Researchers investigate how Champati seeds roll and bounce down slopes. To explore their movement and speed, the team released a collection of seeds down an inclined surface, capturing their descent on camera. Initially, the seeds spread out gradually but quickly compacted as they traveled downstream, resembling the behavior observed in rock avalanches. This study could lead to important insights into geological flows, particularly the rapid spreading of rock avalanches, and might help tackle related challenges.
Champatis, the seeds from the Lapsi tree, hold significant medical, economic, social, and cultural importance in Nepal. They are also enjoyed by children as toys. For a group of physicists, however, these fascinating seeds and their unique rolling and bouncing motions down slopes might enhance understanding of landslides and avalanches, potentially contributing to research that could save lives.
In a recent study published in Physics of Fluids by AIP Publishing, a collaborative team from the Technical University of Munich, the Kathmandu Institute of Complex Flows, and Tribhuvan University examined how Champatis behave when rolling and bouncing on inclines. They propose that these seeds could act as a model for studying geological flow, especially in areas susceptible to landslides and avalanches.
The Champati has a highly intricate design, with a broad head and a slender oval tail that create a slope, which contributes to their spinning and rolling motions as they slide down gradients. This unique movement pattern captured the interest of the research team.
“We are mainly focused on understanding the scientific aspects of Champati dynamics and deposition: how they flow, their paths, distances traveled, and the forces involved,” explained author Shiva Pudasaini from Kathmandu.
The authors released a group of seeds down an inclined plane while recording their descent to study their speed and motion dynamics. The unique physical and geometrical traits of these seeds led to the discovery of novel behaviors as they slid down the slopes. The research revealed a distinctive characteristic: the seeds initially spread out slowly, then quickly bunch together as they travel downstream, similar to the behavior observed in rock avalanches.
“Immediately after the mass lands, its behavior is unprecedented and appears to be very unpredictable,” Pudasaini noted.
This research could offer crucial insights into geological flows, especially the rapid expansion of rock avalanches, and may help address challenges in this field. Furthermore, the findings could have significant implications for engineering in industrial processes.
At present, the advanced mechanical, geotechnical, and imaging technologies needed for a deeper study of Champati seeds are not readily available in Kathmandu. To overcome this limitation, the research team is enhancing their measurement capabilities and partnering with well-equipped research institutions overseas.
Nevertheless, while the preliminary results provide hopeful insights into fragmented rock avalanches, further exploration into the structural, mechanical, and dynamic properties of these seeds is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of their significance in earth science and engineering.
