Melt-layer thickness measurements during crushing experiments on fresh-water ice

Abstract

AbstractA stainless-steel platen, with a centrally located pressure sensor on the front face, has been used to crush mono-crystalline, bubble-free fresh-water ice samples. Two electrical conductors, located on the face of the pressure sensor, were connected to a bridge circuit so that the presence of liquid between the two conductors could be detected and its thickness measured. Video records of the ice/ steel contact zone during crushing were obtained by mounting samples on a thick Plexiglas plate which permitted viewing through the specimen to the ice/steel interface. Total load and pressure records exhibited a sawtooth pattern due to the compliance of the ice and the testing apparatus, and spalling of ice from the contact zone. When the region of contact was in the vicinity of the pressure transducer, liquid was detected and peaks occurred in the liquid sensor output when load drops occurred. Contact between the platen and the ice consisted of low pressure zones of highly damaged crushed and/or refrozen ice, opaque in appearance, and transparent, high-pressure regions of relatively undamaged ice. Upper limits for the liquid-layer thickness on the high-pressure undamaged ice were ~3 µm on the ascending sides of the sawteeth in the load records and ~ 21 µ on the sharp descending sides.