Compressive strength of ice at impact strain rates

The compressive strength of ice was measured at high strain rates of 103 s–1 order of magnitude. Since ice compressive strength is known to be strongly dependent on strain rate, properties corresponding to high strain rates are needed for engineering predictions of the behavior of ice under dynamic crushing scenarios. The split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus was used to successfully measure compressive strength over a strain rate range of 400–2,600 s–1. Strain rate variation was achieved by adjusting the specimen length and the velocity of the SHPB striker bar; increased velocity and reduced specimen length produced higher strain rates. Since the compressive strength was found to be nearly uniform over the measured strain rate range, an average value of 19.7 MPa is reported. However, when comparing the present results with data in the existing literature spanning several orders of magnitude in strain rate, a trend of continuously increasing strength for strain rates beyond 101 s–1 can be observed.