A Theoretical Consideration of the Strength of Snow

Abstract

AbstractA consideration of possible expressions for the number and size of bonds intersected by a potential failure surface leads to the following expression for the strength of snow,σf, which is age-hardening at a constant porosityn:whereσiis the strength of ice,tfis the time at failure,αis a parameter specifically related to the mechanism of bonding, andωis a temperature-dependent parameter. Allowingtfto become infinite provides the envelope of maximum strength for fully age-hardened snow at any porosityn.