Item: Snow Pressures on a Rigid Snow Supporting Structure at the Milepost 151 Avalanche, Jackson, Wyoming
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Title: Snow Pressures on a Rigid Snow Supporting Structure at the Milepost 151 Avalanche, Jackson, Wyoming
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2016 Proceedings, Breckenridge, CO, USA
Authors:
- Joshua T. Hewes [ Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA ]
- Rand Decker [ Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA ]
- Sean Strain [ InterAlpine Associates, LLC, Jackson, WY, USA ]
- Megan Stevens [ Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA ]
Date: 2016-10-02
Abstract: Mitigation of avalanche hazard to roadways within the Western United States has historically been conducted by means of artificial release of explosives at the starting zone or by firing of artillery at it, while the road is temporarily closed. Newer to the U.S. are management strategies that look to mostly eliminate the potential for natural avalanches by holding or retaining the snow pack in place with constructed defense systems such as snow bridges or snow nets. The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has embraced constructed defense technology and installed 87 snow supporting structures – specifically snow bridges – at the Milepost 151 Avalanche in Jackson, Wyoming, and this system has eliminated the large natural avalanches that previously reached US Hwy 89/191 at a frequency of once or twice per year. A research project to monitor site snow parameters including temperature and snow depth, and to experimentally measure structural response parameters of one snow bridge has been underway since 2014. Thirty-three different transducers were installed at the site and these include vibrating wire pressure cells, vibrating wire strain gages, ultrasonic snow depth sensors, and thermistors. This paper describes the results of this research project including: spatial variation of snow pressure across the width and height of the snow bridge, temporal variation of snow pressure over the winter seasons 2014-2015 and 2015-2016, and a comparison of measured snow pressures with theoretical pressures predicted by the Swiss Guide and by other researchers.
Language of Article: English
Presenters:
Keywords: Avalanche, Snow Supporting Structures, Mitigation
Page Number(s): 605-612
Subjects: avalanche mitigation snow structures Wyoming
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Digital Abstract Not Available
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