Investigation of Compressive Failure of Ice During Particle Indentation

Abstract

The indentation of rock particles into ice is an important aspect of understanding subsea interactions involving ice features and gravelly soil. This article investigates the indentation of rock particles into an ice specimen, where observations are made to study the effect of changes in indentation rate and the relative spacing from previously formed damage zones on resulting force and pressure trends. Experiments were conducted for three indentation rates: 10 mm/s, 0.5 mm/s, and 0.01 mm/s. Observations were also completed for three unique spacing distances between the rock particle and previous damage zones, taken as 2D (26 mm), 5D (65 mm), and 7D (96 mm), where the diameter D was based on a mean rock diameter of 13 mm. Maximum observed forces and pressures exerted onto the ice by the rock particles are examined and compared based on changes in the noted test parameters. These were completed alongside observations from tests conducted using 170 g samples of rocks ranging in size from 9.5 mm to 19.1 mm for tests completed at an indentation rate of 0.5 mm/s for indentation depths of 5 mm and 7 mm. In addition, preliminary results are presented from a matlab model that has been developed based on the aggregation of independent, individual particle–ice interaction events to simulate multiple particle–ice interactions. A comparison of experimental and simulated results indicates good general agreement and supports the assumption of independent particle–ice indentation events for the interaction conditions considered.