Author(s): Jianqiao Sun; Yan Huang
Linked Author(s): Yan Huang
Keywords: Sea ice; Borehole strength; Ice failure mode; In-situ testing
Abstract: The borehole strength test of ice is a convenient and practical in-situ testing method that provides the strength index of ice under a multi-axial stress state. During China’s 15th Arctic Ocean Scientific Expedition in summer 2025 supported by the Major Program of the National Natural Science Foundation, series of in-situ borehole strength tests for sea ice are carried out by Tianjin University based on 6 ice stations covering latitudes from 84.6°N to 89.5°N in the Central Arctic. A total of 63 data sets is completed, including the measurements at different depths within the ice thickness. The borehole strength is 3.9 ± 2.0 MPa from the ice station at 84.6°N and 14.2 ± 6.7 MPa from the ice station at 89.5°N. The maximum measured borehole strength is 22.0 MPa. Preliminary test results reveal the different failure types of sea ice under confined compression and also the variation trend of borehole strength through the ice thickness.
Year: 2026