Study on the mechanical properties of compacted snow under uniaxial compression and analysis of influencing factors

Abstract

Snow is an important natural resource and an indispensable part of winter engineering construction in cold regions, but relatively little research has been done on its mechanical properties. To better understand snow in winter in cold regions and during freezing rain and snow disasters, the mechanical properties of snow under uniaxial compression are studied. Uniaxial compression tests were carried out on compacted snow at different temperatures (−5 °C, −10 °C, −15 °C, and − 25 °C), loading rates (1 mm/min ~ 300 mm/min) and densities (0.35 g/cm3, 0.40 g/cm3, 0.45 g/cm3, 0.50 g/cm3, 0.55 g/cm3, and 0.60 g/cm3). The results showed that plastic deformation transitions to brittle failure in snow with an increase in the loading rate. The critical loading rate between the two deformation modes was within the range of 10 mm/min ~ 30 mm/min; as the loading rate increased, the uniaxial compressive strength first increased and then decreased. The loading rate corresponding to the ultimate compressive strength was between 10 mm/min and 30 mm/min. The uniaxial compressive strength increased with increasing density, and the ultimate compressive strength achieved in these tests was 1.68 MPa. Additionally, the uniaxial compressive strength of snow increased with decreasing temperature, and the relationship was especially obvious at low loading rates and high densities. The loading rate, density and temperature are the key factors affecting the uniaxial compressive strength of snow