Abstract | This paper describes the development of a simulation model for estimating the global pack ice load and resulting motion of the vessel, including the load on the mooring system. The basis of the model is a system of ordinary differential equations describing the motion of the vessel resulting from ice load contributions. The problem is formulated as a two-dimensional low-speed manoeuvring simulation with the ice represented as an external disturbance. Systematic model tests were conducted in the ice tank at the Institute for Marine Dynamics using a newly developed Planar Motion Mechanism (PMM). The purpose of the tests was to estimate the inertial and damping contributions of the ice. From these empirical data coefficients were determined to model the ice load on the vessel. These experiments covered parameters such as ice drift speed, amplitude and period of oscillation, ice thickness, floe size and concentration. Tests were also conducted in clear water to estimate the hydrodynamic components. In a parallel task, a numerical discrete element model, DECICE, was used to determine the ice loading functions without hull inertial and damping forces. The 2-D version of the code was used and the simulations were run using the same parameters as the experimental model tests. |
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