Articles | Volume 11, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-217-2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-217-2017
Research article
 | 
27 Jan 2017
Research article |  | 27 Jan 2017

Snow fracture in relation to slab avalanche release: critical state for the onset of crack propagation

Johan Gaume, Alec van Herwijnen, Guillaume Chambon, Nander Wever, and Jürg Schweizer

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Interactive discussion

Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
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Peer-review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision
AR by Johan Gaume on behalf of the Authors (26 Jul 2016)  Author's response   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (24 Aug 2016) by Eric Larour
RR by Edward Bair (06 Sep 2016)
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (16 Oct 2016)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (Editor review) (21 Nov 2016) by Eric Larour
AR by Johan Gaume on behalf of the Authors (05 Dec 2016)  Author's response   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (23 Dec 2016) by Eric Larour
AR by Johan Gaume on behalf of the Authors (27 Dec 2016)
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Short summary
Based on DEM simulations we developed a new model for the onset of crack propagation in snow slab avalanche release. The model reconciles past approaches by considering the complex interplay between slab elasticity and the mechanical behavior of the weak layer including its structural collapse. The model agrees with extensive field data and can reproduce crack propagation on low-angle terrain and the decrease in critical crack length with increasing slope angle observed in numerical experiments.