Velocity field and force distribution in an unconsolidated ice ridge penetrated by a ship

• Main Authors: Gong, Hanyang, Polojärvi, Arttu, Tuhkuri, Jukka
• Other Authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Marine and Arctic Technology, Aalto-yliopisto, Aalto University
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Failure behavior; Force chain; Resistance; Ridge; Lulea; Arctic
• Online Access: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/128327

Funding Information: The first author gratefully acknowledges financial support from K. Albin Johanssons stiftelse s.The paper’s content is part of the firsr author's doctoral thesis at Aalto University. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Lulea University of Technology. All rights reserved. Estimating ship resistance in ice ridges requires an understanding of ridge failure processes. A three-dimensional discrete element method is used to study a ship passing through a small unconsolidated ridge with a triangular cross-section and the resulting velocity field and force distribution inside the ridge. The kinetic behavior of ice blocks within the ridge suggests a gradual failure process, not a sudden failure. The velocity field shows fast-moving ice blocks near the ship bow, and stationary or slow-moving blocks further away. Loads within the ridge were transmitted through force chains. No unique shear planes were observed. Peer reviewed