气候变化领域集成服务门户(CCPortal): Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method

CCPortal

DOI	10.5194/tc-9-1915-2015
	Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method
	Gaume J.; Van Herwijnen A.; Chambon G.; Birkeland K.W.; Schweizer J.
发表日期	2015
ISSN	19940416
卷号	9 期号:5
英文摘要	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. © 2015 Author(s).
学科领域	crack propagation; discrete element method; fracture propagation; mechanical property; numerical model; snow avalanche; snowpack; Young modulus
语种	英语
scopus关键词	crack propagation; discrete element method; fracture propagation; mechanical property; numerical model; snow avalanche; snowpack; Young modulus
来源期刊	Cryosphere
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://gcip.llas.ac.cn/handle/2XKMVOVA/119798
作者单位	WSL, Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research, Davos, Switzerland; Irstea, UR ETGR, Grenoble, France; Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France; USDA, Forest Service National Avalanche Center, Bozeman, MT, United States
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Gaume J.,Van Herwijnen A.,Chambon G.,et al. Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method[J],2015,9(5).
APA	Gaume J.,Van Herwijnen A.,Chambon G.,Birkeland K.W.,&Schweizer J..(2015).Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method.Cryosphere,9(5).
MLA	Gaume J.,et al."Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method".Cryosphere 9.5(2015).