Triaxial Testing of Freshwater Ice at Low Confining Pressures

Abstract

Tests have been conducted on freshwater columnar ice samples to determine the uniaxial and triaxial compressive strength of the ice. Four parameters were varied. The confining pressure was increased up to 2.85 MPa (400 psi) in steps of 0.7 MPa (100 psi). The strain rate was varied in order to obtain the ductile to brittle transition peak. Temperature was kept mainly at −2°, with two series at −10°C and −20°C, and samples were machined with axes parallel, perpendicular or at a 45-deg angle to the direction of ice growth. The results are presented within their original context, but analyzed with reference to recent studies conducted on the multiaxial behavior of ice.

Establishing a common database of ice experiments and using machine learning to understand and predict ice behavior

“…Generally, the aim was not to collect all available data, but rather to initiate the database and obtain enough observations to demonstrate the analysis methods. (Arakawa and Maeno, 1997;Currier and Schulson, 1982;Golding et al, 2010Golding et al, , 2012Golding et al, 2014;Gratz and Schulson, 1997;Häusler, 1981;Hawkes and Mellor, 1972;Haynes, 1978;Haynes and Mellor, 1977;Iliescu and Schulson, 2004;Jones, 1982Jones, , 1997Mellor and Cole, 1982;Mizuno, 1998;Nadreau et al, 1991;Richter-Menge and Jones, 1993;Rist and Murrell, 1994;Schulson, 1990Schulson, , 1999Schulson et al, 2006;Schulson and Buck, 1995;Schulson and Gratz, 1999;Smith and Schulson, 1993;Strub-Klein, 2017;Strub-Klein and Sudom, 2012;Timco and Frederking, 1984;Timco and Weeks, 2010;Weiss and Schulson, 1995;Zhang et al, 2011;ZhiJun et al, 2011) Additionally, data from the UNIS project from 2004 to 2011 is included: (Høyland, 2007;Moslet, 2007;Strub-Klein and Sudom, 2012) In the following, the features included in the database are listed and discussed if required. Some general remarks are given afterwards.…”

Stability Analysis in Determining Safety Drilling Fluid Pressure Windows in Ice Drilling Boreholes

“…Nadreau J.P. concluded a special failure criterion for freshwater ice at low confining pressures [25]. The failure criterion considers the influence of changes in the ice physical properties and hydrostatic pressure; it is defined as:…”

“…For an unbroken borehole wall, following the same research method in rock formation boreholes, the proper failure criterion should first be taken into consideration for the brittle fracture of ice [4,5,15,16]. Nadreau [25] proposed a brittle failure criterion under triaxial tests with plenty of fresh ice at a low confining pressure. This teardrop criterion considered the influence of hydrostatic pressure and met the tests result well.…”

Recent Progress in Snow and Ice Research

“…Both freshwater and saline ice types have been used to gain insight into deformational processes. Recent work has shown that the strain rate at which the transition from ductile to brittle behavior occurs: increases with a decrease in the effective grain size ( Schulson and Cannon [1984]; Cole [1987]; Laughlin and Schulson [1987]; Cole [in press]); depends on prestraining [ Kuehn et al , 1988a]; depends on confinement ( Jones [1982]; Blair [1987]; Richter‐Menge [1987]; Nadreau et al [1988]; Schulson et al [in press]) and depends on the presence of brine [ Richter‐Menge 1989]. Both creep (flow) and brittle (crack) failure mechanisms operate in the compressive transition zone.…”