Statistical analysis of the ice loading events on the confederation bridge

• Main Authors: Poirier, L., Babaei, H., Frederking, R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Lulea University of Technology 2015
• Subjects: bridge piers; ice; loads (forces); ocean engineering; Confederation Bridge; general statistics; maximum load; observation period; time synchronization; wind coefficients; Arctic
• Online Access: https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=c2abc5aa-ec44-45d1-b990-6e7e24e4c937; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=c2abc5aa-ec44-45d1-b990-6e7e24e4c937

We have examined the ice loading forces on two piers of the Confederation Bridge during the 2012-13 ice season using the updated NRC ice load monitoring system. The new system allows better time synchronization of the tiltmeter and video data from each pier as well as the anemometer. The new system has allowed for the analysis of two large ice loading events simultaneously occurring at two adjacent Confederation Bridge piers and discussion of the relation between the forces on each pier during the events. The maximum load on a single pier was 3640 kN, when a large flow with embedded ridges stalled against two adjacent piers on April 6th, 2013. The maximum total load on the two adjacent piers was 5130 kN, fifty-six minutes after the single pier maximum. General statistics on the ice loads during a subset of the ice season were performed. Average ice loads during our observation period were 150 - 200 kN. Further refinement of the ice load and wind coefficients used at the NRC monitored bridge piers may be suggested from this work. Peer reviewed: Yes NRC publication: Yes