Evaluation of the snow loads on the snow galleries on the Iron Ore Line in Northern Sweden

Abstract

AbstractThe Iron Ore Line is a railway in northern Sweden and Norway, crucial for iron ore transportation. Snow galleries safeguard this route, ensuring uninterrupted traffic for efficient operations. A snow gallery is a protective structure that shields roads and railways from heavy snowfall and avalanches. Reported damages to these structures caused by excessive snow loads have prompted an investigation to prevent further issues. This paper presents an analysis of the evolution of snow load calculations over time, though a comparison of Swedish design standards. The design snow loads required by current standards have increased up to 60% from the initial regulations, depending on the location of the structure. Besides, climate change is predicted to further increase snow loads due to more frequent winter precipitation, higher snow density, and extreme snowfall events. This analysis is part of a broader research project involving numerical simulations, live monitoring, and a digital twin monitoring system of some snow galleries in the Iron Ore Line.