Book Description

Analytical expressions for the horizontal and vertical forces exerted by a floating ice sheet against a two-dimensional sloping structure are derived under the assumption that ice is an elastic, homogeneous material. The specific conditions investigated are 1. Quasi-steady form of the governing equation. a. The free end of the semi-infinite ice sheet is subjected to a horizontal force, a vertical force, and a bending moment. Failure of the ice sheet occurs before its free edge becomes fully emerged from or submerged into the water. b. The free end of a semi-infinite ice sheet is subjected only to a vertical force, but failure occurs after the free end has fully emerged from or submerged into the water. c. Finite ice sheet subjected only to a vertical force at one free end which remains at the water surface until failure occurs. 2. Unsteady form of the governing equation for a semi-infinite sheet subjected to only a vertical force at its free end which remains at the water surface until failure occurs. It appears that, for practical applications, the effect of the horizontal force and bending moment at the free end of the ice sheet on the sheet deformation is negligible. It is shown that a finite ice sheet of length at least three times a characteristic length expressed in terms of the ice mechanical properties can be treated as a semi-infinite ice sheet. Also it is shown that when the ice thickness is smaller than a critical value which depends upon the ice mechanical properties and the direction (upward or downward) of the vertical force exerted at the sheet free end, the failure force of the ice sheet is independent of the ice elastic modulus. The analytical results have been verified experimentally, and used in the experimental determination of the bending strength and strain modulus of urea-doped ice.