Contribution of theoretical and experimental results to powder-snow avalanche dynamics

The article is a review of mathematical models of snow avalanches that have been proposed since the middle of the 20th century and are still in use. The main attention is paid to the work of researchers from the Soviet Union and Russia, since many of their works were published only in Russian and are not widely available. Mathematical models of various levels of complexity for avalanches of various types—from dense to powder-snow avalanches—are discussed. Analytical solutions including formulas for the avalanche front speed are described. The results of simulations of the movement of avalanches are given that were used to create avalanche hazard maps. The last part of the article is devoted to constructing models of a new type, in which avalanches are considered as laminar or turbulent flows of non-Newtonian fluids, using the full (not depth-averaged) equations of continuum mechanics. The results of a numerical study of the effect of non-Newtonian rheology and mass entrainment on the avalanche dynamics are presented.

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“…Results of simulations using KS-model are presented in [74,75]. In [75] these results are compared to experiments described in [77,78].…”

Section: Powder-snow Cloudmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Russian Snow Avalanche Models—From Analytical Solutions to Novel 3D Models

2020

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“…Eglit, A.G. Kulikovskiy, Y.L. Yakimov, and many others [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. They were at the origin of all modern avalanche models used nowadays in the engineering practice and, sometimes, in scientific research.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first contemporary avalanche models appeared in 1970 by Soviet scientists Kulikovskiy and Sveshnikova [11,14]. Later, their idea was exploited by Beghin [41][42][43] and others [44][45][46][47][48].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mathematical Modeling of Powder‐Snow Avalanche Flows

2011

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Abstract. Powder-snow avalanches are violent natural disasters which represent a major risk for infrastructures and populations in mountain regions. In this study we present a novel model for the simulation of avalanches in the aerosol regime. The second scope of this study is to get more insight into the interaction process between an avalanche and a rigid obstacle. An incompressible model of two miscible fluids can be successfully employed in this type of problems. We allow for mass diffusion between two phases according to the Fick's law. The governing equations are discretized with a contemporary fully implicit finite volume scheme. The solver is able to deal with arbitrary density ratios. Several numerical results are presented. Volume fraction, velocity and pressure fields are presented and discussed. Finally we point out how this methodology can be used for practical problems.

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“…Kulikovskiy and Sveshnikova [1977] obtained a set of four equations describing the mass, volume, momentum, and Lagrangian kinetic energy balances. The idea was subsequently redeveloped by Beghin [1979], Beghin et al [1981], Beghin and Brugnot [1983], Fukushima and Parker [1990], Beghin and Olagne [1991], Akiyama and Ura [1999], Fukushima et al [2000], etc. In its primary formulation, Beghin's model focused on two-dimensional Boussinesq clouds and ignored particle entrainment, sedimentation, and basal friction.…”

Section: à3mentioning

confidence: 99%

Powder snow avalanches: Approximation as non‐Boussinesq clouds with a Richardson number–dependent entrainment function

Ancey

2004

J. Geophys. Res.

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[1] This paper presents an investigation into non-Boussinesq particle-driven gravity currents such as powder snow avalanches and pyroclastic flows. For a finite-volume current to maintain its non-Boussinesq character (i.e., a substantial density difference with its surroundings) and therefore high velocities, it must counterbalance the entrainment of surrounding fluid by entraining particles from the bed. A number of theoretical models have assumed that the volume growth rate of such currents is controlled by the local slope and the density ratio between the current and the ambient fluid. An alternative assumption, according to which the volume growth rate is controlled solely by the overall Richardson number, is examined here. Both assumptions were used successively in the same theoretical model, primarily developed by A. G. Kulikovskiy and E. I. Sveshnikova, then by P. Beghin. The model predictions were compared to laboratory experiments (release of a finite volume down an inclined channel, with particle entrainment from the bed) and field data (a well-documented large powder snow avalanche in Switzerland). In both cases, the assumption of a slope-dependent volume growth rate received little support, whereas assuming that the entrainment coefficient is controlled by the Richardson number makes it possible to describe the velocity and volume variations fairly well, except for highly concentrated particle-driven currents in the laboratory.

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Contribution of theoretical and experimental results to powder-snow avalanche dynamics

Cited by 25 publications

References 2 publications

A Review of Russian Snow Avalanche Models—From Analytical Solutions to Novel 3D Models

A Review of Russian Snow Avalanche Models—From Analytical Solutions to Novel 3D Models

Mathematical Modeling of Powder‐Snow Avalanche Flows

Powder snow avalanches: Approximation as non‐Boussinesq clouds with a Richardson number–dependent entrainment function

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