Crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) patterns in uniaxially compressed deuterated ice: quantitative analysis of historical data

Abstract

Abstract Strain, temperature and strain rate are crucial factors governing the development of crystallographic preferred orientations (CPO) in ice. To better understand how CPO patterns change in response to these variables, we performed quantitative analyses on neutron diffraction data between 2010 and 2019, collected in situ during uniaxial compression experiments on deuterium ice. At strains >10% and temperatures <−10°C, the c-axis pattern switches from a single maximum (‘cluster’) to small circle (‘cone’), both oriented parallel to shortening. The diameter and mean width of the cone pattern decrease as strain and/or strain rate increases. Prismatic axis (a and m) patterns are characterised by great circles parallel to the pole figure margin and may be distinguishable from the patterns in ice deformed under simple shear. While strain has the main influence on the degree of preferred orientation (or CPO ‘strength’), both temperature and strain rate have minor influences, which limits the extent to which CPOs can be used to measure strain. As cluster patterns can be observed in the c-axes of ice deformed under both pure and simple shear settings, this may complicate interpretations of flow geometry in terrestrial ice unless the prismatic axis patterns are also considered.