Constitutive modelling of a snow cover with a change in scale

The search to improve protective techniques against natural phenomena such as snow avalanches requires thorough analysis of the behaviour of a snow cover in interaction with a structure. This paper deals with a multiscale approach allowing the overall behaviour of the snowpack to be inferred from the local properties. The constitutive equations are obtained from a statistical description of the mantel, regarded at the micro level as a cohesive granular assembly. Further general results are derived on the changes in fabrics as an application, the case of a snow pack in interaction with a flexible structure is discussed.