Experimental investigations on the level ice resistance of ships with non-typical icebreaking bow shapes

Abstract

ABSTRACT For non-typical icebreaking ships with high stem and/or small waterline angles, the hull–ice interaction process in level ice comprises a combination of many different phenomena which is difficult to be described by existing straightforward approaches. In order to gain knowledge about the level ice resistance of ships with non-typical icebreaking bow shapes, a methodology to improve the principal understanding of the hull–ice interaction process, ice failure, level ice resistance and its distribution along the ship hull during model scale ice tests is developed. For this purpose, one ship model has been manufactured and extensively instrumented. By performing resistance tests at several loading conditions, in model ice sheets of different thickness and at multiple speed values, relevant information on the nature of ice resistance of such ship type can be obtained. In this paper, the methodology is briefly summarized and part of the results of the model testing campaign are presented and discussed.