Buckling analysis of semi-infinite ice sheet

• Main Author: Hamza, Hany El-sayed
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1977
• Subjects: Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/7401/; https://research.library.mun.ca/7401/1/Hamza_HanyEl-Sayed.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/7401/3/Hamza_HanyEl-Sayed.pdf

A finite element analysis has been performed to study the buckling of a semi-infinite ice sheet due to an in-plane distributed load. This work has relevance in the determination of the forces generated on marine structures due to buckling failure of ice sheets. In this analysis, an ice sheet is treated as an isotropic plate resting on an elastic foundation. -- A computer program is developed and tested to analyse this problem using a 16 degree-of-freedom rectangular plate element. -- Since the major portion of the deformation takes place within a few characteristic lengths of the plate on elastic foundation, a large size plate is used as a model of the semi-infinite ice sheet. In order to check this simulation, it is found that there is very little effect on the buckling loads and modes of buckling due to imposition of different types of boundary conditions on the edges which are supposed to be at infinity. The results of this analysis are presented in a non-dimensional form. -- To demostrate the usefulness of the computer program for finite size plates, the results of buckling analysis of a clamped rectangular plate resting on an elastic foundation are also presented and compared with those obtained by Rayleigh-Ritz procedure.