Author(s): Razek Abdelnour; Ken Croasdale
Linked Author(s): Razek Abdelnour
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: A series of model test experiments were carried out to evaluate the forces and the associated behaviour resulting from the interaction of two adjacent ice sheets that lead to the formation of first-year ridges. The effect of a number of individual ice conditions including the ice properties, the ice thickness, the presence of rubble ice and its volume between the two ice sheets, the velocity of interaction and other environmental conditions were assessed. The motivation for the work was to better quantify the limit force approach to ice loads. Eighteen ice sheets were prepared at Arctec Canada Limited ice tanks using both saline and synthetic model ice varying in length between 15 and 25 m and in width between 1.2 and 3.6 m. The narrow ice sheet studied the ridge-building problem in two dimensions while the 3.6 m wide ice sheet investigated the effect of a third dimension on the observed mode of failure and the associated forces. The procedure for each test was carried out by pushing the ice sheet from one side using the towing carriage and simultaneously recording the associated forces and ice behaviour. The ice was moved onto an opposing ice sheet and onto free-floating or grounded rubble ice. A number of scenarios were considered for generating, what is believed Io be, the process of ridge building, seen in nature. The results were analysed and compared to a number of analytical solutions previously developed or published in literature. These analytical and semi-empirical models were based on potential energy, friction, crushing, buckling and shear. Conclusions drawn from the experiments are also presented.
Year: 1986