SNOW BEHAVIOR UNDER COMPACTION FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ICE

In a previous study, we investigated the effect of additions of 10, 15 , and 20% water (on a weight basis) to snow at an initial temperature of -11 degrees C on the energy required for compaction. Water-addition of 10% significantly reduced the amount of energy required to compact snow. Here, we describe the compressive characteristics of snow at wa ter-addition levels of 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12% and initial snow temperatur es of -5, -8, -11, and -18 degrees C. Samples were compacted at a cons tant compression rate of 102 mm-min(-1) to a maximum stress of 1.2 MPa . Water-addition significantly reduced the total energy required for c ompaction. At the colder temperatures of -18 and -11 degrees C, the 12 % water-addition level resulted in the least amount of total stress bu ild-up during compression. At initial snow temperatures of -8 and -5 d egrees C, the least amount of stress build-up was observed at water-ad dition levels of 6 and 9%, respectively. All water-addition levels led to significant reductions of work done per unit density increase per unit mass of wet snow. The amount of water-addition, required for redu cing the rate of stressbuild-up during compression, increases with dec reasing snow temperature.