EGU2020-18483, updated on 20 May 2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-18483
EGU General Assembly 2020
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Micromechanical modeling of crack propagation in weak snow layer

Gregoire Bobillier1, Alec van Herwijnen1, Bastian Bergfeld1, Johan Gaume2, and Jürg Schweizer1
Gregoire Bobillier et al.
  • 1WSL institute for snow and avalanche research SLF, Avalanche formation, Davos dorf, Switzerland (gregoire.bobillier@slf.ch)
  • 2SLAB Snow and Avalanche Simulation Laboratory, EPFL Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland

Improving the prediction of snow avalanches requires a detailed understanding of the fracture behavior of snow, which is intimately linked to the mechanical properties of the snow layers (strength, elasticity of the weak and slab layer). While the basic concepts of avalanche release are conceptually relatively well understood, understanding crack propagation and fracture propensity remains a great challenge. About 15 years ago, the propagation saw test (PST) was developed. The PST is a fracture mechanical field test that provides information on crack propagation propensity in weak snowpack layers. It has become a valuable research tool to investigate processes and mechanical parameters involved in crack propagation.

Here, we use the discrete element method (DEM) to numerically simulate PST and therefore analyze fracture dynamics based on micromechanical approach. Using cohesive and non-cohesive ballistic deposition, we numerically reproduce the basic required layers for dry-snow avalanche: a highly porous and brittle weak layer covered by a dense cohesive slab.

The results of these numerical PTSs reproduce the main dynamics of crack propagation observed in the field. We developed different indicators to define the crack tip and therefore derive the crack velocity. Our results show that crack propagation on flat terrain reaches a stationary velocity if the snow column in long enough. The length of the snow column to reach stationary crack velocity depends on snowpack parameters. On sloped terrain our results show a transition in the local failure mode, this transition can be visualized from the crack tip morphology and from the main stress component.

Overall, our results lay the foundation for a comprehensive study on the influence of the snowpack mechanical properties on these fundamental processes for avalanche release.

How to cite: Bobillier, G., van Herwijnen, A., Bergfeld, B., Gaume, J., and Schweizer, J.: Micromechanical modeling of crack propagation in weak snow layer , EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4–8 May 2020, EGU2020-18483, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-18483, 2020.

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