Influence of vibrations on indentation and compression strength of sea ice

Indentation and compression strengths of floating sea ice subjected to vibrations is discussed. The experiments were performed on the land fast ice of the Van-Mijen Fjord in March of 2018 and 2019. The ice thickness was around 70 cm, and the ice salinity was 4-5 ppt. Vibrations were introduced in the ice by the vibration plate with weight of 400 kg before the tests during 10-15 min. The vibration plate was standing and vibrating on the ice surface. The spectrum of vibrations was recorded with accelerometers. Analysis of thin sections of ice was performed on the place of the field works. Indentation tests were performed with the original hydraulic rig on natural ice and ice subjected to the action of vibrating plate. It was discovered that stroke rates tests were higher in the tests performed on the ice subjected to vibrations. Uniaxial compression tests were also performed on ice cores taken from the natural ice and from the ice subjected to the vibrations. Uniaxial compression strength of ice cores taken from the ice subjected to vibrations was higher than in the tests with natural ice.