Some aspects of the mechanics of sea ice strength
An earlier developed model of a porous body is used to estimate the relationship between sea ice strength and its porosity. Models of the influence of the sea ice capillary structure on its strength for the case of brine-filled capillaries are considered. The local stresses arising in this case are shown to change the limit equilibrium conditions. Sea ice strengths under loading along and across the capillary direction are compared. We discuss variants of combining structural elements whose compression results in the propagation of main cracks or in the formation of multiple ordered crack systems. The tendency of the structured material to the formation of ordered crack systems or to the propagation of single main cracks is associated with the activity of structural elements involved in fracture growth. We put forward a method of estimating the averaged strength of the sea ice cover with respect to longitudinal compression taking into account partial loss of the bearing capacity of ice layers during deformation.