A simple analytical model for pressure on obstacles induced by snow avalanches

• Published in: Annals of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Faug, T., Chanut, B., Beguin, R., Naaim, Mohamed, Thibert, Emmanuel, Baroudi, D.
• Other Authors: Érosion torrentielle, neige et avalanches (UR ETGR (ETNA)), Centre national du machinisme agricole, du génie rural, des eaux et forêts (CEMAGREF)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2010
• Subjects: MODELE ANALYTIQUE; AVALANCHE; RESISTANCE A LA COMPRESSION; [SDE.IE]Environmental Sciences/Environmental Engineering; Annals of Glaciology
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00529129; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00529129/document; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00529129/file/faug.pdf; https://doi.org/10.3189/172756410791386481

The forces snow avalanches are able to exert on protection dams or buildings is of crucial interest in order to improve avalanche mitigation measures and to quantify the mechanical vulnerability of structures likely to be damaged by snow avalanches. This paper presents an analytical model that is able to calculate these forces taking into account dead zone mechanisms. First, we present a 2D analytical hydrodynamic model describing the forces on a wall overflown by gravity-driven flows down an inclined plane. Second, the 2D model is successfully validated on discrete simulations of granular flows. Third, we provide ingredients to extend the 2D model to flows of dry and cold snow. Fourth, we propose a simplified 3D analytical model taking into account lateral fluxes. Finally, the predictions from the simplified 3D analytical model are successfully compared to recent measurements on two full-scale snow avalanches released at the Lautaret site in France.