Study of Ice Failure and Deformation Processes

Abstract

Intensive development of computer simulation technique for ice deformation and failure processes is an important problem in respect to both ice propulsion definition and strength analysis for ice vessel and ice-resistant structures. However, evaluation of applied algorithms effectiveness requires developing a procedure for verification of numerical models. This paper presents results of experiment-calculated studies for strains in a bounded region on a specimen surface containing a point grid. Grid movement during the tests was recorded with the help of a system of three-dimensional computer vision and digital image correlation for noncontacting shape and deformation measurements. An experimental facility, test methodology, observed results and test results processing method are explained. Experimental data on freshwater field ice under uniaxial compression and bending are given. Ice mechanical characteristics were evaluated based on inverse solution and finding ice strain characteristics as initial data for the finite element analysis. The calculated results were analyzed and compared with experimental data. Application of the proposed methodology will extend essentially a verification base for computer simulation of ice failure under contact with a structure and create prerequisites for forming a new direction in the area of ice numerical simulation.