title: Fracture toughness of snow in shear under friction.
abstract: The fracture toughness of snow in shear is one of the most relevant parameters when studying the mechanics of snow slab avalanche release. Double-cantilever snow beams were loaded asymmetrically to determine K(IIc). If crack surfaces touch under applied pressure, the fracture toughness in shear of snow (rho=247 kg m(-3)) is K(IIc)=680+/-60 Pa m(1/2). Screening of the stress intensity at the crack tip occurs by Newtonian friction with k=1.3+/-0.47 along the crack faces.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Sciences des Matériaux, Université Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay Cedex, France.
authors.forename: H O K
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Michot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schweizer