Arctic Sea Ice of Various Ages: II. Elastic Properties

Abstract

Abstract Young’s modulus E and Poisson’s ratio σ 0 were calculated for biennial and polar ice from measurements of the P-wave velocity in small samples and from a study of the resonant frequencies of the saure samples. P- and S-wave velocities in the biennial ice cover were also found by a seismic method. The small-scale tests showed no significant differences between the two types of ice tested. Young’s modulus averaged 3.6 per cent lower than the comparable figure for annual sea ice. The seismic method gave values of E and σ 0 about 20 per cent lower than the small-scale tests.