The Creep Activation Energies of Ice

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Homer, D. R., Glen, J. W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1978
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000033591; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000033591

Abstract Monocrystals and bicrystals of ice have been creep tested at temperatures between 4 and — 30°C. The bicrystals had a single grain boundary running parallel to the tensile axis; this configuration inhibited grain-boundary slip between the two grains. The creep tests, which were carried out at constant stress σ and temperature T , yielded data of strain ϵ for time elapsed since the start of the test. These data showed accelerating creep for both monocrystals and bicrystals at all strain levels. Strain-rates were derived at strains of 0.01, 0.05. and 0.10, and these rates were fitted to the expression k is Boltzmann’s constant and E is the creep activation energy. Derived values of n were 1.9 for monocrystals and 2.9 for bicrystals. The creep activation energy was found to be 78 kJ/mol for monocrystals and 75 kJ/mol for bicrystals. The processes of creep deformation in mono-, bi- and polycrystals are discussed.