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

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 degrees C, -5.0 degrees C, and -0.5 degrees 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.