Hydrodynamic force on a ship floating on the water surface near a semi-infinite ice sheet

Abstract

The hydrodynamic problem of wave interaction with a ship floating on the water surface near a semi-infinite ice sheet is considered based on the linearized velocity potential theory for fluid flow and the thin elastic plate model for ice sheet deflection. The properties of an ice sheet are assumed to be uniform, and zero bending moment and shear force conditions are enforced at the ice edge. The Green function is first derived, which satisfies both boundary conditions on the ice sheet and free surface, as well as all other conditions apart from that on the ship surface. Through the Green function, the differential equation for the velocity potential is converted into a boundary integral equation over the ship surface only. An extended surface, which is the waterplane of the ship, is introduced into the integral equation to remove the effect of irregular wave frequencies. The asymptotic formula of the Green function is derived and its behaviors are discussed, through which an approximate and efficient solution procedure for the coupled ship/wave/ice sheet interactions is developed. Extensive numerical results through the added mass, damping coefficient and wave exciting force are provided for an icebreaker of modern design. It is found that the approximate method can provide accurate results even when the ship is near the ice edge, through which some insight into the complex ship/ice sheet interaction is investigated. Extensive results are provided for the ship at different positions, for different ice sheet thicknesses and incident wave angles, and their physical implications are discussed.