FREE PROPULSION AND MANOEUVRING TESTS OF THE KOREAN ICEBREAKER ARAON IN ICE

Abstract

The National Research Council of Canada's Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centre (NRC), with the support of the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO), has conducted a series of propulsion and free manoeuvring tests on a scale model of the Korean icebreaker ARAON. Investigation of the podded propulsors and their influence on ice-hull load distribution were conducted in open water, level ice, and pack ice. With control over propeller shaft speed and pod deflection angle the tests included straight, zigzagging, and turning arc runs. Throughout testing, the model's position, pod performance characteristics, and ice-hull pressures were monitored. A relationship between RPS and pod angle setting and model motion was determined, level ice turning and zigzag channel measurements were taken, and pressure distribution observations were made. Significant icehull loading was experienced over the model's bow and outside stern during turning arcs, while high loading was experienced at the bow during straight-going runs. Relatively low ice-hull loading was observed at the model's stern during straight-going runs. Comparison between loading on inside and outside turning surfaces was made. These observations from the ARAON were also compared with datasets obtained elsewhere. ？ 2023 Lulea University of Technology. All rights reserved.