This study presents estimates of snow creep pressures from the centre section of an avalanche defence structure in western Norway. The structure is 15 in long and is erected on a 25° slope characterized by deep snow covers. Two methods of measurement are described: (1) direct estimates from earth pressure cells, and (2) construction of force, shear and moment diagrams from strains measured using vibrating wire strain gauges mounted on the steel beams of the structure.

In addition to the estimates of pressure, relevant snowpack data were measured, including snow depth, density, temperature and rammsonde hardness profiles as well as snow crystal stratigraphy. Snow gliding was also measured, and was found to be negligible. The snowpack measurements were made at approximately monthly intervals during each of the four winters which yielded useable data for the study.

Analysis of the pressure distributions along with the snowpack data yielded the following results: (1) the average pressure on the structure is linearly proportional to the product of average density times snow depth, (2) the average pressures are predicted fairly accurately by a linear, viscous creep model, (3) the maximum pressure depends strongly on the snowpack stiffness and decreases rapidly when warming and melt soften the snowpack, and (4) the maximum pressures are of the order of 254 higher than predicted by a linear, viscous creep model.