A Mathematical Model for Interfacial Defects in Snow Layers

Abstract

Existing theories of snow slab failure postulate that failure initiates with the propagation of an interfacial defect located between snow layers with similar mechanical properties. In this paper, we develop a simplified model for failure initiation when there is a strong mismatch in material properties of the bounding snow layers. The crack problem is formulated in terms of the distributed dislocation technique and the governing integral equations are solved using the Gauss-Chebyshev quadrature method. We obtain theoretical dependence of the mode II stress intensity factor upon the mismatch in material properties, slope angle and snow layer thickness.