Abstract
A hovercraft can adapt to an ice area, open water, land and other environments, owing to its unique hull structure. It also plays an important role in transporting supplies, rescuing people, breaking ice and conducting other tasks. Ice load prediction is very important for structural safety and navigation of a polar ship, especially in design of air cushion icebreakers or ice breaking platforms. In this paper, based on a simplified circumferential icebreaking pattern, the icebreaking force of the hovercraft operating on the ice sheet at low speed is simulated in a numerical way. Numerical analysis of the icebreaking process with different ice thicknesses and bending strengths are performed. The numerical results are compared with model test data in a time domain for three operating cases. By analyzing the average ice force, the errors between numerical simulation results and model test measurements are less than 30%. The present study is significant for the preliminary design of new icebreaking hovercraft and it assists the operation possibility for existing hovercraft.
Highlights
This paper analyzes the ice force acting on the hovercraft during low-speed icebr ing, and studies the icebreaking mechanism of the hovercraft and the failure patter sea ice under ideal assumptions
This paper analyzes the ice force acting on the hovercraft during low-speed icebreaking, and studies the icebreaking mechanism of the hovercraft and the failure pattern of sea ice under ideal assumptions
Based on the phenomenon of circumferential crack, combined with the idea of discretization, the hovercraft and ice are discretized in the simulation
Summary
The Arctic region has become the focus of research because of its special geographical position and resources. Icebreakers are used to ensure safe navigation of ordinary vessels under severe ice conditions. Traditional polar icebreakers are large in draught, easy to open up channels in open areas, but it is difficult to break ice at shallow waters or swampy ground near shore. The hovercraft is much smaller and more flexible than a typical icebreaker, and its unique propulsion mode makes it less demanding on water depth in normal activities. It is convenient for a hovercraft to carry out operations such as opening channels and transporting supplies in the sea
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
