Stress Concentrations in Weak Snowpack Layers and Conditions for Slab Avalanche Release

Gaume, Johan; Chambon, Guillaume; Herwijnen, Alec van; Schweizer, Jürg

doi:10.1029/2018gl078900

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Thus, our measurements are the first to differentiate the components of fracture energy, which is necessary to better understand weak-layer resistance to cracks under different loading conditions (Rosendahl and Weißgraeber, 2020b). Self-induced loading in a PST by the unsupported part of the slab always induces a combination of compressive and shear stresses at the crack tip, even in flat-field tests (Gaume et al, 2018a). Hence PSTs are always mixedmode fracture tests, and the mode contributions have to be indicated.…”

Section: Elastic Modulus and Specific Fracture Energymentioning

confidence: 98%

Temporal evolution of crack propagation characteristics in a weak snowpack layer: conditions of crack arrest and sustained propagation

Bergfeld

Herwijnen

Bobillier

et al. 2023

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. For a slab avalanche to release, we need sustained crack propagation in a weak snow layer beneath a cohesive snow slab – a process we call dynamic crack propagation. Field measurements on crack propagation are very scarce. We therefore performed a series of crack propagation experiments, up to 9 m long, over a period of 10 weeks and analysed these using digital image correlation techniques. We derived the elastic modulus of the slab (0.5 to 50 MPa), the elastic modulus of the weak layer (50 kPa to 1 MPa) and the specific fracture energy of the weak layer (0.1 to 1.5 J m−2) with a homogeneous and a layered-slab model. During crack propagation, we measured crack speed, touchdown distance, and the energy dissipation due to compaction and dynamic fracture (5 mJ m−2 to 0.43 J m−2). Crack speeds were highest for experiments resulting in full propagation, and crack arrest lengths were always shorter than touchdown lengths. Based on these findings, an index for self-sustained crack propagation is proposed. Our data set provides unique insight and valuable data to validate models.

show abstract

Section: Elastic Modulus and Specific Fracture Energymentioning

confidence: 98%

Temporal evolution of crack propagation characteristics in a weak snowpack layer: conditions of crack arrest and sustained propagation

Bergfeld

Herwijnen

Bobillier

et al. 2023

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…When the shear stress on the interface or the joint exceeds the peak shear strength, τ p (as shown in Figure 5b), the initial landslide occurs and then its sudden shock results in a subsequent rotational slump, after which a series of additional rotational landslides follow until the rocks reaches a stable configuration [39]. This indicates that the development of large landslides begins with a shear slide, which is also the induction factor for the release of slab avalanche [40]. Therefore, we define the ratio of the shear stress and the peak shear strength of the interface to be the danger coefficient as follows:…”

Section: Rock Stability In Landslidesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Geomaterials Evaluation: A New Application of Ashby Plots

Sun

Zhao

2020

Materials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The development of fossil energy resources and the occurrence of geological hazards call for a quick and effective identification of geological situations. In this study, we present rapid evaluations of geological structures from the pure point of view of material properties. For the first time, Ashby plots are applied to the evaluation of geomaterials such as rocks and coals. A series of case studies are presented and related Ashby plots are drawn. The stability of rocks facing natural hazards is analyzed and compared; the stability of coals formed in different periods in China is studied; and a new brittleness index for reservoir rocks is proposed. The Ashby plots show a strong vitality and a wide application prospect in geomaterial evaluation and geological engineering.

show abstract

“…The friction between the snow and soil gradually decreased, leading to a gradual increase in FDAs. A surface-layer avalanche originates from a failure in the weak layer, and the crack within the weak layer expands rapidly (Schweizer et al, 2003;Gauthier et al, 2010;Reiweger and Schweizer, 2013;Gaume et al, 2018). The failure of a weak snow layer buried below cohesive snow slab layers is a necessary condition for the release of a surface layer avalanche.…”

Section: Comparison Of Different Types Of Avalanchesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics and hazards of different snow avalanche types in a continental snow climate region in the Central Tianshan Mountains

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Snow avalanches are a common natural hazard in many countries with seasonally snow-covered mountains. The avalanche hazard varies with snow avalanche type in different snow climate regions and at different times. The ability to understand the characteristics of avalanche activity and hazards of different snow avalanche types is a prerequisite for improving avalanche disaster management in the mid-altitude region of the Central Tianshan Mountains. In this study, we collected data related to avalanche, snowpack, and meteorology during four snow seasons (from 2015 to 2019), and analysed the characteristics and hazards of different types of avalanches. The snow climate of the mid-altitude region of the Central Tianshan Mountains was examined using a snow climate classification scheme, and the results showed that the mountain range has a continental snow climate. To quantify the hazards of different types of avalanches and describe their situation over time in the continental snow climate region, this study used the avalanche hazard degree to assess the hazards of four types of avalanches, i.e., full-depth dry snow avalanches, full-depth wet snow avalanches, surface-layer dry snow avalanches, and surface-layer wet snow avalanches. The results indicated that surface-layer dry snow avalanches were characterized by large sizes and high release frequencies, which made them having the highest avalanche hazard degree in the Central Tianshan Mountains with a continental snow climate. The overall avalanche hazard showed a single peak pattern over time during the snow season, and the greatest hazard occurred in the second half of February when the snowpack was deep and the temperature increased. This study can help the disaster and emergency management departments rationally arrange avalanche relief resources and develop avalanche prevention strategies.

show abstract

Stress Concentrations in Weak Snowpack Layers and Conditions for Slab Avalanche Release

Cited by 11 publications

References 28 publications

Temporal evolution of crack propagation characteristics in a weak snowpack layer: conditions of crack arrest and sustained propagation

Temporal evolution of crack propagation characteristics in a weak snowpack layer: conditions of crack arrest and sustained propagation

Geomaterials Evaluation: A New Application of Ashby Plots

Characteristics and hazards of different snow avalanche types in a continental snow climate region in the Central Tianshan Mountains

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About