Viscosity of water ice mixed with solid particles at high concentration: its implication for flow features on icy bodies

Abstract

In order to clarify the ice flow features found on the icy satellites and Mars, we carried out the deformation experiments of ice-solid particles mixture systematically to study the effects of solid particles. The sample was prepared with the mass content of solid particles, 50, 70, and 80 wt.%, and examined the relationship between the content and the effective viscosity. Furthermore, we used three types of solid particles, and examined the dependence of the viscosity on the types of the particles. As a result, in the case of 1 micron-m silica beads and serpentine powder, the viscosity increased with increasing the content. On the other hand, in the case of 1mm glass beads, the viscosity decreased with increasing the content.