Ice Stresses in Reservoirs: Effect of Water Level Fluctuations

Abstract

Ice stress, temperature, and forebay elevation data were collected over two winter seasons from the La Gabelle reservoir, located in south-central Quebec, Canada. These data suggest that large compressive stresses can develop within confined ice sheets by the repetitive opening and freezing of shore parallel fissures. These fissures typically develop in reservoirs whose forebay elevation varies cyclically about a mean value. Stresses associated with rising water levels were on the order of