Comparison of snow pressure measurements and theoretical predictions

Abstract

Measurements of snow creep pressures from the centre section of a 3.4 m high and 15 m long avalanche-defence supporting structure located on a mountain in western Norway are presented. The site has a deep snow cover and an average slope angle of 25°. The measurement configuration corresponds to plane-strain conditions and the data, along with measured snowpack parameters, allow comparison with simple theoretical predictions. The analysis shows that the average pressure on the structure may be calculated fairly accurately using linear, viscous modelling for the snow deformation. The maximum pressures proved to be higher than that provided by a linear model and this is considered characteristic of nonlinear material. The implications of these results for estimates of design loads are discussed. Keywords: snow pressure, creep, measurements, viscous, plane-strain, finite element.