Photos of snow flow experiments

Overview

Experimental test-site at Col du Lac Blanc (Alpe d'Huez, French Alps, 2830m)
A small hutt and a 10m long channel.



Canal

Experimental set-up.
The white structure is the feeding system (a tank with a bottom Archimedian screw). It injects up to three cubic meter of snow in roughly 20s at constant flow rate. The channel is 10 m long and 2 cm wide. Its slope can be adjusted from 31° to 45°.



Day

Interesting, isn't it?
Usually, sport begins in the afternoon by cleaning the channel, burried under several meters of snow. Then, some tests may fascinate researchers (here T. Faug and myself).



Rempissage

Shovelling.
Experiments are performed by night, not only as a sportive challenge, but also to prevent snow melting. Each run begins by shovelling 1 cubic meter of snow.



Flow

Experimental snow flow
View of the middle of the chute, where we measure velocity profiles, basal stresses and flowing layer thickness. Some snow aggregates can be observed at the flow surface.