Author(s): Anton Prodanovic
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Ice strain measurements in natural ice sheets supplement ice pressure and ice motion measurements and provide information on the mechanical properties of field ice. Several in situ ice strain measurements have been recently described in the literature. A simple, rugged ice strain sensor that can withstand rough handling in the arctic has been developed and used with good results. It satisfies requirements for reliable, automatic, continuous, long-term field measurement. It measures changes in distance between two vertical posts embedded in the ice, using a horizontal bar fixed at one post and freely connected to a linear variable differential transformer at the other post. Thermal expansion of the horizontal bar is assessed by separate measurements of the bar temperature. A new, bimetal bar design, however, automatically compensates the thermal expansion of the sensor. The ice strain sensors were used at two locations in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea during the winter of 1976/77. Sensors set up in a triad group determined complete in-plane strain at one point in the ice sheet. Relative displacements between the posts, measured at two elevations, determined both membrane and bending strains.
Year: 1978