Influence of weak layer heterogeneity and slab properties on slab tensile failure propensity and avalanche release area
Dry-snow slab avalanches are generally caused by a sequence of fracture processes, including failure initiation in a weak snow layer underlying a cohesive slab followed by crack propagation within the weak layer (WL) and tensile fracture through the slab. During past decades, theoretical and experim...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:09a2d8fbfe5d4274af5e0dee176a177d 2023-05-15T18:32:30+02:00 Influence of weak layer heterogeneity and slab properties on slab tensile failure propensity and avalanche release area J. Gaume G. Chambon N. Eckert M. Naaim J. Schweizer 2015-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-795-2015 https://doaj.org/article/09a2d8fbfe5d4274af5e0dee176a177d EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.the-cryosphere.net/9/795/2015/tc-9-795-2015.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 1994-0416 1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-9-795-2015 https://doaj.org/article/09a2d8fbfe5d4274af5e0dee176a177d The Cryosphere, Vol 9, Iss 2, Pp 795-804 (2015) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2015 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-795-2015 2022-12-31T16:11:25Z Dry-snow slab avalanches are generally caused by a sequence of fracture processes, including failure initiation in a weak snow layer underlying a cohesive slab followed by crack propagation within the weak layer (WL) and tensile fracture through the slab. During past decades, theoretical and experimental work has gradually increased our knowledge of the fracture process in snow. However, our limited understanding of crack propagation and fracture arrest propensity prevents the evaluation of avalanche release sizes and thus impedes hazard assessment. To address this issue, slab tensile failure propensity is examined using a mechanically based statistical model of the slab–WL system based on the finite element method. This model accounts for WL heterogeneity, stress redistribution by slab elasticity and possible tensile failure of the slab. Two types of avalanche release are distinguished in the simulations: (1) full-slope release if the heterogeneity is not sufficient to stop crack propagation and trigger a tensile failure within the slab; (2) partial-slope release if fracture arrest and slab tensile failure occur due to the WL heterogeneity. The probability of these two release types is presented as a function of the characteristics of WL heterogeneity and the slab. One of the main outcomes is that, for realistic values of the parameters, the tensile failure propensity is mainly influenced by slab properties. Hard and thick snow slabs are more prone to wide-scale crack propagation and thus lead to larger avalanches (full-slope release). In this case, the avalanche size is mainly influenced by topographical and morphological features such as rocks, trees, slope curvature and the spatial variability of the snow depth as often claimed in the literature. Article in Journal/Newspaper The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles The Cryosphere 9 2 795 804 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 J. Gaume G. Chambon N. Eckert M. Naaim J. Schweizer Influence of weak layer heterogeneity and slab properties on slab tensile failure propensity and avalanche release area |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Dry-snow slab avalanches are generally caused by a sequence of fracture processes, including failure initiation in a weak snow layer underlying a cohesive slab followed by crack propagation within the weak layer (WL) and tensile fracture through the slab. During past decades, theoretical and experimental work has gradually increased our knowledge of the fracture process in snow. However, our limited understanding of crack propagation and fracture arrest propensity prevents the evaluation of avalanche release sizes and thus impedes hazard assessment. To address this issue, slab tensile failure propensity is examined using a mechanically based statistical model of the slab–WL system based on the finite element method. This model accounts for WL heterogeneity, stress redistribution by slab elasticity and possible tensile failure of the slab. Two types of avalanche release are distinguished in the simulations: (1) full-slope release if the heterogeneity is not sufficient to stop crack propagation and trigger a tensile failure within the slab; (2) partial-slope release if fracture arrest and slab tensile failure occur due to the WL heterogeneity. The probability of these two release types is presented as a function of the characteristics of WL heterogeneity and the slab. One of the main outcomes is that, for realistic values of the parameters, the tensile failure propensity is mainly influenced by slab properties. Hard and thick snow slabs are more prone to wide-scale crack propagation and thus lead to larger avalanches (full-slope release). In this case, the avalanche size is mainly influenced by topographical and morphological features such as rocks, trees, slope curvature and the spatial variability of the snow depth as often claimed in the literature. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
J. Gaume G. Chambon N. Eckert M. Naaim J. Schweizer |
author_facet |
J. Gaume G. Chambon N. Eckert M. Naaim J. Schweizer |
author_sort |
J. Gaume |
title |
Influence of weak layer heterogeneity and slab properties on slab tensile failure propensity and avalanche release area |
title_short |
Influence of weak layer heterogeneity and slab properties on slab tensile failure propensity and avalanche release area |
title_full |
Influence of weak layer heterogeneity and slab properties on slab tensile failure propensity and avalanche release area |
title_fullStr |
Influence of weak layer heterogeneity and slab properties on slab tensile failure propensity and avalanche release area |
title_full_unstemmed |
Influence of weak layer heterogeneity and slab properties on slab tensile failure propensity and avalanche release area |
title_sort |
influence of weak layer heterogeneity and slab properties on slab tensile failure propensity and avalanche release area |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-795-2015 https://doaj.org/article/09a2d8fbfe5d4274af5e0dee176a177d |
genre |
The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 9, Iss 2, Pp 795-804 (2015) |
op_relation |
http://www.the-cryosphere.net/9/795/2015/tc-9-795-2015.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 1994-0416 1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-9-795-2015 https://doaj.org/article/09a2d8fbfe5d4274af5e0dee176a177d |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-795-2015 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
9 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
795 |
op_container_end_page |
804 |
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1766216618854055936 |