Author(s): Goran Wilkman; Ann-Cristin Forsen; Tom Mattsson
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: No keywords
Abstract: The next generation ice model testing facility of Aker Arctic Inc. (AARC) was inaugurated in March 2006. The new facility is located in Helsinki at the Vuosaari Marine Business Park, next to the new Helsinki harbour. This facility is the third in the history of Aker Arctic starting in 1969 with Wartsila Ice Model Basin (WIMB). Today the new facility has been in operation for two a half years. During this period quite a lot of learning and developing has taken place still even the transfer of the ice making happened quite well. The new facility has also opened new possibilities. The paper describes the new facilities and highlights the work done so far. Also among other things the further development possibilities of the AARC FGX model ice is discussed. Making of thick weak ice in the model basin has always been quite a problem. In this respect the enhanced use of AARC FGX ice has given new possibilities in testing. Firstly ice sheets with thickness close to 100 mm were prepared for the new Russian multipurpose icebreaker project to simulate full-scale level ice thickness of 2.85m. Recently model ice with thickness close to 240 mm with flexural strength of 10-20 kPa was manufactured. The paper will discuss also the processes of making these thick/week ice sheets.
Year: 2008