Introduction

In order to develop theoretical models for the flow of ice masses, it is necessary to know the constitutive law for the non-elastic deformation of polycrystalline ice. Laboratory creep tests are the tests most frequently performed. The important factors in the steady creep equation are deviatoric stresses τ_ij′ and temperature T, which appear in the form:

where έ_ij are strain-rates, η the viscosity, B′ a constant, Q the activation energy for creep, R the gas constant, and τ the effective shear stress defined by

Equation (1) has been verified by Reference DuvalDuval ([1977]) with creep tests performed in torsion, compression, and torsion–compression. The exponent n is about three at least over the stress range 0.1 MN m^–2 < τ < 0.5 MN m^–2

For low stresses, it seems that the exponent n is smaller than 3 (Reference Mellor and TestaMellor and Testa, 1969; Reference Colbeck and EvansColbeck and Evans, 1973; Reference DuvalDuval, 1973). These results support the idea that two distinct mechanisms are controlling the deformation of ice for low and high stresses. From the deformation map given by Reference GoodmanGoodman (1978), the linear flow corresponding to Nabarro–Herring diffusional creep could be observed for stresses of the order of 0.1 MN m^–2 but with grain-sizes below 1 mm.

For high stresses, creep-rate could be controlled either by recovery processes (Reference DuvalDuval, [1977]) or by dislocation glide (Goodman, unpublished). Recent studies by Reference BakerBaker (1978) have showed that steady creep was very sensitive to variations in ice-crystal size. Increasing or decreasing the average crystal size from a value of about 1 mm results in an increase in secondary creep-rate. From Reference BakerBaker (1978), the steady creep with fine-grained ices is controlled by diffusional processes whereas that with coarse-grained ices is controlled by the mobility of dislocations in their glide planes. If, as shown above, Nabarro–Herring diffusional creep seems to be occurring for fine-grained ices and low stresses, it is not the case for a glide-controlled creep increasing with crystal size (Reference DuvalDuval, 1973).

The present study was initiated in order to verify the influence of ice-crystal size on steady creep, using artificial and natural ices.

Experimental methods

The artificial ice samples were prepared by packing sieved ice grains, made from frozen de-ionized distilled water, into a cylindrical mould which was 80 mm in diameter and about 160 mm long. The mould was de-aerated and the void spaces were filled by admitting air-free water at 0°C. Fine-grained samples were frozen in a cold room at – 15°C and coarse-grained samples in a cold room kept at – 1 .0°C. Several days were necessary to freeze samples completely at – 1.0°C. Samples thus prepared were almost free of bubbles. Density was about 0.91 Mg m^–3 for all the samples.

At each extremity of the samples, a thin section was cut perpendicular to the long axis before testing. Sample length for testing was about 120 mm and diameter 80 mm. Average grain-size was determined from enlarged photographs of thin sections. Crystal size from thin sections cut from both ends of samples varied less than 0.1 mm for fine-grained ices (grain-size below 2 mm), but the crystal-size variation could attain 1 mm for coarse-grained ices (grain-size of about 7 mm). Figure 1 shows two thin-section photographs of samples with different grain size.

Fig. 1.

Thin-section photographs of two typical artificial ice samples: (a) A₂ full size, (b) A₄ full size.

Isotropy of all the samples was verified by determining c-axis orientation of crystals. It was also verified by cutting sections after testing that no grain-size variations had occurred during deformation.

Natural ice samples come from a drilling carried out near D10 station (Antarctica). Temperature of the ice was –4°C in the upper layers and reached –7°C at the bottom. Crystal size was always greater than 4 mm. Fabrics of these samples were determined before testing. Isotropy was verified for the sample D46 (depth: 46 m) but a slight anisotropy was found for the other samples.

A constant uniaxial load was applied parallel to the long axis of samples with the apparatus used by Reference DuvalDuval ([1977]) in a cold room kept at (– 4.6±0.1)°C or at (– 7.1 ±0.1)°C. Strain was measured as a function of time by a linear variable differential transformer transducer (L.V.D.T.) and the output was recorded continuously. Strain of about 2 × 10^–5 could be measured. Stress was always kept at values not very different from 0.5 MN/m².

Results

Typical creep curves obtained with two artificial ices are shown in Figure 2. It can be seen that transient creep is more important for the coarse-grained ice than for the fine-grained ice. By assuming that creep curves fit the Andrade’s law:

Fig. 2.

Typical creep curves for two artificial ice samples. Compression stress: 0.5 MN m⁻², temperature T = –7.2 ± 0.1°C.

where ε₀ is the instantaneous strain, and β and γ constants, the tangent at the origin of the creep curves plotted against t

represents the transient creep. Figure 3 shows the transient creep for artificial ices. Broadly the Andrade creep increases with grain-size. This result is in accordance with that given by Reference DuvalDuval (1973).

Fig. 3.

Andrade transient creep plotted against t

for various artificial samples. The compression stress varied between 0.48 MN m⁻² for sample A₅ and 0.5 MN m⁻² for samples A₂ and A₄. Temperature T = –7.2±0.1°C.

Results of tests on artificial and natural ices are presented in Table I. We have quoted on the one hand the measured strain-rates at the end of experiments and on the other hand the strain-rates calculated by taking into account the Andrade creep. The calculated strain-rates are always smaller than the measured strain-rates. So, it is possible that secondary creep was not attained in the experiments. Indeed the total strain ranged only from 0.5 to 1%. But no measurable variation of strain-rate was observed in a time interval of about 24 h.

Table I.

Summary of experimental results

Figure 4 shows the normalized strain-rates versus average grain-size for both artificial and natural ice samples. It appears that creep-rate does not show a significant variation with grain-size. On the other hand, the creep-rates of natural ice samples are of the same order as those of artificial ice samples. The creep-rate of the isotropic sample D46 is smaller than those of the other natural samples.

Fig. 4.

Normalized minimum creep-rate versus average grain-size for both artificial and natural ice samples. Artificial ice samples are noted by the letter “A” and natural ice samples by the letter “D”. Creep-rates were normalized to a stress of 0.5 MN m⁻² from Equation (1) with n = 3 and to a temperature of – 7.2°C with an activation energy of 121 kJ mol⁻¹. The line is from Reference BakerBaker (1978), but normalized at 0.5 MN m⁻² and T = – 7.2°C with an activation energy of 88 kJ mol⁻¹. Samples A₁ (average grain-size: 1.80 mm) and D90 (average grain-size: 9.80 mm) were tested at –4.6°C, whereas all the others were tested between – 7.0°C and –7.2°C.

Discussion

These results appear to conflict with those given by Reference BakerBaker (1978). Indeed, the measured creep-rates did not increase with crystal size above 1 mm. It is important to note that, in spite of stresses and temperature being of the same order in the two studies, creep-rates quoted in Table I and in Figure 4 of this study are always smaller than those measured by Baker (Fig. 4). In Baker’s study the total strain ranged from 5 to 15% whereas it ranged only from 0.5 to 1% in the present study. If we assume that secondary creep was not attained in our experiments, the differences of creep-rate between the two studies become still more important. If, as Figure 3 seems to show, transient creep increases with grain-size, it is possible that secondary creep-rates slightly decrease with grain size.

It is difficult to give explanations for these conflicting results. The high creep-rates found by Reference BakerBaker (1978) could be explained by the formation of cracks in his small samples owing to a non-uniform distribution of stress. Strain steps were not observed in this study.

In metals, there is no experimental confirmation of the increase of secondary creep-rate with grain size (Reference BarrettBarrett and others, 1967). At high temperature, sub-boundaries formed during transient creep may act as barriers to dislocation motion like grain boundaries. But grain boundaries or sub-boundaries may also act as sources of dislocations. According to Reference Hondoh and HigashiHondoh and Higashi (1978), lattice dislocations could be generated from the lines of intersection of boundaries and the sample surface. Recent studies have shown the influence of sub-grains on the secondary creep-rate for polycrystalline sodium chloride and single-crystal silver chloride (Reference RobinsonRobinson and others, 1974; Reference Pontikis and PoirierPontikis and Poirier, 1975). Sub-boundaries have been observed in ice single crystals from Mendenhall Glacier by Reference Fukuda and HigashiFukuda and Higashi (1969) and in artificial ice single crystals by Reference MaïMaï (1976).

On the other hand, the relationship between yield stress and grain-size (Hall–Petch-type relation) discussed by Reference BakerBaker (1978) cannot easily be extrapolated for steady state in creep tests. Moreover, at temperatures above – 10°C, the secondary creep-rate seems to be controlled by recovery processes rather than by dislocation glide (Reference DuvalDuval, [1977]).

Conclusion

There is no experimental confirmation of the increase of the permanent creep-rate of polycrystalline ice with crystal size. Only transient creep appears to be influenced by crystal size.

However, more laboratory creep tests are required before we can extrapolate these results to low temperatures. For temperate ice, high creep-rates are expected for fine-grained ices if the correlation between crystal size and water content is real (Reference DuvalVallon and others, 1976; Reference DuvalDuval, 1977).