The Strength–Density Relationship for Dry Snow

A linear relationship between strength and density is a characteristic feature of deposited snow. This relationship is explained theoretically in the case of old dry snow in ternis of the theory of sintering. The discontinuity in the relationship at a density of about 0.4 g./cm 3 is considered to ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Glaciology
Main Authors: Radke, L. F., Hobbs, P. V.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1967
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000020189
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000020189
Description
Summary:A linear relationship between strength and density is a characteristic feature of deposited snow. This relationship is explained theoretically in the case of old dry snow in ternis of the theory of sintering. The discontinuity in the relationship at a density of about 0.4 g./cm 3 is considered to mark a transition point below which the snow densifies primarily by rearranement of the grains and the strength increases by the growth of existing bonds, and above which densification occurs by volume diffusion and the strength increases primarily by the creation of new bonds. Experimental evidence to support these ideas is presented.