Deformation and fracture properties of pure ice through impact indentation testing

The deformation and fracture properties of ice have attracted considerable research interest. The tip shape of an object that comes into contact with the ice may affect the fracture phenomenon of ice, but these mechanisms have not been elucidated. In previous study, we experimentally showed that the shape of the indenter has a significant effect on pure ice deformation and fracture properties by quasi-static indentation testing. In this study, we focus on the impact fracture of pure ice to clarify the effect of strain rate on deformation and fracture phenomena. The impact indentation test was conducted using direct impact Hopkinson bar method, and a spherical indenter with a diameter of 9 mm was attached to the tip of the striking bar. The indentation rate was approximately 2.3 m/s, and the test temperature was approximately -10°C. It was clear that the maximum load of the load–displacement relationship was larger than that of the quasi-static indentation testing. This tendency was qualitatively consistent with the compressive strength of the uniaxial compression testing.