Basic HTML Version
The researchers attending OARTC2012.
47
SAMC
o
T • Annual report 2012
Sergey A. Kulyakhtin, a PhD candidate at SAMCoT, joined
the RITAS project with a goal to observe how ice rubble
behaviour in submerged state differs from its behaviour
in dry conditions.
“All participants were definitely helpful and collabo
rative. From the HSVA staff I have learned a lot about
model basin testing in general and model ice in partic
ular. Also, they showed me different procedures for
measuring level ice properties in the model basin, such
as ice bending strength and ice density. Multiconsult
shared their experience about mechanisms in level ice
rubble fields, namely structure interaction processes
and some general ideas concerning study of ice rubble.
My colleagues from NTNU were helpful as well,
especially in overcoming challenges which arose during
the testing campaign,” he said.
“While I learned some important information pertaining
to my research, such as repose angle of rubble keel and
the critical angle of rubble keel, I have to conclude that
the most important input from the RITAS project to my
own research is the experience of model scale testing.
In the future, when I work again with model scale data,
model ice that is, I will be aware of specific features
inherent to it,” said Kulyakhtin.
Overlooking his own contributions to the study, Dr. Evers
said, “The experiments conducted during the RITAS
project present important 2D underwater results on
the ice bending failure and buoyancy measurements.
The tactile sensor measurements correlate the local
ice load to the ice breaking process, demonstrating how
ice parameters affect ice failure and ice load in a basin
setting. A lower density, higher thickness ice sheet
causes greater rubble buoyancy and rubble volume
under the ice sheet, thus changing the ice load. Study
participants noted similar effects on velocity. “
Analysis of the experiment data and their results are
destined for future Arctic Technology MSc and PhD
studies. Two SAMCoT Master’s candidates who partici
pated in the RITAS project published their findings
in November 2012: Oda Skog Astrup published
Experimental Investigations and Analytical Analysis of
Ice Rubble - Shear Box and Pile Testing; and Henning
Helgøy published Experimental Investigations of
Freeze-Bonds Between Saline Ice-Blocks.
In addition, to date five RITAS-related project papers
were submitted to the Proceedings of the 22nd
International Conference on Port and Ocean Engineering
under Arctic Conditions (POAC’13) scheduled for June
2013 in Helsinki, Finland.
OATRC2012
In September 2012, NTNU’s SAMCoT conducted its Oden
Arctic Technology Research Cruise 2012 (OATRC2012)
in cooperation with the Swedish Polar Research
Secretariat (SPRS). The University Centre in Svalbard
(UNIS) and Statoil were also instrumental in the success
of the Oden expedition.
Dr. Sveinung Løset, a professor of Arctic technology at
NTNU and SAMCoT Centre Director, served as cruise
leader for the 10-day study in the Arctic waters north
east of Greenland, where the presence of icebergs and
drifting multi-year ice impose challenges to safely and
efficiently develop the region as a new energy province
similar to the North Sea.
“Without doubt, theenergy resources in theArctic regions
will be exploited. However, exploration and exploita
tion of these resources pose significant challenges for
industry, especially in the assessment and manage
ment of risks along the whole production chain, avoid
ance of disruptions arising from potentially manageable
accidents, and the need to minimise costs arising from
adverse environmental impacts,” said Dr. Løset.
Dr. Løset indicated that the work of SAMCoT research
ers emphasizes reduction of risk, while increasing
Photo: Øyvind Hagen, Statoil