SHOOTING URADS SNOWSLIDES
VARIOUS METHODS ARE USED TO CONTROL AVALANCHES IN WESTERN UNITED STATES. CONTROL MEASURES FALL INTO TWO FUNDAMENTAL CATEGORIES' MODIFICATION OF THE TERRAIN AND MODIFICATION OF THE SNOW COVER. ANOTHER TECHNIQUE IS THE ARTIFICIAL TRIGGERING OF SLIDES WITH EXPLOSIVES. NOW BEING USED SUCCESSFULLY IS THE USE OF THE AVALAUNCHER, A COMPRESSED-AIR CANNON WITH CHARGES OF A BLASTING AGENT. IT USES COMPRESSED NITROGEN GAS AS A PROPELLANT, THE MATERIAL IS A WATER- RESISTANT PRODUCT THAT CAN BE HANDLED WITH MAXIMUM SAFETY BECAUSE IT IS INSENSITIVE TO FLAME, SHOCK OR FRICTION. IT WILL NOT THROW OUT FRAGMENTS OF CASING AS ARTILLERY WILL DO. WITH ITS 20-SECOND FUSE BURNING, THE PROJECTILE ARCS SWIFTLY UP THE MOUNTAIN AND EXPLODES AGAINST THE SNOWPACK, CAUSING THE HUGE MASS TO SLIDE DOWNWARD. /AUTHOR/
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Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 72, No 2, PP 4-7
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Corporate Authors:
Compressed Air Magazine Company
942 Memorial Parkway
Phillipsburg, NJ United States 08865 -
Authors:
- Watson, F J
- Publication Date: 1967-2
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Avalanches; Compressed air; Control; Explosives; Methodology; Nitrogen; Presplitting (Blasting)
- Old TRIS Terms: Snowslides
- Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00218163
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Jun 5 1994 12:00AM