A Numerical Study of the Feasibility of Vertical Avalanche Defense Structures

Meloch, Francis; Simenhois, Ron; Sharaf, Don; Gaume, Johan; Greene, Ethan

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A Numerical Study of the Feasibility of Vertical Avalanche Defense Structures

2026-04-01
By Meloch, Francis ; Simenhois, Ron ; Sharaf, Don ; ...

File Language:

English

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Creators:

Meloch, Francis ; Simenhois, Ron ; Sharaf, Don ; Gaume, Johan ; Greene, Ethan
Corporate Creators:

David Hamre and Associates, LLC. ; Transportation Avalanche Research Pool
Corporate Contributors:

Colorado Department of Transportation. Office of Applied Research
Subject/TRT Terms:

Avalanche Avalanche Defense Structure Avalanches Crack Propagation Explosives Feasibility Analysis Fracture Arrest Fracture Propagation Roads Slabs Slopes Stanley Slide Path Topography
Publication/ Report Number:

CDOT-2026-01
Resource Type:

Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:

United States ; Colorado
Edition:

Final Report (2025-26)
Corporate Publisher:

Colorado Department of Transportation. Applied Research & Innovations Branch
Abstract:

Traditional avalanche defense structures are costly to install and maintain, visually intrusive, and must be placed perpendicular to slopes. Many highway avalanche programs, therefore, rely on active measures like explosives, which carry inherent risks and may not prevent all large avalanches from reaching roadways. This project investigates an innovative alternative: vertical, downslope-oriented structures designed to arrest avalanche crack propagation at a fraction of the cost and visual impact. Using over 300 numerical simulations, this study demonstrated the technical feasibility of vertical avalanche defense structures. The advanced depth-averaged Material-Point Method model—validated specifically for snow avalanches—examined crack propagation dynamics across simple slopes, complex analytical terrain, and real-world topography (Stanley Path, Colorado).
Format:

PDF
Funding:

PO 411041516
Collection(s):

FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:a72f7bacfd05a05f2602c9fef8c4051264b19297ff746e8bd181b48dfc8af837403f1554a081897df3617aa95872db5f9d9918a41d2bb8dba8cc4a97a0671253
Download URL:

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/92468/dot_92468_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 4.06 MB ]

File Language:

English

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