Snow Mechanics: Avalanche Release and Crack Propagation

This lecture covers the mechanics behind snow slab avalanche release, including stress, strain, elasticity, and failure initiation. It delves into stability indices, weak layer strength, stability tests, crack propagation mechanisms, and the UCLA/Disney Snow model. The presentation also explores the Propagation Saw Test (PST) for evaluating slope stability, propagation speed, and release size. Various simulation models are discussed, from purely elastic slabs to elastic-brittle slabs accounting for tensile failure. The lecture concludes with a detailed examination of stress redistribution, equilibrium equations, and practical examples like safety distances between skiers and remote triggering.