Comparison of Experimental and Computer Modeling of Snow-Block Impact on Structures

Abstract

AbstractData from experimental tests of snow-block impact against vertical barriers are used to establish values of parameters in order to computer-model the impact mechanics. The results show that total impulse, impact force, and duration of impact can be modeled by accurate specification of the kinematic viscosity in the fluid representation. In modeling the highly transient impact, kinematic viscosity of the material is determined to vary linearly with the impact velocity. This non-physical condition is attributed to lack of accountability of compressibility effects in the computer model, and reduces modeling to an empirical approach. A biviscous modeling of the impact process is in near correspondence to linear viscous modeling, due to dominant importance of block momentum on impact rather than fluidity of material in the impact region.