Laboratory experiments on floating saline ice block breakage in ice-to-ice contact

This study uses a unique experimental system to explore the breakage of laboratory-grown, floating saline ice blocks under ice-to-ice contacts. topic is important understanding and modeling force transmission through rubble fields. In collection subjected compressive loading, transmitted via chains, their stability plays crucial role in ice-structure interaction processes. Peak loads are limited by buckling these chains or at block Lack information on mechanism motivates present effort. experiments, three were set up form two contacts, after which three-block was compressed failure. The each contact failure process recorded. total 32 tests with varying areas performed. about 75% cases, load an shear key property limiting magnitude found be strength; typically failed planes having characteristics ‘Coulombic faults’. Quasi-static equilibrium analysis failures showed that naturally occurring temperature gradient used this had strength 279 kPa. Other modes, including crushing, splitting ‘Y-shaped’ conjugate failure, occasionally observed. • Breakage studied. Novel technique for testing introduced. went shear-like Contact between appears ice. Results likely have implications numerical interaction.