Analysis of medium scale ice-indentation tests

A medium-scale ice-indentation test program was conducted on Hobson's Choice Ice Island in May, 1990. This test series was performed as an extension to a similar program conducted the previous year. A description of the 1990 test program along with a description of the observed failure surface is presented. Ice samples, both undamaged multi-year sea ice and ice from the pulverized layer, were collected and transported to the Ice-Structures Laboratory of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Uniaxial compression tests, including constant strain rate tests and creep tests, were conducted. Estimates of peak stress, elastic strain, delayed elastic strain and permanent viscous creep were determined and comparisons were made between undamaged, laboratory-damaged and pulverized ice. Finite element simulations were conducted and compared to field observations. This finite element analysis focused on the behaviour of an intermediate layer of highly damaged ice at the ice-structure interface. The results of the finite element simulation indicate that deformation of the intermediate layer is dominated by viscous behaviour.