Modeling crack arrest in snow slab avalanches -- towards estimating avalanche release sizes

TL;DR

This study uses a novel modeling approach to understand how snowpack heterogeneity influences crack propagation and arrest in dry-snow slab avalanches, aiming to improve prediction and mitigation strategies.

Contribution

It introduces a depth-averaged Material Point Method for simulating snow slab avalanches, analyzing the effects of heterogeneity and softening on crack arrest, and relates findings to field measurements.

Findings

Crack speed significantly affects tensile stress in slabs.

Weak layer heterogeneity influences crack stopping mechanisms.

Scaling law relates crack arrest distance to heterogeneity and fracture energy.

Abstract

Dry-snow slab avalanches are considered to be the most difficult to predict, yet the deadliest avalanche types. The release of snow slab avalanches starts with a initial failure in a weak layer that may propagate across the slope until the slab fractures and slides. The evaluation of crack propagation area is a primary concern for avalanche forecasters. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that the heterogeneity of snowpack properties is one of the primary factors that may potentially stop dynamic crack propagation. To test this assumption, we use a depth-averaged Material Point Method (DA-MPM) for efficient elasto-plastic modeling of snow slab avalanches. Our analysis includes scenarios involving i) pure-elastic slabs and ii) elasto-plastic slabs. In the first scenario, we report a significant decrease in slab tensile stress with increasing crack speed compared to quasi-static theory. In addition, we quantify the effect of weak layer heterogeneity and softening fracture energy on the crack stopping mechanism. In the second scenario, we analyse the interplay between weak layer heterogeneity and slab tensile fracture and quantify their combined effect on crack arrest. Results are interpreted through a scaling law relating the crack arrest distance to two dimensionless numbers related to weak layer strength variability and slab tensile fracture. Furthermore, the proposed model is applied to field campaigns in which spatial variations of weak layer shear strength were measured. Finally, DA-MPM simulations are performed on three-dimensional terrain with spatial variations revealing interesting release patterns. This research and the proposed methods can not only enhance our comprehension of the factors influencing avalanche release sizes,and possibly, the design of new mitigation measures for avalanche start zones.