Fracture toughness of snow in shear under friction

The fracture toughness of snow in shear is one of the most relevant parameters when studying the mechanics of snow slab avalanche release. Double-cantilever snow beams were loaded asymmetrically to determine K(IIc). If crack surfaces touch under applied pressure, the fracture toughness in shear of s...

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Published inPhysical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics Vol. 66; no. 2 Pt 2; p. 027103
Main Authors Kirchner, H O K, Michot, G, Schweizer, J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.08.2002
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Summary:The fracture toughness of snow in shear is one of the most relevant parameters when studying the mechanics of snow slab avalanche release. Double-cantilever snow beams were loaded asymmetrically to determine K(IIc). If crack surfaces touch under applied pressure, the fracture toughness in shear of snow (rho=247 kg m(-3)) is K(IIc)=680+/-60 Pa m(1/2). Screening of the stress intensity at the crack tip occurs by Newtonian friction with k=1.3+/-0.47 along the crack faces.
ISSN:1539-3755
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.66.027103