Fracture mechanics of ice and some its applications

A model office fracture under compression on a large contact area is suggested. The model is based on fracture mechanics approaches. It is assumed that a quasiregular structure of ice fracture within the contact region exists. A local fracture source can move along the contact surface (can scan it) in a regime similar to crack propagation (crack of compression). Features of the motion regime are determined by the conditions of the fracture source displacement and conditions of carrying out the fracture products from the contact zone.