Anelastic Behaviour of Polycrystalline Ice

Torsion creep tests were performed on glacier ice at temperatures above -12°C. The polycrystalline ice, when unloaded, exhibits creep recovery. The time-dependent recoverable component of deformation (or anelastic strain) ϵ a was found to be adequately described by a relationship of the form: ϵ a = Δτ log(r + α t )/ h , where Δτ is the stress decrement, α a constant, and t the time. The anelastic modulus h defined for times t in excess of 3 h is always smaller than the dynamic elastic modulus. The movement of dislocations composing the sub-boundaries or in dislocation pile-ups may produce this important reversible deformation. The time-dependent recovery is explained in a similar way to the transient creep behaviour observed at low temperatures for metals. The small temperature dependence of creep recovery would arise from the existence of a distribution of internal stresses values.