Measurements and analysis of full-scale avalanche impact pressure at the Vallée de la Sionne test site
Abstract
2 pressure plate mounted with 4 load-gauge bolts measured normal and tangential forces. Along the tubular pylon (between 1-6 m above ground) optoelectronic sensors recorded the avalanche flow velocity. Flow depths were measured by mechanical sensors. Analysis of high resolution impact forces in combination with velocity measurements allowed us to reconstruct the flow structure. We combined impact pressure with observation on avalanche structure to obtain load distribution and size effects for different avalanche typologies. Measured pressures are compared to the existing Swiss calculation procedure. It is shown that actual calculation formulas are not able to properly reproduce the measured pressure values and the load distribution.
- Publication:
-
Cold Regions Science and Technology
- Pub Date:
- 2008
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.05.006
- Bibcode:
- 2008CRST...51..122S
- Keywords:
-
- Vallée de la Sionne;
- Avalanche impact pressure;
- Avalanche velocity