Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of St. Lawrence River Ice

Abstract

Observations are reported on the stress–strain behavior at −9.5 ± 0.5 °C of four types of ice obtained from the St. Lawrence River. The ice was subject to nominal rates of strain covering the range 2.1 × 10−5 min−1 to 5.8 × 10−2 min−1. A ductile-to-brittle transition was observed for strain rate of about 10−2 min−1. In the ductile range the four types had an upper yield stress that increased with strain rate according to a power law.