THE COMPACTION OF WET SNOW ON HIGHWAYS

The compressibility of wet snow decreases with decreasing liquid water content but increases with decreasing salinity. Also, the tendency for snow splashing on highways increases with increasing liquid water content and increases with decreasing salinity. These opposite effects are complicated by the fact that liquid water content and salinity are not necessarily independent. The amount of liquid present can be controlled somewhat by the road grade and salinity is generally determined by how much salt is applied to the road surface. For different situations it may be desirable to regulate salt applications in order to achieve a maximum amount of splashing with a minimum of compaction of wet snow into ice. Here we provide a qualitative review of wet snow and suggest how an understanding of wet snow's behavior on a road surface might increase our ability to deal with snow removal problems. /Authors/

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr185/185-004.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0360859X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in TRB Special Report 185, Snow Removal and Ice Control Research. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Colbeck, Samuel C
• Conference:
  • Second International Symposium on Snow Removal and Ice Control Research
  • Location: Hanover New Hampshire, United States
  • Date: 1978-5-15 to 1978-5-19
• Publication Date: 1979

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 14-17
• Monograph Title: SNOW REMOVAL AND ICE CONTROL RESEARCH
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Board Special Report
  • Issue Number: 185
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0360-859X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compaction; Compressibility; Deicing chemicals; Highways; Ice; Pavement surface course; Salinity; Snow; Snow removal; Splashing; Wet density
• Old TRIS Terms: Splash
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00193848
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 13 1979 12:00AM