Item: Assessing Weak Layer Failure and Changes in Snowpack Properties Due to Avalanche Control By Explosives
-
-
Title: Assessing Weak Layer Failure and Changes in Snowpack Properties Due to Avalanche Control By Explosives
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble – Chamonix Mont-Blanc - October 07-11, 2013
Authors:
- Stephan Simioni [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
- Jurg Schweizer [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
Date: 2013-10-07
Abstract: Avalanche control by explosives is among the key temporary preventive measures and today fixed avalanche control installations are widely used. Hitherto, little is known about the effect of a blast onto the snow cover. In order to optimize charge location and type it is important to know what the processes caused by an applied load from an air blast wave onto the snow cover are and whether a weak layer is likely to fracture. In the winter 2012-2013 we performed first field experiments on a flat site with a rather uniform snow cover. Cameras located in snow pits capturing the pit wall allowed for recording the blast wave and detecting possible weak layer failure. Accelerometers were used to record the waves penetrating and propagating through the snowpack. Accelerations were strongly attenuated with depth within short distances in the wet snow cover. Consecutive tests did not influence acceleration amplitudes. The video images suggest that the crack initiated near the detonation point and propagated from there to the location of observation (snow pit). The weak layer did not appear to fracture due to the direct impact of the air pressure wave penetrating the snowpack at the snow pit location.
Language of Article: English
Presenters: Unknown
Keywords: snow properties, avalanche control, explosives, weak layer failure
Page Number(s): 775-778
Subjects: avalanche control explosives weak layers
-
Digital Abstract Not Available
-