EFFECT OF TRANSVERSE-SHEAR DEFORMATION ON ELASTIC-MODULI OF THIN ICE PLATES

The elastic deformation of thin ice sheets due to bending and shear de formation is considered. The in-plane Young's modulus and the transver se shear modulus are calculated by least-squares fit of transverse pla te deflection data. Results show that thin ice plates behave predomina ntly in shear. Previously, the Young's moduli were calculated based on bending theory alone. The Young's moduli of thin model ice sheets, es timated using the bending and shear theory, are more than an order of magnitude greater than calculated previously and hence are more realis tic. Further, the previous ambiguity in the Young's modulus, arising f rom fitting the data at various distances from the point of loading, i s removed by considering shear and bending deformation.