Großer Gröben load plates
EU Contract no. EVG1-CT2002-00059

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  Großer Gröben load plate measurements
  • These measurements were made by AIATR [ link ] on February 21st, 2000. The avalanche path is shown on the map and the image, below.
  • The path curves through a south-east to south to south-west aspect and there is a 1269m elevation difference between the summit area and the measurement point.


  • xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche map

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche map.


    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche path

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche path.

  • To protect the road that runs across this path from the powder component of the avalanche, a tunnel bridge has been constructed. This crosses the path 40m above the ground:


  • xxxxxxGroßer Gröben tunnel bridge (a) xGroßer Gröben tunnel bridge (b)

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben tunnel bridge.

  • Some of the equipment used at this site is similar to that which will be implemented in the SATSIE project. The load plate used has a 1 x 1m2 area and measures the normal load and the horizontal and vertical components of tangential load.
  • In addition, membrane absolute pressure transducers are used to determine the impact pressure at a point and the suction on the leeward side of the tunnel. Airspeed indicators (Pitot tubes) are installed above and below the bridge, together with absolute pressure transducers for recording the impact pressure and the ambient air pressure.
  • A continuous wave x-band Doppler radar can be used to obtain velocity measurements, while air temperature and pressure data are available from within the tunnel.


  • xxxxxxGroßer Gröben tunnel bridge instrumentation

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben tunnel bridge instrumentation.


    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben tunnel bridge membrane absolute pressure transducers for suction measurements

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben tunnel bridge pressure transducers for suction measurements.


  • The avalanche that occurred was sufficiently powerful to over-top the ridge and throw down a number of trees:


  • xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche damage (a)

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche damage (a).


    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche damage (b)

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche damage (b).

  • Some of the results from this experiment are given below. The impact pressures measured using this equipment were high, demonstrating that although it has a low density, the powder cloud can be a very significant hazard.



  • xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche perpendicular load

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche perpendicular load.


    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche impact pressures

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche impact pressures.


    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche tangential load vertical

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche tangential load vertical.


    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche tangential load horizontal

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche tangential load horizontal.


    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche middle suction

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche middle suction.


    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche airspeed top

    xxxxxxGroßer Gröben avalanche airspeed top.
 

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