Localized surface-ice weakness on a glacial ice runway
Abstract Following construction of a glacial ice runway on the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, and prior to flight operations, the runway was proof-rolled. The proof exercise was designed to simulate typical heavy aircraft. Initial testing produced numerous brittle surface failures in the runway ice. Th...
Published in: | Journal of Glaciology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1996
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000003415 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000003415 |
id |
crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0022143000003415 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0022143000003415 2024-03-03T08:38:05+00:00 Localized surface-ice weakness on a glacial ice runway Lang, R. M. Blaisdell, George L. 1996 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000003415 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000003415 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) Journal of Glaciology volume 42, issue 142, page 426-439 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 Earth-Surface Processes journal-article 1996 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000003415 2024-02-08T08:40:37Z Abstract Following construction of a glacial ice runway on the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, and prior to flight operations, the runway was proof-rolled. The proof exercise was designed to simulate typical heavy aircraft. Initial testing produced numerous brittle surface failures in the runway ice. Thin sections of ice cores taken from the failed areas showed large crystals ( с axis vertical) of clear, blue ice with long, vertical bubbles, indicative of ice formed directly from meltwater. Uniaxial unconfined compression tests on core samples were used to compare runway ice strength with published data for polycrystalline laboratory ice. Since the frequent failure of surface ice had not been expected, it was critical to understand the formation and mechanical properties of the weak ice to prevent its occurrence in the future and to strengthen the existing problem areas. We discuss the likely scenarios for development of weak ice on the airstrip and the physical properties of this type of ice. Also, the procedure used to repair successfully the runway surface is described, which culminated in test flights, followed by full flight operations. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Ice Shelf Journal of Glaciology Ross Ice Shelf Cambridge University Press Ross Ice Shelf Ice Runway ENVELOPE(166.469,166.469,-77.854,-77.854) Journal of Glaciology 42 142 426 439 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth-Surface Processes |
spellingShingle |
Earth-Surface Processes Lang, R. M. Blaisdell, George L. Localized surface-ice weakness on a glacial ice runway |
topic_facet |
Earth-Surface Processes |
description |
Abstract Following construction of a glacial ice runway on the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, and prior to flight operations, the runway was proof-rolled. The proof exercise was designed to simulate typical heavy aircraft. Initial testing produced numerous brittle surface failures in the runway ice. Thin sections of ice cores taken from the failed areas showed large crystals ( с axis vertical) of clear, blue ice with long, vertical bubbles, indicative of ice formed directly from meltwater. Uniaxial unconfined compression tests on core samples were used to compare runway ice strength with published data for polycrystalline laboratory ice. Since the frequent failure of surface ice had not been expected, it was critical to understand the formation and mechanical properties of the weak ice to prevent its occurrence in the future and to strengthen the existing problem areas. We discuss the likely scenarios for development of weak ice on the airstrip and the physical properties of this type of ice. Also, the procedure used to repair successfully the runway surface is described, which culminated in test flights, followed by full flight operations. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lang, R. M. Blaisdell, George L. |
author_facet |
Lang, R. M. Blaisdell, George L. |
author_sort |
Lang, R. M. |
title |
Localized surface-ice weakness on a glacial ice runway |
title_short |
Localized surface-ice weakness on a glacial ice runway |
title_full |
Localized surface-ice weakness on a glacial ice runway |
title_fullStr |
Localized surface-ice weakness on a glacial ice runway |
title_full_unstemmed |
Localized surface-ice weakness on a glacial ice runway |
title_sort |
localized surface-ice weakness on a glacial ice runway |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1996 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000003415 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000003415 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(166.469,166.469,-77.854,-77.854) |
geographic |
Ross Ice Shelf Ice Runway |
geographic_facet |
Ross Ice Shelf Ice Runway |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica Ice Shelf Journal of Glaciology Ross Ice Shelf |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica Ice Shelf Journal of Glaciology Ross Ice Shelf |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 42, issue 142, page 426-439 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000003415 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
42 |
container_issue |
142 |
container_start_page |
426 |
op_container_end_page |
439 |
_version_ |
1792504404049395712 |