Creep and fracture of warm columnar freshwater ice

Abstract. This work addresses the time-dependent response of 3 m×6 m floating edge-cracked rectangular plates columnar freshwater S2 ice by conducting load control (LC) mode I fracture tests in Aalto Ice Tank University. The thickness was about 0.4 and temperature at top surface −0.3 ∘C. loading applied direction normal to grains consisted creep/cyclic-recovery sequences followed a monotonic ramp fracture. LC test results were compared with previous monotonically loaded displacement (DC) experiments same ice, effect creep cyclic on properties discussed. To characterize nonlinear displacement–load relation, Schapery's constitutive model thermodynamics analyze experimental data. A numerical optimization procedure using Nelder–Mead's (N-M) method implemented evaluate functions matching record generated measured experiment. accuracy is checked validated against crack mouth. Under testing conditions, phases dominated steady phase, overall elastic–viscoplastic; no significant viscoelasticity or major recovery detected. In addition, there clear growth initiation: failure opening displacements.