Computer modeling and measurement of devastating impact characteristics of snow avalanches

The paper provides the mathematical model describing the movement of different kinds of avalanche snow mass and its interaction with obstacles based on the modified method of particle dynamics. Further, the authors introduce their algorithm to calculate avalanche impact on buildings and structures; this algorithm underlies a computer program that allows you to set the basic parameters of a building, snowpack, terrain slope and calculate the indicators of displacement and overturning of the building and magnitude of the energy impact. The article confirms the adequacy of the model by the example of avalanches in Longyearbyen. It is shown that the average error in determination of 10 indicators of the displacement of buildings makes up 4.3 %. The model allows one not only to reproduce the displacement of homes but also to restore a detailed picture of the mechanical impact of avalanches. Thus, the model can be used to predict the damaging effects of snow avalanches on the infrastructure.