An anisotropic flow law for ice-sheet ice and its implications

Abstract

A new flow law for anisotropic polycrystalline ice is presented. The strain-rate tensor is related by a geometrical factor tensor (G) to the stress tensor. The G factor tensor can be obtained front the c-axis fabric data and stress condition. This new flow law describes well the direction-dependent mechanical properties of anisotropic ice which cannot be demonstrated by Glen’s flow law. For example, the new flow law can explain the fact that a strong single-maximum fabric ice, such as Dye 3 Wisconsin ice, can deform several times faster than isotropic ice under horizontal shear but can hardly deform under vertical or horizontal normal stress. We also show that at a deeper part of an ice sheet, where a single-maximum fabric develops, a positive vertical strain rate can be produced with only a horizontal shear stress.