The relationship between creep and strength behavior of ice at failure

This work explores the correspondence between the results of creep and strength tests performed on isotropic polycrystalline ice. A unique experimental procedure, termed a two-mode test in the present work, allows the testing of a single specimen under conditions of constant deformation rate up to failure and constant load thereafter.Using this procedure, the prevailing values of stress, strain and strain rate can be compared at the failure point under the two test modes without the influence of specimen variation. The effect of the stress path prior to failure on the creep behavior after failure can also be investigated.Tests were performed at temperatures of ?5°C and ?10°C and initial strain rates ranged from 10^?6 to 2.2 × 10^?5 s^?1. Results indicate coincidence of the failure points from creep and strength tests in stress/strain-rate/strain space. Furthermore, it appears that within the range of variables tested, the creep behavior after the mode switch at failure is independent of the stress path experienced before failure.