Theoretical estimation of floating ice sheet deflection caused by the motion of a submerged object

• Main Author: Babaei, Hossein
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: National Research Council of Canada. Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering 2019
• Subjects: Laplace; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.4224/40000414; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/ft/?id=a25939eb-ee31-47ac-bd06-4674b32d6a67; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=a25939eb-ee31-47ac-bd06-4674b32d6a67; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=a25939eb-ee31-47ac-bd06-4674b32d6a67

The vertical deflection of floating ice sheets subjected to the movements of an underwater object is the subject of the present theoretical study. Steady deflections are estimated based on theories of small deformation of thin plates and potential flow using Fourier and Laplace transform techniques and complex analysis. Deformations are computed for different combinations of object shape, speed, depth, and ice thickness. Depending on the problem condition, deflection extremes range between a few millimeters to tens of centimeters. Ice vertical deflections are reduced by an increase in object depth and ice thickness and with a decrease in object speed. Flexural-gravity waves, resembling a Kelvin wake pattern, are formed when the speed of the object is more than a critical speed. Below this speed, deflections resemble a Bernoulli hump seen in openwater conditions. The report presents a summary and recommendations for future work. Peer reviewed: No NRC publication: Yes