Dynamic Process of Dry Snow Slab Avalanche Formation: Theory, Experiment and Numerical Simulation
Snow avalanches occur in snow-covered highland mountains and represent one of the most significant natural hazards pertaining to the field of geoscience. Although some insight into the formation of avalanches has been provided, a comprehensive overview or critical review of the latest research is cu...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Peng Yue Binbin Pei Jie Zhang Ning Huang |
| author_facet | Peng Yue Binbin Pei Jie Zhang Ning Huang |
| author_sort | Peng Yue |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Snow avalanches occur in snow-covered highland mountains and represent one of the most significant natural hazards pertaining to the field of geoscience. Although some insight into the formation of avalanches has been provided, a comprehensive overview or critical review of the latest research is currently lacking. This paper reviews recent advances on the formation process of dry slab avalanches and provides a guiding framework for further research. The formation of avalanches is the consequence of a series of fracture processes in the snowpack, which is usually induced by the failure of a weak layer underlying a snow slab layer. The parameters at each stage of avalanches’ formation are reviewed from theoretical, experimental and simulation perspectives. In terms of the onset of crack propagation, the understanding of the mechanical process has gone through a transition from shear theory, to the anticrack model and supershear. The critical length shows divergent trends with snowpack parameters and slope angles, and there is a lack of consensus in different models. The specific fracture energy is also an essential component in determining fracture propagation. Within cracks’ dynamic propagation, the crack propagation speed includes both the sub-Rayleigh regime and supershear. The crack speed exceeds the shear wave speed in the supershear mode. When the crack propagation reaches a specific distance, the slab undergoes a tensile fracture and the cracking’s arrest. The numerical simulation allows a complete reproduction of the initial failure, the crack’s dynamic propagation and slab fracture. In the future, a unified model is necessary through refining the formative mechanism and integrating it with the avalanche flow. This work offers a comprehensive understanding of the mechanics of the formation and release of avalanches, useful for both modelers and experimentalists. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-925d7addc7354c6fbb1a0a98444f8f10 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-925d7addc7354c6fbb1a0a98444f8f102025-08-20T03:27:14ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632025-05-0115620110.3390/geosciences15060201Dynamic Process of Dry Snow Slab Avalanche Formation: Theory, Experiment and Numerical SimulationPeng Yue0Binbin Pei1Jie Zhang2Ning Huang3College of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaSnow avalanches occur in snow-covered highland mountains and represent one of the most significant natural hazards pertaining to the field of geoscience. Although some insight into the formation of avalanches has been provided, a comprehensive overview or critical review of the latest research is currently lacking. This paper reviews recent advances on the formation process of dry slab avalanches and provides a guiding framework for further research. The formation of avalanches is the consequence of a series of fracture processes in the snowpack, which is usually induced by the failure of a weak layer underlying a snow slab layer. The parameters at each stage of avalanches’ formation are reviewed from theoretical, experimental and simulation perspectives. In terms of the onset of crack propagation, the understanding of the mechanical process has gone through a transition from shear theory, to the anticrack model and supershear. The critical length shows divergent trends with snowpack parameters and slope angles, and there is a lack of consensus in different models. The specific fracture energy is also an essential component in determining fracture propagation. Within cracks’ dynamic propagation, the crack propagation speed includes both the sub-Rayleigh regime and supershear. The crack speed exceeds the shear wave speed in the supershear mode. When the crack propagation reaches a specific distance, the slab undergoes a tensile fracture and the cracking’s arrest. The numerical simulation allows a complete reproduction of the initial failure, the crack’s dynamic propagation and slab fracture. In the future, a unified model is necessary through refining the formative mechanism and integrating it with the avalanche flow. This work offers a comprehensive understanding of the mechanics of the formation and release of avalanches, useful for both modelers and experimentalists.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/6/201snow avalancheavalanche formationcrack propagationtheoriesexperimentsnumerical simulation |
| spellingShingle | Peng Yue Binbin Pei Jie Zhang Ning Huang Dynamic Process of Dry Snow Slab Avalanche Formation: Theory, Experiment and Numerical Simulation Geosciences snow avalanche avalanche formation crack propagation theories experiments numerical simulation |
| title | Dynamic Process of Dry Snow Slab Avalanche Formation: Theory, Experiment and Numerical Simulation |
| title_full | Dynamic Process of Dry Snow Slab Avalanche Formation: Theory, Experiment and Numerical Simulation |
| title_fullStr | Dynamic Process of Dry Snow Slab Avalanche Formation: Theory, Experiment and Numerical Simulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamic Process of Dry Snow Slab Avalanche Formation: Theory, Experiment and Numerical Simulation |
| title_short | Dynamic Process of Dry Snow Slab Avalanche Formation: Theory, Experiment and Numerical Simulation |
| title_sort | dynamic process of dry snow slab avalanche formation theory experiment and numerical simulation |
| topic | snow avalanche avalanche formation crack propagation theories experiments numerical simulation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/6/201 |
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