FLEXURAL PROPERTIES OF SNOW AND SNOW-ICE.
Abstract:
One testing objective was to determine if small, select samples of natural snow-ice, tested in bending, would provide consistent and higher values for the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity. Another objective was to investigate the surface bearing properties of snow-ice layers, formed during winter on lakes or rivers, which are often separated from clear ice by an interlayer of slush or water. The apparatus used in testing the snow-ice was a modification of a Soiltest hand-operated press with a 0- to 5000-lb wooden, three-point load device. Dense snow-ice at 5 degrees had high flexural strength avg. 347.5 psi and a high modulus of elasticity avg. 6.08 x 100000 psi, probably the result of a large, interlocking crystal structure. The apparent relationship between modulus of elasticity and density of snow-ice is affected by the rate of loading and temperature. There appears to be a relationship between density and flexural strength for snow, snow-ice, and high-density snow in the natural undisturbed state but processing, including snow compaction, lowers the tensile strength at early ages. The formulas used in computations are given and test results are tabulated and summarized. Author