An analytical study of the propagation of shock waves in snow was carried out to evaluate the response of medium density snow to high rates of loading. One solution was developed for steady shock waves; this resulted in calculation of pressure jump, density jump and stress wave speed. Correlation with available experimental data was found to be good. Nonsteady shock waves were also considered in order to evaluate wave attenuation rates in snow. Very few data were available to compare with the analytical results, so no definite conclusions on the part of the study could be made. The results show, however, that shock waves that produce plastic deformation attenuate at extremely high rates and that differences in pressure between two waves are quickly eliminated within a short distance. Calculations were also made to evaluate the effect of wave frequency on attenuation rates. The results show that, for plastic waves, frequency is not a predominant factor for determining attenuation rates. (Author).

A laboratory study of the behavior of snow under shock wave loading and unloading conditions was conducted using a 200-mm-diameter gas gun to generate loading waves in snow samples with initial densities of 100 to 520 kg m-3 at temperatures of -2 to -23 deg C. Stress levels were 2 to 40 MPa. The response of snow to shock wave loading was measured as a function of distance from the impact plane using embedded stress gauges. Large impedance differences between snow and the stress gauges produced complex stress histories. A finite element model, along with a simple analytical model of the experiment, was used to interpret the stress histories. Snow deformation was not affected by initial temperature, but was found to be rate dependent. The initial density of the snow determined its pressure-deformation path. The pressure needed to compact snow to a specific final density increases with decreasing initial density. The release moduli increased nonlinearly from 50 MPa at a snow pressure of about 15 MPa to 2700 MPa at a snow pressure of about 40 MPa ... Attenuation, Porous ice, Shock wave propagation in snow, Experimental methods, Shock waves, Snow.