Author(s): Marilou Beland; Amandine Pierre; Tadros Ghobrial; Daniel F. Nadeau; Knut Hoyland
Linked Author(s): Tadros Ghobrial, Knut Hoyland
Keywords: Ice forces; Deformation; Ice control structure; Structural deflection
Abstract:
Ice Control Structures (ICS) are a solution to mitigate ice jams that cause major flooding events in communities located near riverbanks. The design of these structures remains empirical due to the difficulty of obtaining reliable data on ice forces in the field. In this study, ice forces were estimated using structural deformation of the Sartigan Dam ICS on the Chaudiere River (46.096516, -70.653269), located south of Quebec City, Canada. Deformation gauges were installed at multiple locations on a horizontal grate inserted between the vertical piers of the ICS. The measured deformations were used to estimate the ice forces. Calibration conducted in the laboratory ensured accurate estimation of the forces responsible for grate deflection. Preliminary results from the analysis of breakup events in December 2023 showed total estimated ice forces below 100 kN (equivalent to 16.4 kN/m) acting on the horizontal grate, which is just over 10% of the recommended values by the CSA (2019) guide. This short note presents the objectives of the study, the methodology in brief, the preliminary results as well as the future work.
Year: 2024