Page 6 - SAMCoT_2013

6 SAMCoT • ANNUAL REPORT 2013
the design of offshore structures in the Barents Sea.
The data can be extrapolated to the waters further south
in the Barents Sea (e.g. Johan Castberg and Hoop) and
used in the field development of these waters.
Material Modelling (Work Package 2 – WP2)
An important part of quantifying physical nature is
to characterize Arctic materials mathematically. In
SAMCoT we specifically address material or constitutive
modelling of ice rubble (i.e. the unconsolidated layer of
first-year ridges) and frozen soils. One Post-Doc and
three PhD students have studied ice rubble numerically
and experimentally, and one PhD student is working
with frozen soils numerically and theoretically. We have
carried out experimental studies in the field and labora-
tory and worked with both continuum (FEM) and discrete
models (DEM) in the simulations of ice rubble behaviour.
Fixed Structures in Ice (Work Package 3 – WP3)
Fixed structures in the Arctic and other icy waters need
to withstand ice action. The structures can be vertically
sided or have sloping sides in the water line. Iceberg
impact, ice ridge action and ice-induced vibration from
the crushing of level ice are the three critical scenarios
for vertical-sided structures, whereas rubble accumu-
lation can be vital for sloping structures. In SAMCoT
we have so far addressed ice-induced vibrations or
dynamic ice actions, but in 2013 we also initiated work
on sloping structures and the estimation of probabilistic
ice action. The main topics in ice-induced vibrations are
the analysis of measurements and numerical modelling
as well as, the prediction of structural response.
Floating Structures in Ice (Work Package 4 – WP4)
SAMCoT has focused on improving the prediction of
loads on floating structures that are exerted by first-
year level ice, multi-year level ice and ridges as well
as icebergs. This also implies prediction of the perfor-
mance of the structures. In order to do this research we
have been developing theoretical and numerical models
to simulate most of the processes a floating structure
may undergo when interacting with sea ice. This includes
the breaking and splitting of ice as well as the effect of
the hydrodynamic interaction. Full-scale data from the
research cruises with the icebreaker Oden have been
vital in understanding the processes and calibrating the
models.
For our studies of iceberg-structure interaction we have
developed a combined finite element model and SPH
to simulate the ice crushing process. The model has
an integrated approach as both the structure and the
iceberg dissipate energy.
Ice Management and Design Philosophy
(Work Package 5 – WP5)
A major event in this work package was the research
cruise to the Greenland Sea with the icebreaker Oden
(OATRC2013). Three out of the five PhDs working on this
topic participated in the expedition. They returned with
extremely useful field experience, data and ideas for
their further work. Theirmain area of research consisted
of monitoring the drift of icebergs in broken ice, thereby
developing a realistic approach to the modelling of
iceberg towing in pack ice. Also, ice-management trials
were carried out and a number of supporting technolo-
gies and innovations were tested under field conditions.
Over the past few years, considerable progress has been
made in the modelling of risk in Arctic marine opera-
tions, particularly on the subject of ice-management
operations. SAMCoT has focused on factors that have an
oATRC2013 members at the shooting range in Longyearbyen, as part of the two days HSE course provided by UNIS/SAMCoT.
Photo: Taisiya Sinitsyna