Design criteria for cylindrical masts exposed to snow creep forces.

Abstract

Based on 23 years of measurements of snow creep forces on cylindrical masts, a relation between the pressure and snow parameters as snow depth, density and temperature, has been established. The long observation period has made it possible to find series of pressure values which have been used to develop an empirical model. In the model, the pressure at different depths in the snowpack can be calculated by factors which depend on the total snow depth. Long term observations on masts with different diameters, have also made it possible to estimate the influence of mast diameter on the pressure. Finally, an inclination dependent factor is taken into account.