositional distances instead of two distinct size components. Size-resolved deposition is ${\rho }_p(w)w{\int }_{t_a(r)}^{\infty }{c}_0(w)e^{-wJ(t)}dt$ per speed interval.

There is no universal monodisperse runout formula with an arbitrarily chosen mean settling speed. The box relation isA spectrum bounded away from zero settling speed has a finite limiting radius, but an arbitrarily slow-settling tail can extend the reach substantially or remove a finite runout bound. For example, if $b(w)c_0(w)\sim C{w}^p$ near $w=0$, $p>-1$, its Laplace transform behaves as $g^{\prime }(J)\sim C\Gamma (p+1)J^{-(p+1)}$. The runout integral converges only for $p>1$. A positive population with exactly zero settling speed retains buoyancy indefinitely and spreads without a finite radius limit in this no-entrainment model. Thus the fine tail of the actual distribution, and possible lofting when thermal buoyancy is restored, control the distal outcome.

Let the two populations have settling speeds $w_1\gg w_2>0$ and particle volume fractions $c_1,c_2$. In the same mixed box their scalar equations are ${\dot{c}}_j=-w_j{c}_j/h$, while the common reduced gravity is $g^{\prime }=b_1{c}_1+b_2{c}_2$ after neglecting thermal buoyancy. Both populations are carried by the same radius and depth:The coarse ash deposits rapidly near the source; the fine ash remains aloft longer, sustains the current's buoyancy and is carried farther. The composition of the deposit therefore fines outward. Since the remaining fine ash drives the flow transporting both classes, the runout is not obtained by superposing two independent monodisperse currents.

Define the settling exposure for a particle size distribution $J={\int }_0^{t}ds/h(s)$. Then $c_j=c_{j0}{e}^{-w_{j}J}$ andThe integral is finite when both settling speeds are positive. Each deposited mass is ${\Sigma }_j(r)={\rho }_{pj}{w}_j{\int }_{t_a(r)}^{\infty }{c}_j(t)dt$; their sum is the total deposit, with a coarse proximal component and a finer distal tail. If the actual hot-gas density deficit is retained, early loss of coarse ash can make $g^{\prime }$ vanish and loft the remaining fine-rich cloud, shortening its ground-hugging reach relative to this particle-only calculation.

Model the post-eruption flow as an axisymmetric, shallow, hydrostatic, turbulently mixed layer on a horizontal bed. Neglect entrainment, erosion, heat exchange, rotation and large-scale viscous drag. Particles are dilute, with density ${\rho }_p$, uniform-in-depth particle volume fraction $c(r,t)$ and constant downward settling speed $w_s>0$ relative to the carrier gas. Deposited particles are not resuspended. Their volume is small enough that settling does not significantly change the bulk carrier volume. Let ${\rho }_a$ be ambient air density and ${\rho }_g$ carrier-gas density at its local temperature, and use a leading Boussinesq approximation for the mixture motion. DefineThe hot gas reduces the density excess; the ground-hugging current model requires $g^{\prime }>0$. If density contrasts are too large for Boussinesq dynamics, density-weighted balances would be needed instead. The equations below are a stated shallow-layer model, not a description of the initial explosive vent jet.

For layer height $h$ and radial depth-averaged speed $u$, the appropriate shallow-water balances areThe hydrostatic force gives the nonconservative momentum equation $u_t+u{u}_r=-g^{\prime }{h}_r-(h/2)g_r^{\prime }$. In particular a spatially varying particle fraction must not be treated as constant reduced gravity when differentiating pressure. With no heat exchange or entrainment, a carrier-temperature anomaly $\Theta$ is advected:At this order $b_T$ is proportional to $-\Theta$. At the bed the carrier has no normal penetration and particles have absorbing deposition flux $w_{s}c$; at the top the pressure equals ambient pressure. Axis regularity requires $u(0,t)=0$ and smooth scalar fields, with no further source after the initial pulse. The initial height, particle inventory and temperature anomaly specify the released volume and ash content. Outside the front $r=R(t)$, the current layer is absent. At a resolved advancing head, use the material-front condition and the gravity-current front condition $\dot{R}=\mathsf{F}\sqrt{g_f^{\prime }{h}_f}$, where $\mathsf{F}$ is an order-one front Froude number and $h_f,g_f^{\prime }$ refer to the fluid feeding the head. The front closure replaces unresolved head dynamics; simply prescribing both a zero-depth mathematical edge and a finite-depth box-head speed would be inconsistent.

To obtain a gravity-current box model, assume horizontal as well as vertical mixing, uniform $h(t),c(t),\Theta (t)$ in a disk of radius $R(t)$, and a negligible-volume head whose feeding depth is the box depth. The conserved bulk volume $\mathcal{V}$ givesA bulk velocity $u=(\dot{R}/R)r$ satisfies interior continuity for this box. Rather than impose a uniform pressure on the full shallow-water equations and thereby lose the head force, replace their momentum dynamics by the front closure. Total suspended particle volume is $\mathcal{V}c$, so bed deposition givesThese ordinary differential equations, together with initial $R_0,c_0,\mathcal{V},{\Theta }_0$, are the axisymmetric settling box model. The maintained negative thermal term may eventually cancel particle buoyancy and cause lift-off; beyond $g^{\prime }=0$ this horizontal gravity-current model does not apply.

For the requested particle-only calculation set $b_T=0$ and define the initial reduced gravity $g_0^{\prime }=b_p{c}_0$. The equations reduce toEliminating time gives $d\sqrt{c}/dR=-w_s{R}^3/[2\mathsf{F}\sqrt{b_p}{A}^{3/2}]$. Integrating from the release state yieldsThus the monodisperse circular ash runout has limiting radiusThe maximum outward distance beyond the initial release edge is $R_{\infty }-R_0$. When the vent scale is negligible, set $R_0=0$ in this late-time source idealization. The resulting radius scales as ${\mathcal{V}}^{3/8}(g_0^{\prime }{)}^{1/8}{w}_s^{-1/4}$; it is not obtained by conserving reduced gravity after particles settle out.

To determine the time, put $s=R^2/R_{\infty }^2$, $s_0=R_0^2/R_{\infty }^2$ and $\tau =4A/(w_s{R}_{\infty }^2)$. The concentration relation becomes $\sqrt{c/c_0}=(1-s^2)/(1-s_0^2)$, and the front equation reduces toConsequentlyThe furthest reach is a limiting radius, approached asymptotically rather than attained at a finite stopping time. As the residual particle concentration vanishes, the front slows exponentially. A finite observational threshold for remaining ash would give a finite practical stopping time, but no such threshold is part of these balances.

The local ash deposit density is most naturally its mass per horizontal area, $\Sigma (r)$. Once the front has arrived at $r$, its local deposition flux is ${\rho }_p{w}_{s}c(t)$. For $r<R_{\infty }$, define $s_a=\max (s_0,r^2/R_{\infty }^2)$; the arrival time is zero inside the initial footprint and otherwise $t_a=\tau [\mathrm{artanh}{s}_a-\mathrm{artanh}{s}_0]$. Sincewe can integrate the flux exactly. Using $\int {\mathrm{sech}}^4\xi d\xi =\tanh \xi -({\tanh }^3\xi )/3$ gives the circular ash deposit profileIt is constant under the initial disk, then decreases to zero at the limiting edge. Particle solid volume per area is $\Sigma /{\rho }_p$; deposit thickness is $\Sigma /{\rho }_d$ if a bulk deposit density ${\rho }_d$ including voids is supplied. The problem does not determine that packing density.

For a negligible initial radius this simplifies toIts integral $2\pi {\int }_0^{R_{\infty }}r\Sigma (r)dr={\rho }_p{c}_0\mathcal{V}$ confirms that the complete initial ash inventory is deposited. The finite-$R_0$ formula gives the same budget including its central flat portion.

The diagram uses the negligible-vent-radius idealization and time normalized by $\tau$. It illustrates both the asymptotic approach to $R_{\infty }$ and the smoothly vanishing outer deposit. All these predictions depend on the mixing and constant-Froude head closure; they do not claim to resolve the initial blast or the ultimate inertia-dominated motion of almost particle-free gas.

The Boussinesq approximation requires $\delta =(\rho -{\rho }_0)/{\rho }_0=\varphi ({\rho }_p/{\rho }_0-1)\ll 1$. The reference mass density ${\rho }_0$ can then be used in inertia, while the small density excess is retained in buoyancy. Dilute particle volume fraction $\varphi \ll 1$ alone does not suffice if ${\rho }_p/{\rho }_0$ is exceptionally large. Define $G=g({\rho }_p-{\rho }_0)/{\rho }_0$, so the reduced gravity is $g^{\prime }=G\varphi$.

The shallow water equations require depth small compared with the horizontal evolution scale, weak vertical acceleration and approximately hydrostatic pressure. Here the ambient is deep and quiescent, so its leading contribution is a hydrostatic reference pressure; the excess pressure in the layer is ${\rho }_{0}G\varphi (h-z)$. The model also needs nearly uniform streamwise velocity across the section and the stated absence of secondary circulation. The advancing gravity current nose is a separate region where these assumptions can fail.

A nearly uniform particle volume fraction can be maintained by turbulent mixing with eddy diffusivity $K_z$, provided $h^2/K_z\ll h/w$ and the mixing time is short compared with horizontal advection and bulk evolution. Equivalently, $wh/K_z\ll 1$ keeps the bulk settling-induced gradient small. The particles should respond rapidly enough to follow the mixing motions. A thin boundary layer adjacent to the absorbing bed or walls need not be well mixed.

Uniform bulk concentration does not imply zero sedimentation. The relative downward particle velocity still supplies a particle deposition flux of approximately $w\varphi$ to an absorbing boundary. Mixing redistributes the remaining particles and maintains the bulk concentration profile while its overall level decreases; it need not suspend every particle indefinitely. Deposition requires negligible resuspension in the model.

At the gravity current nose, the depth and velocity change over a distance comparable with the depth, with appreciable vertical acceleration and mixing. The hydrostatic approximation and the depth-uniform interior model do not resolve that structure. A suitable gravity-current front condition iswith a positive, order-one Froude number determined by the nose closure and geometry. It is not fixed by the interior equations alone. This definition uses $\sqrt{g^{\prime }h}$; if the front condition is expressed using $c=\sqrt{g^{\prime }h/2}$, its numerical coefficient changes by $\sqrt{2}$.

For a late-time gravity-current box model, take the depth and particle volume fraction to be uniform over $0<x<X(t)$, and neglect entrainment and resuspension. The initial volume is $\mathcal{V}=\beta h_0^{2}L/2$, soThe total particle volume is $\mathcal{V}\varphi$. Deposition over the projected boundary width gives $d(\mathcal{V}\varphi )/dt=-\beta hXw\varphi$. With the specified hindered settling factor, the prismatic triangular-channel gravity-current box model isInitializing this approximate model with $X(0)=L$ and $\varphi (0)={\varphi }_0$ matches the original volume and concentration; it does not assert that the immediate dam-break flow is a uniform box.

Eliminate time to obtainSince the left primitive is $2\mathrm{artanh}\sqrt{\varphi }$, the hindered-settling runout invariant in a prismatic triangular channel isThis relation, the volume constraint and $\dot{X}$ determine the late-time evolution. If desired, the time is given by the quadrature $t={\int }_L^{X(t)}[\mathrm{Fr}\sqrt{G\varphi (s)h_0\sqrt{L/s}}{]}^{-1}ds$. The physical branch has nonnegative right-hand side in the boxed relation; it ends when that expression reaches zero.

Thus the limiting runout length of a gravity current, measured from the closed end, isThe advance beyond the dam is $X_{\infty }-L$. In the dilute limit, $\mathrm{artanh}\sqrt{{\varphi }_0}\simeq \sqrt{{\varphi }_0}$. The ideal model approaches its finite runout length of a gravity current only as $t\to \infty$: near the limit $\varphi$ decays exponentially with rate $2w_0/h_{\infty }$ and the front speed tends to zero. The exponent $7/4$ uses the prismatic triangular geometry; a channel widening with $x$ has a different volume constraint and runout law.

Use downward distance $y=H-z$, with $z$ the height above the bottom, and write $W=W_s(a)>0$. This convention will also reproduce the printed negative deposit-front velocity in part (d). The ideal simple-cubic sphere packing has packing fraction $\pi /6$; leaving ${\varphi }_{\max }$ symbolic keeps the jump calculation independent of its value. In suspension, the kinematic sedimentation equation isIntegrate this conservation law across a moving discontinuity to obtain the Rankine-Hugoniot conditionThe brackets denote values on the increasing-$y$ side minus those on the other side. A sedimentation shock is a concentration jump moving at this secant slope of the particle flux. Deposited material is stationary and has zero flux.

For the upper clearing front, the states are $0$ and ${\varphi }_{\max }/8$, giving $U_1=7W/8$ downward. For the lower deposition front, the states are ${\varphi }_{\max }/8$ and ${\varphi }_{\max }$, giving $U_2=-W/8$, upward. ThusIn terms of height above the bottom, the shock paths areThey meet when $H=Wt$. Therefore complete settling occurs atThe final height also follows directly from particle volume fraction conservation, ${\varphi }_{\max }{h}_c=({\varphi }_{\max }/8)H$. The stationary deposit after the meeting carries no particle flux.

The diagram plots time vertically against height, as requested. Its shock slopes have the opposite spatial sign to $U_1,U_2$, because those velocities were defined in the downward coordinate.

For identical suspended particles, reduced gravity is proportional to particle volume fraction. If particles settle through the bed at speed $v_s$ and are not resuspended, the downward particle deposition flux removes a buoyancy-equivalent amount $v_s{g}^{\prime }$ per unit bed area. The depth-integrated scalar mass conservation equation isFor a steady particle-laden gravity current, $B_x=-v_{s}B/(uh)$. If $v_s/u\ll 1$, with fixed positive $E$ and drag/slope coefficients, the locally adjusted leading solution of the momentum and volume equations is $u\sim {\beta }_{\ast }{B}^{1/3}$ and $h\sim h_0+E(x-x_0)$. The weak-settling attenuation of a sloping gravity current then givesand henceFor an inlet at $x_0=0$ this has the requested logarithmic form. If the inlet is genuinely at $x_0\ne 0$, the argument must contain $x-x_0$ in order to satisfy the specified inlet condition.

The speed factor must be the ${\beta }_{\ast }$ derived in the previous part. The printed $\beta$ omits the factor one-half multiplying $E\cos \theta$ and uses an undefined uppercase $C$ instead of the governing equation's $c$. Taking $C=c$ still leaves a nonzero leading momentum residual $-\frac{1}{2}E(B/u)\cos \theta$ for the printed speed; this discrepancy cannot be repaired by a correction of order $v_s/u$. With the given hydrostatic momentum equation, the logarithmic law is valid with ${\beta }_{\ast }$, not the printed speed factor.

A controlled local approximation also needs $v_s/(Eu)\ll 1$ if $E$ is allowed to become small. Indeed the exact volume balance is $h_x=E-h{u}_x/u$; under $u\sim {\beta }_{\ast }{B}^{1/3}$ its second term is $v_s/(3u)$. The neglected depth and acceleration corrections become significant as $B$ approaches zero.

For a steady no-source particle-laden gravity current, $B_x=-v_s{g}^{\prime }<0$. Simply entraining particle-free ambient fluid increases volume and dilutes particle volume fraction; it cannot create particle buoyancy flux.

A steady increase can occur if sediment resuspension or bed erosion adds more suspended particle buoyancy than settling removes, if a tributary or lateral particle source supplies a positive flux, or if the buoyancy per unit particle amount increases through a change of the surrounding fluid's density. Changes of particle properties or another buoyancy source can also alter the flux, but they go beyond the fixed-particle, fixed-reference model. In a model with a source $S_B$,Thus the buoyancy production in a particle-laden current requires $S_B>v_s{g}^{\prime }$ in a steady current. In an unsteady current, $B_x$ can be positive even without external addition: local depletion has ${\partial }_t(g^{\prime }h)<-v_s{g}^{\prime }$, so more buoyancy leaves a section than enters it while stored particles are being released. An instantaneous spatial flux increase is not by itself proof of particle production.

The conserved particle volume per unit horizontal area isThe sediment mass determines final deposit thickness: with the stipulated deposit particle volume fraction ${\varphi }_{\max }=1$, all particle volume becomes bed thickness, so $h_c=\mathcal{P}$. For $z_m=H/2$,The final particle volume fraction averaged over the entire container remains the initial average: clear fluid occupies $h_c<z<H$ and the deposit occupies $0<z<h_c$. Averaging over the deposit alone would instead give one, which is a different average.

Take $z$ upward and $u_s>0$ downward. The quadratic hindered-settling flux is $j(\varphi )=-u_s\varphi (1-\varphi )$. Particle mass conservation gives the kinematic sedimentation equationon a smooth characteristic curve. Integrate the scalar conservation law across a moving discontinuity: $V[\varphi ]=[j]$. The Rankine-Hugoniot condition gives the settling shock speedwhere $L$ is the lower side and $R$ the upper side. Since $j^{\prime \prime }=2u_s>0$, a compressive shock has ${\varphi }_L>{\varphi }_R$ and its neighboring characteristic curves point into it.

Put $a={\varphi }_1$, so ${\varphi }_2=2a$, with $0<a<1/4$. The two-layer sedimentation with a compression shock hasThese respectively separate upper suspension from clear fluid, lower suspension from upper suspension, and deposit from lower suspension. Their initial positions are $H,z_m,0$. The characteristic curves in the two suspended states have slopes $u_s(2a-1)$ and $u_s(4a-1)$; clear-fluid and deposit characteristic curves have slopes $-u_s$ and $u_s$.

For $z_m=H/2$, $V_2$ and $V_3$ meet first. Their intersection givesThe potential meeting of the upper two fronts would take $(H-z_m)/(2u_{s}a)$, which is later in the stated range. The new front separates particle volume fraction one from particle volume fraction $a$, soIt follows $z=h_{c1}+u_{s}a(t-t_{c1})$ until it meets $z=H-u_s(1-a)t$. The final mass-conserving intersection isFor $z_m=H/2$, these are $H(1-3a/2)/[u_s(1-a)]$ and $3aH/2$.

The PDF prints a plus sign before $a{z}_m/H$ in the stopping-time numerator. That sign contradicts both the top-front trajectory and particle mass conservation; the correct sign is minus, as derived here. Once all particles are deposited, the remaining $1$-to-$0$ front is stationary because both limiting fluxes vanish.

The first panel shows the two-front merger and the final intersection, with straight characteristic curves in each suspended layer. The second panel shows the tuned three-front intersection.

Put $a={\varphi }_1$, $b={\varphi }_2=a/2$, $z_m=4H/5$, $L=H-z_m$ and $D=(1-b)z_m$. The quadratic hindered-settling flux is convex. At the initial internal interface its lower particle volume fraction is smaller than its upper particle volume fraction, so characteristic curves diverge: the entropy solution has a settling rarefaction fan, not a compression shock. Within this fan,The two bounding straight shocks initially haveThe upper front's nominal meeting with the fan's upper edge occurs atThe lower front meets the fan's lower edge atThe lower meeting is always physical in the stated range. The upper meeting need not happen before the suspension disappears; this distinction matters for sufficiently small $a$.

For the curved settling fronts within a rarefaction fan, the Rankine-Hugoniot condition gives ${\dot{z}}_u=u_s(\varphi -1)$ at the clear-fluid front and ${\dot{z}}_d=u_s\varphi$ at the deposit front. Substitution of the fan particle volume fraction and matching to the straight sections givesThe first curve applies after $t_{c1}$ if that meeting occurs, and the second after $t_{c2}$ until it leaves the fan or deposition ends. If both fronts meet inside the fan, their intersection isThe last surviving characteristic of a settling fan joins $(z_m,0)$ to $(h_c,t_c)$. It has constant particle volume fractionIt is swallowed simultaneously by the clear-fluid and deposit shocks at final deposition. This requires $b\le {\varphi }_{\ast }\le a$, which in the given geometry is equivalent toEquality places the last characteristic curve on the upper fan edge. In the generic fan-intersection regime $a>a_{\ast }$, both nominal meetings and the two curved fronts are realized.

For $0<a<a_{\ast }$ there is early extinction of a settling rarefaction fan. The deposit shock reaches the upper fan edge before the clear-fluid front does, atIt then travels through the remaining uniform particle volume fraction $a$ with speed $u_{s}a$. The upper front retains $V_1$ until the final intersection. Since the final bed height is still $h_c=3aH/5$, the actual stopping time isIn this regime $(h_{c1},t_{c1})$ is only an extrapolated intersection; for $a<1/6$ its extrapolated height is even negative. The line joining the initial internal interface to the final point would have a particle volume fraction greater than $a$, so it is not a characteristic curve emitted by that fan. The single fan-characteristic curve stopping-time construction does not apply to the entire printed interval $0<a<1/2$; the missing subregime must be included.

Both panels label the actual final deposit height and time; the second shows the deposit shock leaving the fan while the upper front remains straight. Finally, the density inversion in a settling suspension puts more particles, hence denser fluid, above lighter fluid. Rayleigh-Taylor instability and overturning can accompany this profile in a real container. They are excluded by the one-dimensional quiescent kinematic sedimentation model used for these calculations.