CRACKS IN PERENNIAL SEA ICE DUE TO THERMALLY INDUCED STRESS

The lowering of surface temperature below that of the water temperature underneath a floating sea-ice sheet often results in thermal cracking. The formation of these cracks is investigated theoretically by modeling the ice sheet as a floating elastic plate with thermal properties that vary with temperature and salinity. Results are obtained by extending previous work of Evans and Untersteiner and a typical crack spacing on the order of 200 m is found for perennial sea ice. (Author)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Also available in Journal of Geophysical Research, volume 76, number 33, page 8153-8155 November 1971.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Washington, Seattle

  Seattle, WA  United States  98195
• Authors:
  • Evans, Robin J
• Publication Date: 1971-8-24

Media Info

• Pagination: 6 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cracking; Ice; Ice phenomena; Physical properties; Sea ice; Thermal stresses; Thermoelasticity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ice properties
• Old TRIS Terms: Crack formation; Ice deformation
• Subject Areas: Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00033623
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: TR-13 Tech Rpt
• Contract Numbers: N00014-67-A-01030007
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 15 1972 12:00AM