Experimental investigation of ice load on a hull surface

Abstract

The rapid reduction in Arctic sea ice cover has increased the opportunities for shipping activities on Arctic shipping routes. Nevertheless, ice forces on a ship hull around the waterline area can be a significant threat to ship operations in polar waters. This study investigates the dynamic characteristics of ice loads when a vessel sails in ice water. Ice model tests were conducted at the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) ice model basin to further understand the magnitude distribution of ice-induced loads on a hull. To understand the ice load characteristics under continuous icebreaking, level ice conditions were considered, and the magnitudes of ice loads for the friction and submersion components were identified under pre-sawn ice conditions. Finally, a pressure ridge penetration test was conducted to determine ice load distribution. The ship？ice interaction was investigated with respect to the impact loads through the model test results, and the distributions and magnitudes of the ice loads obtained from the tactile sensors attached to the model ship are discussed.