Numerical simulation on the breakup of an ice sheet induced by regular incident waves

Abstract

A numerical model simulating the breakup of an ice sheet induced by regular incident waves is firstly established based on the Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) coupling method. The wave model is solved by one of the traditional CFD methods-Finite Volume Method (FVM), while the ice sheet model is bonded by one-layer spherical DEM particles in a regular packing pattern. The deflection and stress distribution are analyzed for the unbroken condition and the maximum stress is compared with those from theoretical and other numerical methods, with good agreements obtained. For the breakable condition, the numerical results are validated by experimental results of the Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA) both qualitatively and quantitatively. The breaking process of the ice sheet is discussed in details and the distribution of the broken ice floes is analyzed in a probability density function. A highly nonlinear trend in the floe area distribution is found with small ice fragments dominating. Finally, the influences of wave amplitude and ice thickness are investigated. The results reveal that the breakup becomes severer and the size of floes decreases with the increase of wave amplitude and the decrease of ice thickness. It aims to extend the coupling numerical method to study wave-ice interaction and provide a valuable reference for further study on wave-ice-structure interaction in the marginal ice zone (MIZ).