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Data from: Dynamic models for impact-initiated stress waves through snow columns

Verplanck, Samuel1

Research facility: Subzero Research Laboratory*
Published Feb 27, 2024 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.ngf1vhj1b

Data files

Feb 27, 2024 version files 7.89 MB

Abstract

The objective of this research is to model snow’s response to dynamic, impact loading. Two constitutive relationships are considered: elastic and Maxwell-viscoelastic. These material models are applied to laboratory experiments consisting of 1000 individual impacts across 22 snow column configurations. The columns are 60 cm tall with a 30 cm by 30 cm cross-section. The snow ranges in density from 135-428 kg m-3 and is loaded with both short-duration (~1 ms) and long-duration (~10 ms) impacts. The Maxwell-viscoelastic model more accurately describes snow’s response because it contains a mechanism for energy dissipation, which the elastic model does not. Furthermore, the ascertained model parameters show a clear dependence on impact duration; shorter duration impacts resulted in higher wave speeds and greater damping coefficients. The stress wave’s magnitude is amplified when it hits a stiffer material because of the positive interference between incident and reflected waves. This phenomenon is observed in the laboratory and modeled with the governing equations.