The effects of the shape and the size of a vane on the vane shear strength of snow were studied by using natural snow stored in a cold room. Two sets of vanes were prepared for this experiment: One consists of four vanes having geometrically similar form and different sizes and the other four vanes having non-similar forms and different sizes.
The following summarizing sentences were obtained by the investigation.
(1) When the circumferential velocity of vanes having geometrically similar shape is equal, measured values of vane shear strength were coincided with each other in spite of different sizes.
(2) Vane shear strengths with geometrically non-similar shape increased in proportion to the increase in the ratio of height to width. Once the circumferential velocity becomes larger than a critical value, then the differences of forms of vanes do not affect the vane shear strength.

View full abstract

In heavy snow area in Japan, more than 40 percents of roads are narrow; so that snow machines often cannot pass through them and such roads are closed by deep snow for a long time. It seems that the best way to circumvent this problem is to replace road gutters with snow removing gutters. It is known that running water in a gutter is able to flow equivalent volume of snow, and that the flow rate (the required volume of water per hour) is easily estimated by the volume of snow which is thrown into the gutter.

View full abstract

This report summarizes the results of the experiments on the storage of vegetables by the use of snow. In the Hokuriku districts of Japan, vegetables such as raddish or cabbage could be stored during the winter season under snow where low-temperature and high-humidity conditions prevail. For successful storage, however, care must be taken to start storage at right time because snow depth and continuous snow cover period vary greatly from year to year, also measures must be taken, in years of light snow, to avoid freeze damage, and, in years of heavy snow, to avoid pressure of the snow cover, and it is necessary to put snow on the vegetables or to retard melting of snow for extended storage.
The type of measures to be taken and materials to be used in these measures depend on the kind of vegetables to be stored, and on the meteorological conditions of the region. In the experiments two methods of storage were tested: (1) Vegetables, put in a “muro” container were stored under snow; (2) Vegetables amounting to as much as 300 t, put in corrugated cardboard boxes, and buried under snow which was prevented from melting. In both cases vegetables could be stored for 3-4 months. No temperature increase due to respiration was observed despite of massive storage.

View full abstract