Compacted Snow
Compacted Snow
(OP)
Is anyone aware of testing that has been performed to determine typical densities of plowed/piled snow?
Snow drift according to ASCE max's out at 30 pcf, so I am thinking that it may be somewhere in the 45 to 50 pcf range since the density of solid water is about 90% of liquid water at 32 deg. F.
I have an unusual request to reinforce a retaining wall to retain 10 feet of plowed snow.
Snow drift according to ASCE max's out at 30 pcf, so I am thinking that it may be somewhere in the 45 to 50 pcf range since the density of solid water is about 90% of liquid water at 32 deg. F.
I have an unusual request to reinforce a retaining wall to retain 10 feet of plowed snow.






RE: Compacted Snow
Also, plowed snow should have a very high angle of internal friction so I would imagine the lateral load from such a pile to be quite small but the weight would be quite large.
Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.
RE: Compacted Snow
RE: Compacted Snow
Mighty: I do not see internal friction of the snow being a factor here, as the surcharge distribution on the surface of the retained soil is just the snow's weight times it's depth. Sorry, my OP may not have been clear - there is 10-ft of existing retained soil and the wall is 10-feet tall with no parapet extension. Snow will go on top of that.
Thanks for your feedback
RE: Compacted Snow
Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.
RE: Compacted Snow
You might also consider the effect of a semi-melted and refrozen snowbank impacted by a crazy plow truck driver. It's been my personal experience that they can sometimes easily bring a truck to an abrupt stop when frozen to the ground.
Ralph
Structures Consulting
Northeast USA
RE: Compacted Snow
RE: Compacted Snow
The density will affect the final volumne, but not the final weight.
Why not look at the area that will be plowed against this wall, and that's your weight.
Agree with the impact for the over zealous driver impacting against the wall.
RE: Compacted Snow
I don't mean to be a numbskull, but I do not understand what you are trying to explain.
RE: Compacted Snow
Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.
RE: Compacted Snow
RE: Compacted Snow