Numerical Simulation of Dynamic Ice Forces on Offshore Structures

• Main Authors: Jason Blackerby, Mentor Dr. Wenhua Wu
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ice Sheet; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.496.2156; http://people.clarkson.edu/projects/reushen/reu_china/Website/assets/participants_assets/Reports/Jason.pdf

In recent decades China’s growth has produced a need for greater oil supplies. Offshore drilling in the Bohai Sea has developed in response to this need. However, this region is subject to annual winter sea ice which can damage offshore structures. Therefore, a numerical simulation was developed using the finite element method to assist in selecting an optimal cone to be fitted to the legs of these structures to alleviate the dynamic forces produced by the moving ice. Simulations were performed examining the relationship between stress on the ice sheet at different contact widths with the cone, at different velocities, and at different cone angles. These simulations were performed using the ANSYS and LS-DYNA software packages. Relationships were then drawn between the stress on the ice sheet and these different parameters.