Strain localisation and dynamic recrystallisation in the ice-air aggregate: A numerical study

• Main Authors: Steinbach, Florian, Bons, Paul D., Griera, Albert, Jansen, Daniela, Llorens Verde, Maria Gema, Roessiger, Jens, Weikusat, Ilka
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: EGU 2016
• Subjects: Dronning Maud Land; Antarc*; Antarctica; EPICA; The Cryosphere
• Online Access: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/41238/; https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/41238/1/Steinbach2016.pdf; http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/tc-2016-167/; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.48308; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.48308.d001

We performed numerical simulations on the micro-dynamics of ice with air inclusions as a second phase. This provides first results of a numerical approach to model dynamic recrystallisation in polyphase crystalline aggregates. Our aim was to investigate the rheological effects of air inclusions and explain the onset of dynamic recrystallisation in the permeable firn. The simulations employ a full field theory crystal plasticity code coupled to codes simulating dynamic recrystallisation processes and predict time-resolved microstructure evolution in terms of lattice orientations, strain distribution, grain sizes and grain boundary network. Results show heterogeneous deformation throughout the simulations and indicate the importance of strain localisation controlled by air inclusions. This strain localisation gives rise to locally increased energies that drive dynamic recrystallisation and induce heterogeneous microstructures that are coherent with natural firn microstructures from EPICA Dronning Maud Land ice coring site in Antarctica. We conclude that although overall strains and stresses in firn are low, strain localisation associated with locally increased strain energies can explain the occurrence of dynamic recrystallisation.