Fracture Toughness of Ice: A Preliminary Account of Some New Experiments

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Goodman, D. J., Tabor, D.
• 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/s0022143000033761; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000033761

Abstract This paper describes the first results from an experiment to measure the fracture toughness of ice. Two experimental techniques have been used; fracture of pre-notched rectangular specimens in three- and four-point bending, and from the observation of the cracks which form underneath an indenter forced into the ice surface. In the latter test the indenter behaves like a wedge. We have observed that for indenters with large interior angles the plastic zone beneath the indenter may itself behave like a wedge. Data obtained over a range of temperatures has been compared with the little other data available. We find a decrease of fracture toughness as the temperature is lowered, which is the reverse of that observed by H. W. Liu and L. W. Loop.