A laboratory study on the flexural strength of white ice and clear ice from the Rideau Canal skateway

DOI	Resolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/l11-106
Author	Search for: Barrette, Paul D.¹ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0975-8884
Affiliation	National Research Council Canada. NRC Canadian Hydraulics Centre
Format	Text, Article
Subject	beam tests; four-point; freshwater ice; laboratory studies; test program; test temperatures; bearing capacity; bending strength; hydraulic structures; software testing; flexure; ice mechanics; ice ridge; Canada; Rideau Canal
Abstract	This note contains the results of a laboratory study whose main purpose was to compare the flexural strength of white ice and clear ice. This was done with ice extracted from the Rideau Canal skateway in Ottawa. A total of 56 successful four-point beam tests were done as part of this test program - 31 on white ice and 25 on clear ice - at three different temperatures: -9.5 °C, -5.0 °C, and -0.5 °C. White ice was weaker than clear ice by 36%, 21%, and 51% at these test temperatures, respectively. Information is also included on the increase in strength with density. The ice inside the skateway was weaker than that outside of it by 27%, 23%, and 37% at these temperatures, respectively.
Date published	2011-12
In	Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering 38, no. 12 (December 2011): 1435–1439.
Language	English
Peer reviewed	Yes
NPARC number	21271174
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Record identifier	9bac253a-79a0-4ab3-a661-bdce2ed1eb82
Record created	2014-03-24
Record modified	2021-03-26

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Date modified:: 2026-07-19