Snow deflector built at the edge of a road cut

Abstract

This paper describes experiments with a solid snow fence for snowdrift prevention on a road cut. Solid fence has seldom been used for prevention of snowdrifts because the fence soon becomes saturated and ineffective. However, a modeling experiment with a solid fence built at the shoulder edge of a road cut indicated the effect of the fence on blowing snow particles upward. Therefore, it was easily predicted that the effect could prevent the snowdrift formation on a full-scale road cut. The result of the field experiment using the same type of snow fence showed the same effect as shown in the modeling experiment.