Author(s): G. Hocking; K. Worgan
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: The recent design of several different types of offshore structures, either partially or completely constructed with manmade or natural ice material has led to the need for the accurate quantification of their structural thermal stability. These bottom founded structures are constructed of flooded or spray Ice material overlying either a first year ice sheet or naturally occurring rubble field. A finite difference analysis technique which can be used to simulate the coupled thermal (including fluid convection) and hydraulic processes of thawing and freezing is presented. The numerical model solves the coupled, transient, two-dimensional governing equations for fluid flow, heat transfer and phase change behavior. The phase change mechanism provides for non-isothermal freezing based upon the Clapeyron relation. The coupling relationship of interest in this freezing/thawing problem is the intrinsic material permeability as a function of ice/water ratio. For flooded or spray ice material a highly non-linear exponential relationship of the unfrozen pore content is required. This permeability relationship requires a highly implicit interative solution scheme to maintain stability and accommodate an economic time step length.
Year: 1986