Snow Mechanics
Review of the State of Knowledge and Applications
LEWIS H. SHAPIRO, JEROME B. JOHNSON,
MATTHEW STURM, AND GEORGE L. BLAISDELL
Perhaps the most important reason why this is so
INTRODUCTION
is that there are few commercial or governmental
activities that absolutely require knowledge of
Overview
In this document we describe the state of
snow properties and processes. For example, in
knowledge of the field of snow mechanics* and
the case of snow removal, heavy equipment de-
suggest studies to help expand its range of appli-
signed for road construction and maintenance is
cations. The work was motivated by a review of
available, although it may be significantly over-
the literature, which showed that, aside from ava-
powered for the task of clearing snow (Minsk
lanche studies (i.e., release mechanisms, particle
1989). Similarly, in the design and construction of
movement and impact effects, and effects on ava-
structures that must contend with snow loading,
lanche defenses), relatively infrequent use is made
overdesign can be substituted for knowledge of
of snow mechanics. However, possible applica-
snow properties because the additional construc-
tions in other areas include 1) design of equip-
tion costs are a small fraction of the total for any
ment for snow removal, 2) calculating loads on
single project. In general, the economic incentives
structures (roofs, towers, snow fences, cables,
for any one project or agency are insufficient to
walls, etc.), 3) the use of snow as a construction
encourage the research necessary to improve the
material for roads, airstrips and foundations, 4)
body of snow mechanics information. However,
over-snow vehicle traffic including sinkage, shear
the economic benefits would be significant when
strength, resistance to motion and design of tracks
the entire range of potential applications are con-
and tread patterns for vehicles, and 5) military
sidered. Minsk (1989) noted that an average sav-
applications such as those based on the capability
ing of 10% in the cost of snow removal alone
of snow to absorb projectile impacts, and the prob-
would save about 0,000,000 per year in the
lems presented by snow-covered minefields.
U.S.A.
We agree with Brown (1989), who pointed out
A further impediment to progress has been
that "...the properties of snow are not yet well
that the community of researchers in the field has
enough known for use with a high degree of confi-
always been relatively small and scattered. As a
dence. Snow, as a natural geological material, is
result, there has never been broad awareness nor
found in a wide range of densities, stages of meta-
interest in the field within the scientific commu-
morphism, free water content, etc., and its prop-
nity in general. The breadth of intellectual activ-
erties have been determined only for a few cases."
ity that could lead to expanded financial support
for basic research on snow mechanics has fre-
quently been lacking.
Thus, despite the potential for practical, eco-
*We define "snow mechanics" in a similar fashion to Jaeger
nomically viable applications, development of
and Cook (1976, p.1) but change the word "rock" to "snow":
"Snow mechanics is the theoretical and applied science of the
snow mechanics has been limited. Our purpose is
mechanical behavior of snow; it is that branch of mechanics
to determine why this is so and what can be done
concerned with the response of snow to the force fields of its
to extend the range of applications.
environment."
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