Uniaxial compressive strength of first-year and multi-year sea ice

Abstract

Strain-rate and stress-rate sensitivity of the compressive strength of first-year columnar-grained ice, first-year congealed frazil ice, and columnar-grained ice from an old floe have been investigated with load applied in the horizontal plane. In spite of similar salinity and density, the frazil ice proved to be considerably stronger than the columnar-grained ice. The strength of porous old floe ice with columnar-grained structure was very much the same as that of first-year ice of similar structure, but the clear bulk ice of the old floe was strongest. Rate sensitivity of strength for the three types of saline ice was similar to that of fresh-water ice. Ductility of the old clear ice (as measured by the strain at upper yield) was the same as that of fresh-water ice; ductility of porous old ice was comparable to that of new frazil ice. New columnar-grained ice proved to be the most ductile material. Key words: columnar-grained, compressive strength, ductility, first-year, frazil, multi-year, rate sensitivity, sea ice.