Experimental studies on the mechanical behaviour of a volcanoclastic material

The study of the stability conditions of submarines volcanic flank can be of relevant interest since debris flows and debris avalanches are frequently observed phenomena on these kinds of slopes. The objective of this work concerns the hazard assessment of volcanic area where pyroclastic accumulations are present. The hazard is related to the remobilizing of the pyroclastic material and to the consequent formation of anomalous sea waves and of a large scale submarine flow. Preliminary results regarding the laboratory tests performed on the pyroclastic material forming the western side slope of the Stromboli volcano are reported in this paper. The paper describes, the results obtained from small scale laboratory analysis on the pyroclastic grains and the large scale tilt test device set up for the study of the shear behavior of the pyroclastic debris material.