Comparison of the strength of iceberg and other freshwater ice and the effect of temperature

• Main Author: Jones, S. J.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: National Research Council of Canada. Institute for Ocean Technology 2006
• Subjects: Canada; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.4224/8895008; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=db2dacd4-05da-46ac-9c84-991baaacfc3d

Based on literature results, the temperature of an iceberg around the Grand Banks of Newfoundland is shown to vary from -2°C at the surface to approximately -20°C at depth. This temperature variation affects the strength of the ice. The strength of iceberg ice is shown to be 1.7 times less than other freshwater ice at a strain-rate of 10-³s-¹, probably due to pre-existing cracks. Using an activation energy of 80kJ/mol., the uniaxial compressive strength of iceberg ice is shown to vary from 5 MPa at -2°C near the surface, to 8 MPa at -20°C, at 10-20m depth. : Technical Report (National Research Council of Canada. Institute for Ocean Technology), No. NRC-ITO-6318