Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method
Dry-snow slab avalanches are generally caused by a sequence of fracture processes including (1) failure initiation in a weak snow layer underlying a cohesive slab, (2) crack propagation within the weak layer and (3) tensile fracture through the slab which leads to its detachment. During the past dec...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus
2015
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/621089 https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000619937 |
id |
ftethz:oai:www.research-collection.ethz.ch:20.500.11850/621089 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftethz:oai:www.research-collection.ethz.ch:20.500.11850/621089 2023-07-30T04:07:14+02:00 Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method Gaume, Johan id_orcid:0 000-0001-8931-752X van Herwijnen, Alec Chambon, Guillaume Birkeland, Karl W. Schweizer, Jürg id_orcid:0 000-0001-5076-2968 2015 application/application/pdf https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/621089 https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000619937 en eng Copernicus info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.5194/tc-9-1915-2015 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/621089 doi:10.3929/ethz-b-000619937 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported The Cryosphere, 9 (5) info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2015 ftethz https://doi.org/20.500.11850/62108910.3929/ethz-b-00061993710.5194/tc-9-1915-2015 2023-07-16T23:49:05Z Dry-snow slab avalanches are generally caused by a sequence of fracture processes including (1) failure initiation in a weak snow layer underlying a cohesive slab, (2) crack propagation within the weak layer and (3) tensile fracture through the slab which leads to its detachment. During the past decades, theoretical and experimental work has gradually led to a better understanding of the fracture process in snow involving the collapse of the structure in the weak layer during fracture. This now allows us to better model failure initiation and the onset of crack propagation, i.e., to estimate the critical length required for crack propagation. On the other hand, our understanding of dynamic crack propagation and fracture arrest propensity is still very limited. To shed more light on this issue, we performed numerical propagation saw test (PST) experiments applying the discrete element (DE) method and compared the numerical results with field measurements based on particle tracking. The goal is to investigate the influence of weak layer failure and the mechanical properties of the slab on crack propagation and fracture arrest propensity. Crack propagation speeds and distances before fracture arrest were derived from the DE simulations for different snowpack configurations and mechanical properties. Then, in order to compare the numerical and experimental results, the slab mechanical properties (Young's modulus and strength) which are not measured in the field were derived from density. The simulations nicely reproduced the process of crack propagation observed in field PSTs. Finally, the mechanical processes at play were analyzed in depth which led to suggestions for minimum column length in field PSTs. ISSN:1994-0416 ISSN:1994-0424 Article in Journal/Newspaper The Cryosphere ETH Zürich Research Collection |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
ETH Zürich Research Collection |
op_collection_id |
ftethz |
language |
English |
description |
Dry-snow slab avalanches are generally caused by a sequence of fracture processes including (1) failure initiation in a weak snow layer underlying a cohesive slab, (2) crack propagation within the weak layer and (3) tensile fracture through the slab which leads to its detachment. During the past decades, theoretical and experimental work has gradually led to a better understanding of the fracture process in snow involving the collapse of the structure in the weak layer during fracture. This now allows us to better model failure initiation and the onset of crack propagation, i.e., to estimate the critical length required for crack propagation. On the other hand, our understanding of dynamic crack propagation and fracture arrest propensity is still very limited. To shed more light on this issue, we performed numerical propagation saw test (PST) experiments applying the discrete element (DE) method and compared the numerical results with field measurements based on particle tracking. The goal is to investigate the influence of weak layer failure and the mechanical properties of the slab on crack propagation and fracture arrest propensity. Crack propagation speeds and distances before fracture arrest were derived from the DE simulations for different snowpack configurations and mechanical properties. Then, in order to compare the numerical and experimental results, the slab mechanical properties (Young's modulus and strength) which are not measured in the field were derived from density. The simulations nicely reproduced the process of crack propagation observed in field PSTs. Finally, the mechanical processes at play were analyzed in depth which led to suggestions for minimum column length in field PSTs. ISSN:1994-0416 ISSN:1994-0424 |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Gaume, Johan id_orcid:0 000-0001-8931-752X van Herwijnen, Alec Chambon, Guillaume Birkeland, Karl W. Schweizer, Jürg id_orcid:0 000-0001-5076-2968 |
spellingShingle |
Gaume, Johan id_orcid:0 000-0001-8931-752X van Herwijnen, Alec Chambon, Guillaume Birkeland, Karl W. Schweizer, Jürg id_orcid:0 000-0001-5076-2968 Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method |
author_facet |
Gaume, Johan id_orcid:0 000-0001-8931-752X van Herwijnen, Alec Chambon, Guillaume Birkeland, Karl W. Schweizer, Jürg id_orcid:0 000-0001-5076-2968 |
author_sort |
Gaume, Johan |
title |
Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method |
title_short |
Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method |
title_full |
Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method |
title_fullStr |
Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method |
title_full_unstemmed |
Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method |
title_sort |
modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method |
publisher |
Copernicus |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/621089 https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000619937 |
genre |
The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, 9 (5) |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.5194/tc-9-1915-2015 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/621089 doi:10.3929/ethz-b-000619937 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/20.500.11850/62108910.3929/ethz-b-00061993710.5194/tc-9-1915-2015 |
_version_ |
1772820446422499328 |