Ice Failure Modes
Ice beams loaded as described above in the set up (Fig. 2) are characterized by
different failure patterns, the main of them are considered below.
Crushing on indenter. The first phase of the ice beam loading is penetration of the
indenter and local fracture (crushing) of ice in the indenter contact area. Figure 4
shows this process during the tests in model ice of the FG type. The crushing force
is estimated from
F ind = p ind ⋅ A
ð1Þ
where p ind is the ice pressure averaged over the ice/indenter contact area, A is the
nominal contact area calculated as product of the ice thickness and the indenter
diameter. Table 2 gives the pressure on indenter based on indentation tests in the
infinite ice field for each ice type.
Flexural cracks. When the ice beam is loaded, flexural cracks may occur due to the
tensile forces at the mid-length and root sections of the beam (Fig. 7a). The process
of flexural cracking is described by Sodhi [7] for vertical loading of the beam with
fixed ends, and by Sakharov et al. [9] for the horizontal loading of the beam. For
a) flexural failure
b) shear failure (two
cracks)
c) shear and flexural
cracks
Fig. 7 Various failure types during the tests
598
M. Karulina et al.
Ice beams loaded as described above in the set up (Fig. 2) are characterized by
different failure patterns, the main of them are considered below.
Crushing on indenter. The first phase of the ice beam loading is penetration of the
indenter and local fracture (crushing) of ice in the indenter contact area. Figure 4
shows this process during the tests in model ice of the FG type. The crushing force
is estimated from
F ind = p ind ⋅ A
ð1Þ
where p ind is the ice pressure averaged over the ice/indenter contact area, A is the
nominal contact area calculated as product of the ice thickness and the indenter
diameter. Table 2 gives the pressure on indenter based on indentation tests in the
infinite ice field for each ice type.
Flexural cracks. When the ice beam is loaded, flexural cracks may occur due to the
tensile forces at the mid-length and root sections of the beam (Fig. 7a). The process
of flexural cracking is described by Sodhi [7] for vertical loading of the beam with
fixed ends, and by Sakharov et al. [9] for the horizontal loading of the beam. For
a) flexural failure
b) shear failure (two
cracks)
c) shear and flexural
cracks
Fig. 7 Various failure types during the tests
598
M. Karulina et al.