Modelling the change in structure and mechanical properties in dry-snow densification to ice

The regular packing of spheres or polyhedrons of various shapes linked by rigid bonds is presented and discussed as a model of snow structure. Basic structural parameters of this model are: the coordination number and introduced dimensionless factors of friability and rigidity. The snow densification is described as successive changes of these parameters. Use of the model allows us to relate the density increase from ~130 to ~320, ~550, ~700, ~820 and 917 kg m −3 , while the coordination number of the structure increases accordingly from 3 (friable hexagonal) to 4 (tetrahedral), 6 (cubic), 8, 10, 12 (dense hexagonal). These structural changes are in good agreement with the critical densities established in experimental studies of snow densification and the physical properties of snow. It is shown that the model presented allows us to estimate the mechanical properties of ice-porous media: Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio and strength.