A plan for the study of snow cohesion and snow loads in estimating the necessary strength of roofs against snow overloading

Submitted by vlaplant on Thu, 02/21/2013 - 16:24
TitleA plan for the study of snow cohesion and snow loads in estimating the necessary strength of roofs against snow overloading
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1940
AuthorsWork, R. A.
Conference Name8th Annual Western Interstate Snow Survey Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 8th Annual Western Interstate Snow Survey Conference
Date PublishedJune 1940
PublisherAmerican Geophysical Union, Transactions, Part III-B:
Conference LocationSeattle, Washington
KeywordsSnow loads on roofs
Abstract

A one-sixth scale model of a deep-snow shelter cabin was prepared for snow load tests. An estimated 12.5 tons of snow was seen on an actual shelter cabin roof. The snow covered the cabin completely and is not known whether the full load was borne by the roof of whether part of the mass was supported by cohesive action of the lower snow strata. It is suggested that a removable roof be used on the scale model for accurate measuring of the load capacity. Discussion by Dr. J.E. Church has no solution to the stress problem in buried cabins under snow.
URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1940aWork.pdf