A Rate-Dependent Stress-Strain Relationship for Sea Ice

Abstract

A one-dimensional rate-sensitive stress-strain relationship is developed to describe the uniaxial mechanical behavior in compression for sea ice. It is a one-term, nonlinear model and is simpler in form than the nonlinear models proposed by other investigators. It contains four independent constants that are determined by experimental data. This model can describe the behavior of sea ice very well under constant strain rate loading, constant stress rate loading and creep loading conditions. In particular, it describes the following features of sea behavior: 1 the increase in ice strength with strain rate and with stress rate; 2 the increase in strain-softening effects with strain rate; 3 the relative difference between the strengths obtained by constant stress rate and constant strain rate tests; 4 the rate dependence of ice stiffness; 5 primary, secondary, and tertiary creep, where the duration and rate depend on the applied stress level. This paper presents the proposed rate-sensitive stress-strain relationship and discusses its behavior under various loading conditions. A set of coefficients has been selected to compare with test results under constant strain rates. Agreement between predicted and observed stress-strain behaviors is very good. Predicted behavior under constant stress rate and creep are also presented.