Resumen

CASTRO, D; MERY, J.P; ARAVENA, R  y  SANHUEZA, C. Snowpack retaining techniques in the avalanche starting zones. Revista de la Construcción [online]. 2010, vol.9, n.2, pp. 39-52. ISSN 0718-915X.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-915X2010000200005.

Snow avalanches are events that present a serious risk to human beings and goods due to their destructive power. For that reason, effective control measures are required to keep human settlements and installations safe from the danger coming from mountain slopes. This article summarizes the different structural systems and techniques used nationally and internationally to support and stabilize the snowpack in avalanche starting zones. These measures act by reducing the pressures originated by the creeping and sliding of the snowpack. While the current state of the art and the control systems implementation have been mainly developed in Europe, the prevention measures by modern supporting structures have been carried out in Chile since the 80s.

Palabras clave : snow avalanches; snowpack; stabilization; supporting structures.