Probabilistic size effect law for mode II fracture from critical lengths in snow slab avalanche weak layers

From field observations, dry snow slab avalanche initiation is associated with fracture within relatively thin weak layers under stronger, cohesive slabs. For risk-based avalanche prediction, it is important to understand the fracture properties of alpine snow. Alpine snow is a quasi-brittle materia...

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Main Authors: D. M. McCLUNG, C. P. BORSTAD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2019-02-01
Series:Journal of Glaciology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143018000886/type/journal_article
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author D. M. McCLUNG
C. P. BORSTAD
author_facet D. M. McCLUNG
C. P. BORSTAD
author_sort D. M. McCLUNG
collection DOAJ
description From field observations, dry snow slab avalanche initiation is associated with fracture within relatively thin weak layers under stronger, cohesive slabs. For risk-based avalanche prediction, it is important to understand the fracture properties of alpine snow. Alpine snow is a quasi-brittle material with a fracture mechanical size effect on nominal shear strength meaning that strength decreases with increasing specimen size. A related size effect is the critical length required for rapid propagation of a shear fracture. In that case, the probability of fracture increases with increasing crack length. In this paper, 45 sets of field-measured critical lengths are presented based on 591 individual tests. From analysis, a probabilistic size effect law based on critical lengths is derived analogous to the deterministic size effect law for nominal shear strength related to fracture mechanics. The new size effect law may be useful in applications, particularly since the critical length is easily measured in the field and it is a principal component of weak layer fracture toughness.
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spelling doaj.art-e91feacb384a48a6a10b8bf6102d4f982023-03-09T12:40:42ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-56522019-02-016515716710.1017/jog.2018.88Probabilistic size effect law for mode II fracture from critical lengths in snow slab avalanche weak layersD. M. McCLUNG0C. P. BORSTAD1Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, 1984 West Mall, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z2, CanadaDepartment of Arctic Geophysics, The University Centre in Svalbard, P.O. Box 156, 9171 Longyearbyen, NorwayFrom field observations, dry snow slab avalanche initiation is associated with fracture within relatively thin weak layers under stronger, cohesive slabs. For risk-based avalanche prediction, it is important to understand the fracture properties of alpine snow. Alpine snow is a quasi-brittle material with a fracture mechanical size effect on nominal shear strength meaning that strength decreases with increasing specimen size. A related size effect is the critical length required for rapid propagation of a shear fracture. In that case, the probability of fracture increases with increasing crack length. In this paper, 45 sets of field-measured critical lengths are presented based on 591 individual tests. From analysis, a probabilistic size effect law based on critical lengths is derived analogous to the deterministic size effect law for nominal shear strength related to fracture mechanics. The new size effect law may be useful in applications, particularly since the critical length is easily measured in the field and it is a principal component of weak layer fracture toughness.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143018000886/type/journal_articleavalanchessnowsnow mechanics
spellingShingle D. M. McCLUNG
C. P. BORSTAD
Probabilistic size effect law for mode II fracture from critical lengths in snow slab avalanche weak layers
Journal of Glaciology
avalanches
snow
snow mechanics
title Probabilistic size effect law for mode II fracture from critical lengths in snow slab avalanche weak layers
title_full Probabilistic size effect law for mode II fracture from critical lengths in snow slab avalanche weak layers
title_fullStr Probabilistic size effect law for mode II fracture from critical lengths in snow slab avalanche weak layers
title_full_unstemmed Probabilistic size effect law for mode II fracture from critical lengths in snow slab avalanche weak layers
title_short Probabilistic size effect law for mode II fracture from critical lengths in snow slab avalanche weak layers
title_sort probabilistic size effect law for mode ii fracture from critical lengths in snow slab avalanche weak layers
topic avalanches
snow
snow mechanics
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143018000886/type/journal_article
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