Flexural strength equation for sea ice

The measured flexural strengths of freshwater ice and sea ice have been compiled with a view towards correlating the measured results. Two thousand, four hundred and ninety-five experimentally measured data points from nineteen investigators have been used. This correlation has been done as input for a new system being developed to quickly characterize sea ice properties. The results indicate a very good correlation (r2= 0.77) between the flexural strength ([sigma]f) and the brine volume ([nu]b) with a functional form [sigma]f = 1.76 e-5.88[radical sign][nu]b where the flexural strength is in MPa, and the brine volume is expressed as a brine volume fraction. The value of 1.76 MPa for zero brine volume is in excellent agreement with the average value (1.73 MPa) measured for freshwater ice.NRC publication: Ye