Effectiveness of Debris Flow Breakers

Abstract

My Master thesis was completed with great contributions from skilled professionals from the Norwegian University of Sicence and Technology and from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. Special acknowledgment is given to my supervisors Harald Norem, Professor Vikas Thakur and Professor Steinar Nordal. The knowledge and insight of Harald and Vikas on the topic of debris flows has provided me with the right tools to achieve great results on the study of debris flow breakers. I would also like to thank Ashenafi Lulseged Yifru for his assistance with organizing the tests and creating the debris flow material, and Frank Stæhli and Tage Westrum for designing and crafting the solid plates and debris flow breakers used in the physical experiments. Geir Tesaker is also acknowledged for operating the crane for all 27 tests and helping me with the model setup. I would also like to thank Solveig Steinsland for her exceptional muscular strength and for being an obedient slave at the laboratory helping out with the cleanup between tests. The Ferry Free E 39 Project and Klima 2050 are also kindly acknowledged for their support.