ISSN: 1945-7545
CODEN: GTJODJ
Page Count: 12

Determination of Ice Forces with Centrifuge Models

Clough, HF
Staff engineer, Hart-Crowser & Associates, Seattle, WA

Wurst, PL
Staff engineer, Geotechnical Resources, Portland, OR

Vinson, TS
Professor, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Abstract

A test system and procedures were developed to investigate ice forces on offshore structures with the technique of centrifugal modeling. The development progressed through four design stages associated with (1) the model container strong box, (2) the ice sheet formation system, (3) the model structure drive system, and (4) the instrumentation. The components were developed separately before incorporation into the final system. The test apparatus developed included an aluminum strong box with a motor driven model structure. The ice sheets were formed by prolonged application of vaporized liquid nitrogen. Temperatures, loads, and displacements were measured with thermistors, strain gages, and a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT), respectively. The test results indicate a relationship between ice thickness, temperature, and time may be used to create an ice sheet of predetermined thickness on the centrifuge. The test results from ice lateral load pile tests conducted with the system developed compare favorably with the results obtained by other investigators.

Keywords:
centrifuges, ice, piles, cones, centrifugal modeling, Arctic offshore structures

Paper ID: GTJ11030J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ11030J
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